Red Hood: Eternal

Chapter 30 - The Theif

"Two damaged people, trying to heal each other is love." - R. H.

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July, 2016

Titans Tower, Jump City

Training Room, 8 hours until Y/Ns departure

Raven's POV

Raven: "This is not how I imagined this to go."

I said after being hit again by Y/N with a training stick. It's only just us in the training room, as everyone else already had spared with Y/N on usual "training with Y/N" wednesday. And they all lost. Only ones who escaped his wrath were our mentors, Dick and Kori.

Y/N: "Seriously, you guys need to learn how to not be relying on your powers all the time. "

He said as he dodged my strike with my own stick.

Raven: "I know, but what's with the blindfold thing."

Today's lesson: fighting the enemy while being blindfolded. You may think that's how he won against all the others, but the thing is, he also wears the blindfold on.

Y/N: "Let's say we are in the building and the enemy got you blinded. If you want to use your powers to defend yourself, you might hit the teammate in the process."

He explains to me as again I miss the swing and he hits me in the back.

Raven: "You know we aren't that sloppy."

Bit ironic as I swinged again only for our sticks to collide and him to throw them apart and hit me in the shoulder.

Y/N: "I know and that terrifies me. Instead of the teammates, you would hit the foundation of the building and kill 2 birds with 1 stone. In this case, birds being us and our enemies and stone being the ceiling of starbucks."

He blocks my strike and fastly rolls under another swing that didn't hit the target. Amused by his comment, a small smile creeps onto my face.

Raven: "You really hate that place, don't you?"

I asked him as this time I managed to block 2 of his swings which came from my left side.

Y/N: "With burning passion and every inch of my body. If I had a brother who is a workaholic, never sleeps and drinks black coffee like Bruce, I'm banning him from Starbucks for life. And no refund for his own coffee machine."

I chuckled as we entered the standlock as both of our sticks collided.

Raven: "Says the "No sleep at all" Robin."

I tell him as he breaks the standlock and manages to move out from my push.

Y/N: "I do sleep actually. It is just that I have learned to only need 3 hours of sleep to function properly. Unlike Bruce, who is still babysitted by Alfie to go to bed every 3 days."

I don't know why, but he always makes me laugh, even during fighting enemies, which now cost me letting my guard down.

As I laughed, Y/N swinged at me and hit my jaw, pain spreading throughout the entire left side of my face as I fell onto the ground with a wine. I can feel blood starting to slip onto my down lip.

Y/N: "*smirks* I especially told you about not getting distracted while fighting."

I groan, but don't get up as I hold my jaw.. Suddenly I sense his mood changes from confidence to worry as I hear him start walking towards me.

Y/N: "Rae, I'm sorry. Are you - -"

Before he can finish, I surprise by quickly pouncing onto him which caught him off guard as we both fell on the ground.

Raven: "What were you talking, especially to Cayla, about hurting an enemy too hard and letting your guard down?"

Smirk forms on my face as I tell him while removing my blindfold. That's when I realised I'm on top of him as he, already taken off his blindfold, stares at me with a surprised expression.

Raven: "..."

Y/N: "..."

We both didn't say anything as my violet orbs stayed locked onto his green ones. That's when I realised something.

Raven: "You're going easy on me..."

I said quietly as a breath escaped my mouth. His eyes slightly narrow as his view falls down onto my lips.

Y/N: "... Does that disappoint you?"

His voice is so calm, but also so apologetic at the same time which makes my heart start pounding faster inside me.

What are WE?

Raven: "..."

I stay quiet, hearing my pounding heart in my ears as he raises his right hand towards my lips, his warm hand scraping my cold skin.

I unconsciously lean into his touch as he cleans the blood of my lips as I can feel them lightly kissing onto his finger. This feeling makes me feel like I'm at... home.

We're - - c-close friends.

I quickly move his hand away from my face as I get off him. I look into his eyes, which now are widened.

Raven: "G-Good luck o-on y-your mission."

Nothing more. Nothing less.

With my heart pounding filling my ears, I turn and start to walk towards the exit.

