#red-x

[bebea-123]

my Red-X redesign.

For some reason I've become obsessed dc, Especially Dick grayson.

btw I've started to think about my own AU of him when he becomes evil, and star work towards batman and the other in justice league. Because yeah Batman is not the best  Dad.

[bluebird722]

Masks in a Maze

Characters: NTT!Raven and TT!Red-X

Rating: M for lemon

Summary: The Titans must infiltrate a masquerade in search of any suspicious activity, but maybe it begins within one of them...

The ball had not even started when it was supposed to, as the Titans discovered upon arrival. Attendees were standing together, holding glasses of champagne and talking to one another. Everyone was wearing a mask—some similar to Nightwing’s, some so covering that even the Changeling’s green hair and skin would have appeared to be a covering.

“All right, Titans,” whispered Dick, “remember the plan: Keep an eye out for any suspicious activity. If anything feels wrong, report to me or find one another, but be subtle.”

“Got it.”

“Understood.”

After Garfield, Victor, Donna, Raven, Kori, and Wally whispered their promises to obey, each Titan separated, the skirts of the females’ dresses fluttering behind them in seas of vibrant colors.

Raven forgot how Dick even heard of this ball, let alone suspected that someone might pull a heist on what was the city’s annual fundraiser/celebratory gathering to support the local children’s hospital, but that explained the ball’s theme—masked masquerade, a reminder that even the unknown, the anonymous were heroes. She braced herself for the nearly five hundred attendees, and so far, it seemed to be working. Emotions could not suffocate her; she had meditated and reminded herself to stay focused on Dick’s instruction, even if it meant dancing. Unfortunately, that meant having to find a partner.

Several young women around her age had gathered by a pillar, either whispering to each other or admiring the artwork. Raven noticed Donna thank a waiter for champagne and tried to follow her advice: Make eye contact with a man, smile, and break eye contact. He will want to chase you before you attract another man. It seemed easier said than done. Nearly every man—not counting her teammates—was in the company of whom she perceived to be more attractive women. Raven eyed a strand of hair that framed her face and wondered if she should have done something other than a French twist for her long black hair.

She tried not to fidget with any part of her gown, as though such an action would ruin it. She did not like shopping for this event, even though she had Kori at her side to provide options. They all looked beautiful on the hangers, but, ironically, this gown, the one that made her feel so insecure, was the one Kori approved of. The color, a royal navy and almost the opposite of her normal colored dress, was too slimming. The mermaid gown with the train was difficult to walk in, even though Kori thought it was somehow suitable for dancing in. It was strapless, and the back bared her shoulder blades, but even with long gloves, she still felt like she was exposing too much skin. At least the mask was shaped like a swan and hooked behind her ears like a pair of glasses.

She watched the mayor go up on stage, thank everyone for their attendance, and announce that the dancing should begin. Raven took a deep breath. Not all of the women beside her had left and found partners, but she shifted her feelings so she could concentrate. As the band began some symphony, she watched for anything unusual, but all she could find were masked dancers preparing to dance. She thought that she saw the top of Victor’s head but realized that it was part of a mask.

“It’s no fun being a wallflower, is it?”

The whisper and warm breath in her ear made Raven jump. She turned to her left and made eye contact with the stranger—eyes a piercing blue, almost concealed behind a mask framing an angular face and a head of curly black hair. Even by looking at his face, she knew that he wore a cape of black silk with an interior of red silk.

She inhaled, but her lungs felt frozen.

The stranger smiled. She tried not to fantasize about those lips and what it would be like to kiss them, and they didn’t even look chapped. “Um…no…” she whispered back.

He took her hand, covered in a bicep-long white glove, and kissed the curve of her wrist. Concentrate, she reminded herself. If you lose control of your powers, he will suspect who you are…

“May I have this dance?”

