Disclaimer: Teen Titans is the property of DC Comics. This is a non-commercial fan-fic.

2: Chapter Two - Party Animals

Even though the city was in chaos, Starfire wasn't giving up her case easily. "But what about Robin! He could be hurt and lost! We must find him, before..."

"Star!" Cyborg grabbed her shoulders seriously. "The rest of us don't like this any more than you do, but we have to keep our priorities straight. The mall in particular is taking a heavy hit, and we don't know why. People need our help, and if Robin were here he'd tell us to do something about it."

"But..." Disappointed, Starfire finally gave up. "All right, but we are going to search for him again after this."

Cyborg smiled sadly and nodded. Then he started snapping orders. "Beast Boy, Star! You split up and go after all the buildings under attack except for the mall. Raven and me are going to take down whoever is ruining the mall this fast. Titans, go!" And with that they all split up.

With a midnight blue cloak billowing around her, Raven started flying next to Cyborg to keep pace, then she said, "What bothers me is that we haven't found Robin all day. It's starting to feel freakishly familiar, almost like he doesn't want to be found."

Pain and vehement denial welled up in Cyborg as the memories hit him. "No, Rae. It's never going to be like last time again. After Slade lost to Robin, there's no way he'd try that again. Robin wouldn't put up with someone threatening us again anyway, not so soon after that...that incident."

Cyborg's voice broke down as he spoke, and Raven couldn't blame him. Whether they'd admit it or not, no one was over what Slade had done over a month ago. He'd threatened all the Titan's lives if Robin didn't do everything he asked. Before they'd figured out what was going on, they'd honestly thought Robin had gone dark. It was horrific, but a relief when they all learned the truth. It still left scars, though.

Gathering himself and looking tougher than the empath beside him knew he felt, Cyborg said, "Now, let's get to that mall, and fast!"

Raven nodded, glad for the distraction. Kicking bad guy butt was the perfect excuse to shut all her worries out. Little did she know, her worries were about to get much, much worse.

Okay, this was even funner than he had imagined. At first it was boring as hell waiting as half the party complained about parents, school and their other issues, but it paid off quickly enough. With the suggestion of taking their rebellion even further, most easily gave into the peer pressure. The rest were either still too goodie goodie two shoes or crying about their mundane problems. Seriously. What. A. Pain.

Anyway, that's when things picked up. With crowbars, baseball bats and torches in tow, they'd started doing everything from vandalism to robberies to decimating buildings. Still preferring his tools of choice after Cora gave him his belt back, Robin...no...Dick was making quick work of a shopping mall. He was having way too much fun slicing up posters and torching clothing. Stealing from the cashiers was pretty thrilling too. Still, Cora stopped him before he started on the next store.

"Okay, this is fun and all, Dick, but... I love this store!" She pleaded with her eyes.

Dick faked a sigh, pretending to think it over. "Okay, Cora. Fine." He then grinned playfully. "Let's go pick some stuff out!"

Cora giggled then, and the two rushed inside. Before the cashier could press the alarm, Dick had a sharp bladed shuriken to their neck. "One more move, and you're a dead woman." She whimpered and moved her hand away from the alarm.

Dick rolled his eyes, and before she could take another breath, he knocked her out cold on the counter. The few customers who were still out this late mostly shrank back, but Dick thought he spotted a few who were more keen on taking action. In the blink of an eye, he threw a shuriken just shy of one of their heads, stopping them mid step.

Smirking, he said, "This is a robbery. If anyone else makes a move, they'll really regret it."

"Hey, Dick." He turned his head to Cora who was begging playfully. She had two shirts in hand. "Can I have these? Which one of them looks better on me?"

He thought about it for a second then said, "Definitely the purple one, but seriously, take as many as you want!"

"Yay!" she chimed in playfully, giving him a knowing look.

He grinned back, then continued to look around at the customers he was keeping in check. That's when he spotted the outfit in the window, and his smile widened. Stripping the mannequin of its dignity, Dick changed into the silken red shirt and sleek black jacket with pants to match.

"Nice look," Cora complimented.