PRESENT TIME

September 1st, 2016

Titans Tower, 9:00 am

THIRD POV

When her violet orbs open, they are immediately met by the sun rays coming through the big window in her room.

Raven groans as she pulls the blanket over her head to block the rays. She turns to her night stand. 9 am read on the clock.

With another groan, she gets out of bed and heads to the bathroom.

She splashes cold water over her face before turning the faucet off. While she cleans her face with the towel, she gazes at her chakra on her forehead.

It wasn't glowing which means her dear father was quiet for today. She leaves the bathroom and dresses up in her black attire before heading out of her room.

Walking down the hall, she fazes out as she thinks of that night. Last training session before... HE left.

Her neutral face wouldn't reveal it, but inside, she was a mess of emotion. She didn't know what was causing her so much despair, loneliness, confusion, embarrassment and... happiness.

Happiness she has not felt since... HIS first company time with her before he was gone forever at the time.

And now... HE is gone again... and she doesn't know if she screwed up her relation - -... whatever thing they had between each other and that she scared him away.

Loud noise of voices gets her out of her thoughts as she realises she has stumbled into the main living room of the tower.

On the left, she saw Jaime, Garfield, Terra and their recent new member of Titans, Donna Troy aka Wonder Girl, playing Jenga as it was Terra's turn.

Terra: "Slow and Steady..."

She pushes another wooden block with utmost precision as the tower of blocks didn't even shake.

Terra: "WINS THE RACE!"

She throws her arms into the air in her another victory moment as others around her groan for another unaccounted time they see Terra sweeping a floor with them in the most family friendly game ever.

Jaime: "No otra vez. (not again.)"

Donna: "By Hera, she can stop..."

Garfield: "NO! You just ended my record for most blocks removed before the tower crashed down!!"

Garfield wines as Terra sticks her tongue towards her boyfriend.

Terra: "Just admit it babe, I'm the best Jenga player there is."

Garfield: "You obviously used your powers, there is no way the tower didn't even flinch!"

Terra rolls her eyes as she waves him off.

Terra: "Nah, I would never be such a bad loser like you~"

Garfield: "I hate you."

Terra: "I love you, too."

While the love birds were occupied with each other, Donna notices that Raven has entered the room.

Donna: "GOOD MORNING!"

Raven turns towards her for a second before turning away.

Raven: "'Morning..."

She proceeds to walk over to the kitchen as 4 of them are confused by her mood.

Donna: "What did I do to her to respond to me like that? Don't tell me it isaboutwhathappenedatyesterday'straining!?"

She whispers to her friends as she becomes more nervous and anxious by every word she slips out of her mouth.

Jaime: "Calm down, chica. Raven doesn't hold grudges about anything related to sparring sessions since she can heal easily."

Garfield: "Yeah. It's more likely that she is still grumpy that Y/N left her."

Terra and Jaime groan in unison as Donna's mouth drops down.

Donna: "Y/NandRavenwereathing?!"

Terra: "No, miss lady gossip. Gar meant that just before Y/N left, he and Raven started to get really close lately."

She explains to the amazon warrior while she slaps Garfield at the back of his head which makes him wince.

Garfield: "OW!"

Jaime: "And something "did" happen which makes Raven be so quiet lately. Especially since his communicator went off and he went MIA."

Garfield: "What do you mean, dude? She was always quiet even before he joined."

He gets another slap into the back of his head by Terra for that comment.

Garfield: "OW! STOP IT!"

Terra: "That was rude."

Garfield: "How speaking the truth was rude!?"

He definitely got a slap for that.

Back to Raven, she walks up to the counter to get herself some tea. She takes her cup into one hand while with another she reaches out for thermos holding the tea.

She pours the tea into her cup and goes to take a sip. When she does, she feels cold tea going in. She groans as she puts the cup down on the counter.

She forgot again that tea would be cold by now. Before, she would always wake up to the warm tea because... HE would warm it specifically for her...

She curses under her breath. No matter what she does, she simply can't get him off her mind.

While she went to make new tea, on her side of the room, Damian and Cayla were on the couches. That is, Damian and Titus were on the couch while Cayla was standing infront of them, holding a book.

Cayla: "How about just a normal dog collar for Titus?"