Raven nodded, still wide-eyed and open-mouthed. He guided her to the doors close to the band, and they joined in to a composition that she remembered from Black Swan. She knew that she should keep an eye out for any sign of impending trouble, or even of her teammates, but it was hard to look away from the eyes that gave her the sensation of looking down in a wide ocean. She could envision herself swimming, the water rejuvenating her skin and filling her with an energy to keep going.

They kept dancing for what seemed like hours, yet she wasn’t tired. She felt like the mini ballerinas in the musical jewelry boxes. For a moment, she envisioned herself and her partner becoming one, unwilling to ever separate. She pressed her chest against his and clutched his shoulder. He responded by slowly stroking up the back of her dress.

“This night is turning out better than I had hoped,” he whispered into the sensitive skin of her neck.

Raven pulled away, still holding onto his shoulder and hand. “How is that?”

Her partner refused to look away from her eyes. Raven’s torso began to perspire under the material of her gown. “Let me show you something.”

Raven took a deep breath. She knew that doing so would pull her away from the overall intention of why she was here, but she knew that refusing might make him suspicious. Maybe he was the one whom Dick was suspecting, or maybe she was overthinking.

“Where shall we go?” she whispered.

He pulled away and led her outside into the crisp spring air. Raven couldn’t help but shiver once she stepped outside. Why didn’t she think to bring a shawl to this event?

Her partner chuckled, and she heard a clasp. “Where are my manners?” he asked himself. Raven felt the smooth fabric of silk encase her shoulders and exposed back, and shivered even more. “Forgive me, Rachel Roth. I did not even assume—”

Raven’s eyes widen. “H—How did you know my name?”

True, it was not her birth name, just one that she used for legal matters, but how could he have suspected?

“Rachel Roth?” he asked. He shrugged. “I couldn’t help but recognize you from that portrait that you posed for, from that photographer James Silke.”

Raven’s throat dried. “H—How—Wh—What—”

“I don’t know,” he said. “I just recognized you by your cheekbones, your nose, even your lips, even with that mask you’re wearing.”

Raven’s cheeks flushed. Not only did he know her “name” and recognize her, but he also saw her naked, sans two silver bracelets and matching hoop earrings. She didn’t know why she agreed to pose for James Silke, other than that the pictures were for charity, and she thought that it would help her feel more in touch with herself. As long as she covered her breasts and didn’t show offer her nether regions, she didn’t feel like she was “exploiting” herself for men’s and women’s lusty eyes.

And he knew her name… Did he know who she was. Was that enough for him to recognize her as Raven of the Teen Titans? Raven worried that she had walked into a trap. She turned her head only to realize that they were no longer beside the ballroom. In fact, everything around them was green. With a sinking heart, she realized that they had made their way into the nearby maze. She refused to meet his eyes. “Whe—How did we…”

He looked amused. “You don’t remember? We’ve been walking through the maze for a while. You must have lost focus.”

Raven felt her heart racing and worried that she had indeed walked into a trap. The only way to escape was to use her powers, but that would blow her cover, and then the bad guys, if any, would know that she wasn’t alone. She listened hard but could not hear any human voices. Even the music was faint.

“Relax,” he said. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I only wanted to keep walking.”

Raven pulled his cape tighter around her arms. “But you just met me—I mean, you know who I was from a photograph of me naked…”

“And I knew that the external beauty matches your internal beauty,” he reassured her. She glanced at him with unsure eyes. “I did not want to scare you—only to get you…” He rubbed her arms reassuringly, and Raven moaned. It felt comforting. Without thinking, she leaned into his arms and rested her head on his shoulder. It was a comfort that she worried that she would never have again.

He muttered something unintelligible. She lifted her head to meet his eyes. “What was that?”

“May I kiss your neck?” he repeated. “I believe in consent before I do something that might make a woman feel uncomfortable.”

Raven had never before experienced such a thing and nodded. “If it pleases you…”

He gave in to temptation, but then he kissed her twice. She moaned. “I like that.”

“I’ve only done it twice,” he said, “but I must admit that it’s already addicting.” He kissed her neck again, this time up to her ear, and Raven smiled in pleasure.