"Thanks," he said, straightening the jacket. "You too."

The moment was soured when one of the customers broke the terrified silence and shouted, "You won't get away with this! The cops or the Teen Titans will get you for this!"

Dick glowered at him hatefully. "Keep your mouth shut!" That made any bravery the customer had managed to build up disappear in an instant.

Satisfied, Dick said, "That's what I thought. Besides...Cops? Titans?" He laughed as if it were the funniest thing in the world. "The cops are a joke, and I've already given the Titans a run for their money. They wouldn't stand a chance."

And with those words he and Cora left the shop, several stunned and terrified faces staring after them. "Okay, this is really fun." Cora giggled. "I didn't think you had it in you."

Dick shrugged. "Me neither. I guess it just took a push. Thanks by the way."

They were looking into each other's eyes now. Both mesmerized as stars shone and bright flames licked the buildings behind them. Suddenly leaning deeper and deeper into each other, the warmth of their bodies melding, their lips closed the distance. Passion enveloping them, reason vanishing, they started their first deadly kiss.

"Okay, that is really messed up," Cyborg said with anger in his eyes.

Raven silently agreed as the two of them assessed the burning buildings, cowering customers, and the two teens who seemed to be the center of it all. They'd ended a make out session and were now talking animatedly about what crimes to do next.

"Good point. I mean," the dark skinned girl continued, "It's not like the mall can get much more damaged than this anyway, so what do you really want to do next, Dick?"

The dark haired boy seemed to really think about it. Finally he said. "This was just the opening act. Act two needs to be something really special. I think I'm getting a pretty epic idea, but it could take some planning and a bit of time, maybe even a few days."

The girl smiled but rolled her eyes. "If I didn't really like you, I wouldn't be giving you more than those seventy two hours."

The boy tensed. "I don't want to go back. I want to stay this way. Don't tell me you're gonna ditch me." The was a hint of real danger in his voice.

The girl laughed, looking at Dick with an almost hungry look in her eyes. "As long as you're this entertaining, you've got nothing to to worry about."

Raven and Cyborg had no idea what this conversation was becoming about, but they didn't care. They just knew they needed to stop these nut jobs before things got any worse. They nodded at each other in silent understanding, then without warning, they came out of hiding and attacked.

Hovering in the air, a menacing, dark aura about her, Raven chanted, "Azarath metrion zinthos!"

Dark magic shot out from her hands, but to her shock, the boy dodged the attack with ease. He didn't even looked phased. He just looked annoyed. As he noticed Cyborg preparing to blast the girl, though, the boy's eyes narrowed, and he swiftly shot a grappling hook at her. It spun around her, wrapping her waist in wire, then he pulled her towards him and out of the line of fire. He was just in time too.

Fury filled Raven as she realized she recognized the tool all to well. "That belongs to Robin! Where did you get that grappling hook?!"

A weird flurry of emotions crossed the dark haired boy's face, until it settled into a sly smirk. "Oh, it did belong to Robin. It's mine now, though."

Crying out in fury, Raven rapidly shot magic at the boy. Cyborg was quick to join in. To their frustration, the guy just continued to dodge the attacks with ease. Oddly enough, though, his expression looked like he almost seemed to be warring with himself.

"Where is Robin!" Cyborg shouted angrily. "What did you do to our friend?!"

The dark haired boy didn't answer, but the black girl spoke. "Why don't you just tell them, Dick? Or are you starting to have doubts?"

The words and the way she emphasized the boy's name made Raven's eyes narrow. A horrifying idea was starting to build up in her mind. It was too bad to consider, but it was something she had to know. Drawing on her mental powers with dread in her heart, she zeroed in on the boy. She froze in utter horror as she felt it. The familiar pull of her and Robin's connection. This boy...this criminal who'd devastated the mall...he couldn't be. He couldn't be Robin! Panicking, she started analyzing his mind, shocked at how dark the thoughts inside were.

Growling viciously, the boy shot a shuriken at her, grazing her shoulder painfully. Then he screamed menacingly, "Get the hell out of my head, Rae!"