She asked as she turned the book towards Damian and Titus, who both had a same judgeful look as they looked at the page she showed them.

Damian: "No way he will wear those pathetic collars. Titus must have the most noble collar as he is part of the Wayne family. He must be as fashionable as me."

He said as he petted his puppy of 5 months on his lap, on which Titus also nodded his head in agreement.

Cayla: "Wha - - YOU - - HOW DID YOU - - The hell, Titus!?"

Cayla exclaimed in shock.

Cayla: "There's no way you thought him to agree with everything you say!?"

Damian: "As matter of fact, yes I did, West."

Cayla groans out as Raven joins them as she sits on the couch in the middle of the two.

Raven: "Morning."

Cayla turns towards her, noticing her mood and she knows exactly what's with her.

Cayla: "Let me guess."

Raven: "Yes."

Raven straight up responds as Cayla sighs, but catches Damian's attention.

Damian: "You look like my father before patrol while he looks at himself in the mirror."

Damian tells as Raven lifts her head up and gives him a glare.

Cayla: "Batman does what?!"

Damian: "You should see him near a gargoyle. He is as dramatic as Y/N."

Raven closes her eyes as she annoyingly sighs out, which Cayla notices and tries to change a subject quickly.

Cayla: "How about you Raven?"

Raven lifts her head up with a confused look.

Raven: "What?"

Cayla: "Which kind of collar do you think Titus should have?"

She shows the book to her as she points at the pictures.

Cayla: "A normal collar."

She moves her finger to another page picture.

Cayla: "Or a fashionable collar."

She sticks her tongue at Damian while she tells her. Raven simply blinks at her.

Raven: "How about this. The owner of the dog chooses the collar for his dog?"

Damian: "Finally, someone with common sense!"

Damian exclaims as Cayla smirks.

Cayla: "I knew that would come up, so I'm reading this part to you: "Anyone using this book can without owners judgement dress up their dog in any way they want!""

Damian: "That's absurd, West!"

Raven: "Yea. Where did you get that book anyway?"

Cayla: "Oh, I borrowed it from Y/N."

When she realised what she said, it was late, as Raven was back into a grumpy mood once again.

Cayla: "Ah, frick biscuits..."

IN JUMP CITY

Tech Sector, 9:17 am

A red chip floated in the blue shining light due to the magnetic power field surrounding it.

The room was going through reconstruction currently, to add better and newer technology, so 2 guards were guarding the place.

Suddenly, an alarm started blazing in the sector. Two guards went directly to the front door to check if somebody was going towards them.

When the doors opened and they entered the hall, there was no one. They looked around only to see an empty area.

Guard#1: "I don't like this."

Just as he said it, the doors behind them closed.

Guard#1: "HEY!"

As they tried to open the door, chip was left unguarded. Then, out of thin air, a person wearing a black suit with a cape phases infront of the chip.

He takes the chip and inspects it.

???: "This is the one."

The doors behind him exploded as 2 guards walked back in the room and saw him holding the chip.

Guard#2: "He's gotta chip."

They open fire at him with their lazer guns, but the figure jumps high into the area and disappears as his body phases out.

Guards ran towards where the figure stood, but they couldn't find him.

Guard#2: "Where did he go?"

Back to the figure, he is seen running in another part of the sector, but he immediately notices he is being followed.

Dick: "<< There's a robbery in the tech sector.I'm working a case with Kori back in Gotham... >>"

Dick tells the team, as we see Titans running after the unknown figure.

Dick: "<< And I'm also attending a Grand Opening of the renovated Gotham State University Tower of Enlightenment. Sure you guys can handle this without us? >>"

He asks as we see both Robin and Beetle listening to him on their communicators.

Beetle: "No problem."

Robin: "Don't be foolish, Grayson. Of course we can."

Camera shifts to the first team which consists of Robin, Velocity, Terra, Beast Boy and Raven as they are the ones who chase the thief.

Unknown figure runs at the locked door, which he easily opens by punching the door panel as he escapes inside as Titans are hot on his trail.