“Yes,” she purred. “A little more…”

He moved on to her hairline, behind her ear, and even the back of her neck. Raven gripped the fabric of his costume and arched her back. She decided to return the favor and pecked the bare flesh peeking over his collar.

“It’s so creamy and addicting,” he murmured into her neck, “but…may I give you a real kiss?”

Raven even more slowly pulled away. “What?”

He eyed her swollen lips in hunger. “Yes. A. Real. Kiss.”

Keep calm, she reminded herself. She scanned the exposed skin of his face and sensed honesty, infatuation, genuine attraction, lust…but no deception, no false sense of integrity.

Biting her lip, Raven nodded.

Her handsome partner smirked and with the tip of his thumb traced down her lower lip. The desire in his was growing. She stared into his eyes and their pupils even as he lowered his face and then his lips on top of Raven’s.

Raven closed her eyes and drew her arms around his neck and shoulders to bring him closer. Even though she kept her emotions tame, she absorbed the euphoria coming from him. His hands pressed against her back and to his chest. Any time they pulled apart, they came back together. Eventually, it heated up to something more, but Raven didn’t care until she lost her footing. Then she realized that he had picked her up and pressed her back against the wall of the maze.

“I don’t want to stop,” she confessed.

Her partner grinned. “Neither do I,” he admitted. He dove back in for another kiss. She wrestled with the heavy fabric of her skirt, and he must have suspected, for he used one hand to push the skirt to her waist, and then her bare legs immediately wrapped around his hips.

“Anyone could catch us,” she worried.

“No,” he said. “We’re too far in…” He kissed down her throat and lapped at her pulse.

The vegetation of the walls were uncomfortable against Raven’s skin through the cape, but she concentrated on his lusty lips puckering all over her collarbone. “Don’t stop,” she panted, and he dipped down to taste her cleavage.

“I don’t want to,” he said with a smirk. Then he lowered his head and bit her nipple through her dress.

Raven’s hair was starting to fall out of its twist, she could feel, but all she cared about was his costume. If he could do that to her chest, it made sense she should do the same. She pushed the jacket from his shoulders and sensed shock from him until he removed it for her and kissed her on the lips again. She instantly unbuttoned his shirt and flattened her palms against a smooth, hairless chest. Did he wax, or was it fate?

“You’re eager,” he said huskily. Raven bit her lip in greed, startled with herself. “Don’t be embarrassed, Rachel, just let me know when to stop.”

Raven heaved. She knew she had to; it was a wonder that her powers didn’t blow up the maze yet, but at the same time, she didn’t know when or if she would ever see him again. She looked into his eyes and sensed eagerness and worry at the same time.

“I don’t want to.” She knew that she kept repeating herself, but she didn’t care.

With a grin, he kissed her again. This time, she smoothed up his back and tickled the hair from his underarm.

His hands met at her back, and Raven focused on their kissing until she heard the sound of a zipper separating. Then her whole back was exposed, and the bust of her dress was loose over her larger than average breasts. She closed her eyes and let him kiss down her sternum and push down her dress, exposing her bare breasts. Then he held her wrists together behind her back with one hand and kissed the swell of her breast.

Raven gasped and arched her neck. Her hips wiggled against his pelvis, and the dress fell further down her body. He kissed up to one nipple and studied the perfectly dark color. It made him think of a fruit with a tempting taste. Without hesitating, he took it between his lips and swirled the tip of his tongue around her areola and occasionally over the tip. His other hand squeezed her other breast and slowly tweaked her nipple but began to go faster and harder.

Raven nearly sobbed as an odd sensation began to sprout in her abdomen. Her forehead broke out into a sweat, and something was growing between her legs. She wanted to grab a hold of his head so he kept his mouth on her nipple, sucking on her breast like he was being paid to. Then his other hand wandered from her other breast to trail down her ribcage and caress her abdomen. Then he let go of her wrists and suddenly managed to push the gown from her waist to over her head. Raven shivered and tried to press her body against his, but he sucked on her other nipple as vigorously as he had with the other.