Cyborg froze then, utterly speechless as he heard the familiar nickname. No one other than the Teen Titans called Raven by that nickname. No one but they even knew about it. He and Raven just continued to stare at the boy in shock. Without the mask, Cyborg hadn't been able to see it, but he was noticing all the similarities now. The spiky black hair, the muscular physique, the rest of the guy's face.

"No..." he breathed in horror. "Robin, no... How could you?!"

Switching to a very annoyed expression now, Robin smiled humorlessly at them. "What? Why so surprised, Cy? After Red X, didn't you all guess there was something darker inside of me? All it took was a little push to bring it out."

Raven's head was spinning, but something was starting to occur to her, the factor they were ignoring here. She looked more closely at the girl. Cora was it? She was looking at Robin with something like sinister pride and satisfaction. As horrible as the situation was, she was starting to feel hopeful again.

"It's that girl, isn't it, Robin? She's done something to you."

He tensed, and that was all Raven needed to confirm her suspicions. Before Robin could act in time, Raven summoned her magic, lifted Cora high into the air and thrust her against a building, knocking her out cold."

"It's okay Robin," Raven said with relief. "She can't control you anymore, so lets-"

A large meaty punch in her face stopped her in her tracks. She felt tears come to her eyes as Robin glared at her with such hate he was even terrifying. "I swear Raven, if you ever attack Cora again, I'll kill you."

The words shocked Raven to her core. This couldn't be happening. Robin wouldn't. He couldn't be serious. He couldn't be like this. He didn't really have it in him, did he?

"Robin! Please!" she cried.

Snarling he said, "That's not my name! Not anymore!"

"Why?" Cyborg sounded broken. "Why are you still letting that girl do this to you?"

Robin's face grew a hint of excitement. "Because it's fun, and I'm only getting started." The two titans looked at the familiar stranger incredulously. Was this really Robin?

Wanting to rub things in their faces even more, the dark haired boy smirked and continued. "See, Cora and her brother are those giant spiders we fought earlier. They found me and tricked me into drinking a drop of their blood. Now, this blood," he went on, enjoying their looks of shock, "it brings out the deepest darkest parts of you. Most of the other people at the party were pretty game to join in this citywide catastrophe, but some just sat there and complained about their issues and cried. It was really pathetic, and annoying, but still a pretty brilliant plan if I do say so myself."

Raven and Cyborg just shook their heads in disbelief. This couldn't be Robin. It just couldn't! "My point is," he continued, not giving them a chance to respond, "the blood can't bring out something that isn't there. This is the me that's been hidden. The villain hiding inside the hero, finally set free."

He looked at them in mock pity as they continued to be at a loss for words. "Anyway, don't try and stop me. Remember I know exactly how to take each of you down."

It took everything in her to speak, but as Robin walked away, Cora in his arms, Raven yelled out, "There has to be a way to reverse the effects of the blood! We'll figure it out! We'll save you!"

Robin laughed then in a way that could give even Slade a run for his money. It sent chills down Raven's spine. "I don't want to be saved. I don't want to go back to being weak, nice little Robin ever again." Just before he vanished from sight he called out, "By the way, you won't have to use your mediocre detective skills to figure out how to stop the blood! You'll find out soon enough!"

Then he was gone, leaving dead silence in his wake. Raven and Cyborg just stood there amidst the burning buildings, too stunned to move. As Raven's heart broke she decided something with utter finality. Looking Cyborg right in the eyes with a dead serious intensity, she said, "The others can't know. They can't handle it. Especially Starfire. She would never be the same. We need to figure this out on our own, and fast."

Blinking away tears of his own, Cyborg nodded. As mad and hurt as he was because of Robin, he wouldn't wish those feelings on Beast Boy or Starfire for a second. It could honestly tear the team apart, and Jump City needed the Teen Titans now more than ever. With their leader on the other side of the fight, it was going to be one tough battle. To save Robin and this city from whatever he had planned, they needed to be at full strength, and they needed to act fast. Otherwise, Robin could make a mistake he'd never come back from, spider blood or not.