The thief opens the elevator doors and fires his grapple as he is pulled up. Titans enter the elevator shaft as Raven uses her powers to start pulling the elevator up as they use it as a lift, which is its main purpose of course.

The thief then uses the deflective glass as he fools the energy laser doors as he walks through the space he created.

He has entered the storage, but while running his recharging gun for his suit falls off the belt.

He stops and goes to grab it, but just then, Titans enter the room.

Now they have a good look at their thief.

Beast Boy: "Red X!? I thought Nightwing was Red X!?

Beast Boy screams aloud as Robin grits his teeth,

Red X: "Think again."

Red X fires X-Shaped shurikens at them which start to explode.

Robin: "Titans, go!"

While others move out of the way, Raven makes a shield aura around herself as she is protected from the blast.

When dust settles, Raven sees Red X going at her as he jumps into the air going towards her.

She raises another shield, but Red X phases behind her and cuts her by legs as she falls on the ground.

Red X spawns another X weapon and was going to tie her, but Rock hits the X from his hand.

Red X looks up and sees Terra going at him, sending all the size rocks at him.

He dodges every single hit as he pushes himself off the wall and starts running the metal pillars above her.

As she tries not to make entire roof coming down, this gives Red X an opening as he sends two laser blasts which bounce of the walls to make an X which electricfies Terra as she also falls on the ground.

As Red X gets up, Beast Boy goes for an attack from behind as a pterodactyl which he turns into a giant monkey.

Red X simply puts an X into his open mouth and jumps off the pillar.

Beast Boy tries to remove X from his mouth, but can't so he transforms into a Rhino as X finally slips out of his mouth.

But soon he realises he's too big and heavy on the pillar.

He tries to hold on, but slips down as he crashes into a lot of boxes.

As Red X lands, he sees a blur coming straight at him. He shoots the red infornt of which spreads wide.

As Velocity goes towards him, 4 edges of the X pulls boxes so all boxes hit Velocity as she slides past the Red X on the ground.

As Red X follows Velocity sliding away, he sports as others are back on their feet, surrounding him.

Red X: "Come on kids. X marks the spot."

He points at the X on his chest as he soon dodges another boulder thrown by now very pissed Terra.

As he dodges more boulders and a few boxes thrown by Raven, he lands infront of Beast Boy who, in a big Monkey transformation, goes to squish him with his fists, but Red X teleports just before the fists hit the ground.

As others wonder where he went, Red X appears a few metres behind them where he is immediately jumped and tackled by Robin, who has been watching him this entire time.

They roll on the ground until Red X pushes himself off Robin and lands on his feet.

Robin throws a batarang at him, but misses as batarang goes through Red X who phase out of thin air.

As Robin gets up, Red X appears behind him and goes to hit his head, but Robin Quickly dodges an attack and throws Red X forward.

Robin's one on the offensive now as he sends fists swinging at Red X, but he just simply phases out of the way of each swing.

Red X jumps into the air and goes for the air down kick, but Robin catches his foot and throws him hard, crashing into the box, making a dent on it.

As Red X recovers, Robin grabs him by the mask and pins him down.

Robin: ""Who are you?"

Red X: "If I wanted you to know that, wouldn't I be wearing a mask?"

Then Red X grabs his arm as he sends an electric X shockwave at him. Robin yells in pain as Red X punched him in the face, sending him crashing into the pile of boxes.

His teammates swing this, Raven and Terra go at Red X. As they charge their attack, Red X fires another X which spreads and connects with both of the female powers, which causes a combined shockwave.

Terra&Raven: "ARGH!!"

Both girls scream in pain as they fall onto the ground.

Red X: "Looks like you got your scissors rocked."

Red X then notices both Beast Boy as a bear and velocity running at him.

Red X puts his hand on the ground and activates his X, which splitski the ground open as both Titans fall into the crack.

Red X: "Watch your step."

Red X jumps over the crack and walks over to Robin.

He pushes the boy wonder with his leg aside as he grabs his charge gun he dropped earlier.

As he starts running, Robin gets back up and goes after him.

Robin: "I won't let you get away with - -ARGH!"

An X is fired at his feet as it Ties them up so he falls once more onto the ground.