The wandering hand circled around her navel and dipped into it, tracing around the interior, and when she rubbed her crotch against him, he knew that he did something right. He fondled her belly button a while longer and slid his hand down as best as he could under the high-waisted briefs she wore.

As soon as he grazed her clit, Raven gasped. “Oh…” Her partner ignored her. His one hand sneakily slid away the briefs, as the other kept fondling her clit. Slow circles were her preference. He loudly slurped on her nipple and pushed his fingers into her.

“Faster,” she winced.

He ignored his aching wrist and took to kneading her as he twisted and sucked on her nipples at the same time. She drew long, shaky breaths, and choked when he flicked at her clit. He watched her naked skin gleam in the moonlight and hoped that she could return his needs afterwards.

She was getting close, so he pulled off her high heels, taking her briefs with them, and set her feet flat on his shoulders. Confident that she would stay that way, he laid his hand over her mouth and clasped his onto the moist V between her thighs.

He knew that fingers were a nice touch, but he used his tongue first—first up her slit, then circling her clit again, then into her. He fucked her with his tongue and rubbed his palm over her sweltering abdomen and the top of her thigh at a pace uneven with his tongue that suckled on each fold, collected whatever juices she excreted, and moved on to the other, and then back to penetrating her. She actually rolled and lifted her lips in response, and it only increased her pleasure.

Raven quietly squealed into his hand, her fingertips clutching his hair. She was pouring over his lips, and her nipples were erect. As she collected herself, he stroked his fingers around the interior of her pussy and traced small circles around her taut nipples using the liquid she excreted. This seemed to relax her.

She watched him circle her nipples in such tenderness that she took a deep breath. “Again,” she stuttered.

Immediately, he stopped and lifted his head. “What?”

Raven pulled him closer so she could unzip his trousers, already tight on him. Purring to himself, he helped her lower them down and caressed her delicious curves. They were even better in person.

“Is this your first time?” he asked hesitantly. When she nodded, a part of him lit up in excitement.

“This may feel uncomfortable,” he said, “but let me know if it hurts.”

Raven nodded and rested her head on his shoulder, making faces as he tried to push in. It was like her body didn’t want to lose its virginity or was too scared to take in a male organ.

When he managed to push in the tip, it didn’t hurt, but she clenched around him and swallowed. “I am fine,” she reassured him through shivers. “Just…slow…”

The discomfort grew until all of him was in her. It felt strange yet good, like something she didn’t know was missing form her life but she found and possessed. He shifted his hips and made sure to rub against her clit for extra pleasure. He was slow to pull halfway out and push back in. Eventually, Raven had to whisper it to him with a kiss to the ear.

“Faster.”

He took his time going faster, careful to keep a rhythm and then increase in speed. As he went faster, he breathed into the black hair mingling with the vegetation behind her. They clutched each other as though loosening their grips would break them apart. Raven scrunched her eyes closed and panted with every thrust. Her lover gripped her thighs and became high off her scent, which only drove him to move faster. She winced every time he touched a part of her that made her feel like she stood tiptoe on the edge of a cliff. She knew it was coming and clenched her teeth.

“You’re almost there,” he grunted as he went so fast that it was almost dizzying for him.

Then Raven let out a mixture of a shudder and a squeal, arching her back and clenching around him. She tried to stare at the starry sky, but she couldn’t keep her eyes open. She drifted a hand over her breasts and down her abdomen as though her body cooled down from its adrenaline high and settled back into place, like if she dove into the ocean and the cold water rejuvenated her entire body. She looked down at her partner, who had his head over her heaving breasts, keeping his orgasm to himself.

“How do you feel?”

He panted for a while longer and then lifted his head so he could meet her eyes. “Fulfilled,” he shuddered. Raven couldn’t help but chuckle. Then he did the same, and they were joined in small laughter until he pulled her from the maze. She still held onto him and kissed his forehead.