Red X: "Better luck next time, kid. And send my thanks to your predecessor for the suit."

As he presses the X on his belt to try and teleport away, it malfunctions.

Red X: "Come on, come on!"

While Red X tries to hit it harder, Robin gets free of the X and runs at him.

Red X: "Great!"

Red X throws a ball at Robin, which explodes into a net which caughts him.

Velocity: "Robin!"

Velocity yells as Red X starts to get away.

Robin: "I'm fine. Get X! Go!"

He orders her as she nods and starts running after the X.

Velocity: "Team 2, regrouping at your position!"

When Red X exits through the roof his is met with 2nd team consisting of Blue Beetle and Wonder Girl and soon Raven, who joined them by teleporting to them.

Beetle: "You working for someone, tough guy?"

He asks as Beetle creates the hand cannon on his right arm.

Red X: "Red X works alone."

He fires multiple different Xs at them as he takes the chance to escape down the nearest subway.

As 3 of them walk down inside the subway, there is no sign of Red X. So Blue Beetle steps out as his eyes on the mask start to glow red.

Beetle: "Scarab has adjusted my aquailan emplent scan at multiplient Sub-harmonics at EU spectrum."

Wonder Girl: "'K. Do you come with subtitles?"

Beetle: "My vision should spot him even if he's invisible."

Just as he starts looking around, Red X drops infront of him and kicks him, sending him to land on another pile of boxes.

Those boxes are having a field day, aren't they? Poor objects.

Wonder Girl throws her lasso at Red X, but he rolls down underneath it and fires a slimy X which hits Wonder Girl.

Wonder Girl: "What in Zeus's beard!?"

She tries to get free, but the glue is too powerful.

Red X turns to his left and sees Raven going to spell her strongest magic attack at him.

Raven: "Azarath Metrion Zin - - Mmh!?"

But before she can, Red X throws a X which attaches to Raven's mouth, shutting her up.

Blue Beetle tries to catch him from behind, but Red X jumps in time to evade his grip.

Beetle swings his now formed blade at him, but Red X jumps over his head and lands right behind him.

Red X quickly attaches X at the Beetle on his back as Beetle starts to screech.

Beetle: "What?"

Beetle, trying to get itself free, starts taking over Jaime's body.

Beetle: "Hey, what are you - - ARGH!?

This scramble made Blue Beetle fall on the ground as there was an unintentional battle for control.

When he sees Velocity running towards them, Red X turns and starts running towards the upcoming train. He hits the X on his belt and jumps into air, turning towards the Titans.

Red X: "Catch a later."

Red X's suit finally works as he teleports away just as the train passes through, while doing a 2 fingers salute towards the Titans.

Velocity: "Damn it!"

Beetle: "Ye, Será mejor que corras! (you better run!)"

Jaime yells as he still struggles with his beetle.

Wonder Girl: "So, do you guys see what I don't see?"

Beetle: "Who was that guy?"

UNKNOWN LOCATION

4:12 pm

In the big base, one man stood infront of the big white screen on which Red X was shown talking to the mysterious figure.

Red X: "Rumor has it you're interested in this."

Camara shifts to the figure he was talking to...

David Cain.

David: "I'm interested in many things, Mr..."

Red X: "X. Red X."

David: "Hmm, catchy. So, are you proposing a sale or gift?"

David asks him as he narrows his eyes at Red X.

Red X: "A partnership. I'll give you the chip, you cut me into your employment."

David: "A partnership, my, my. We are ambitious."

He chuckles before continuing.

David: "But an alliance can't be forged from one small chip."

He moves to the table where 3 boxes are placed, all 3 empty, waiting for the chios to be put into each one.

David: "If you're gonna earn my trust, I require more."

Red X narrows his eyes as he leans in.

Red X: "Just tell me what you want."

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Here's finally first chapter of this arc.

I think you all know who Red X is...

OR DO YOU?

Only one way to find out.

What do you think of tensions between Raven and Y/N?

Something definetly needs to happen, right!?

And why are Dick and Kori in Gotham? What lured them there? Or, more precisly, who lured them there?

Until then,

Goodbye and see you into the spiderverse.