“Thank you,” she purred. “That was amazing.”

He smiled and softly kissed her. “I agree,” he breathed. Then they kissed even more until they heard an emergency siren.

“Oh no.” Raven tried to peer over his head but could only see green. “It’s… It might be from the ballroom…”

Her lover was slow to pull out, though she did shiver, and they stood on trembling legs as they searched for their clothing. He finished just as she tried pulling the dress up to her waist, and zipped up the back for her. Raven smoothed down her hair for any loose leaves.

“Come on,” he said as he took her hand. “I remember how to get out.”

Just as they neared the entrance and saw flashes of blue and cherry lights, Raven stopped and gripped his hand. “Wait—how will I be able to—When will I see you again?”

He turned around and stared into her face. “We will reunite again, I promise,” he reassured her. “It will be sooner than you might expect…Raven.”

A deep shiver ran down Raven’s spine. “Wh—What did you call me? W—Who are you?”

He smirked and pulled her into his arms. “X. Red-X.” Then he kissed her hard and vanished in the opposite direction of the doors that they walked through.

Raven’s head was buzzing, and her lips were tingling, and her legs were shaking, and she didn’t comprehend what had happened until she stepped inside and saw the ballroom a mess of broken champagne glasses, scattered music sheets, exploded instruments, people bleeding from glass cutes, and a shattered chandelier that her startled teammates, mingled with the other partygoers, surrounded in groups, too afraid to get close.

[phantomstatistician]

Fandom: Teen Titans

Sample Size: 2,605 stories

[machiavelliann]

dark sides, by the crazy talented artist Gabriel Picolo

[bwbeedubs]

Worst Day

It was the day that every girl dreams of:

Her wedding day.

Or, at least, it would be if it were real. And not in a barn. In the middle of nowhere. To a supposed dead man that she did not know nor particularly care remotely for. If it was actually her wedding day and not a day that was just a show for the fake married life they were going to lead for who knows how long.

It was more like a day that no one would ever think - let alone- dream, would happen but was. And it was happening to her.

How lucky...

The air smelled like hay and manure, which was just a polite way of saying it smelled like shit. Even in the bridal suite of the house they were in while she and her “bridesmaids” were getting ready for the worst day of her life, the smell penetrated the house and seemed to get on everything. She wondered how long would the smell cling to her.

“People actually pay for this?” Raven drooled as she sat while Starfire took the 20 large curlers from her hair.

She nodded with great enthusiasm. “Oh yes! I believe the trend is called country rustic chic!”

“I call it too fucking expensive,” Raven replied, dryly. “Why couldn’t we just do a small beach wedding? That would’ve been just as convincing.”

“Nope,” Cyborg said as he snapped a picture of Bumblebee and Argent. “The big trend is DIY country rustic chic and we are trying to run as normal and basic as possible. If that means Christmas lights, mason jars, and giant spools of burlap on a farm, then that’s what we have to do. We have to-.”

“Try to make it convincing,” Raven trailed with a roll of her eye. She heard that phrase so many times over the past two weeks since the start of the assignment, it barely sounded like a sentence anymore. It sounded more like random noise. “I know…”

Cy gave her a look of sympathy. “Hey… it’s only temporary. And after this mission is done, you’ll get all the vacation days you want.”

She hummed. “At least, one good thing will come out of this marriage.”

“Atta girl,” he smiled back as he lifted the camerato his eye. “Now look at Starfire like you’re having a good time.”

With a heavy breath, Raven looked to Star as she pulled a false smile on her face and pretended for the camera. Pretended she was happy, pretended she was okay with this, that she was strong enough for this weird sort of burial.

Her cheeks stung and the split of her lips felt like a knife slicing through her face. Her body a skeleton city that only echoed the shallow beating of her hollow heart. She felt so empty about this day. This day that was made up to be hers but it wasn’t. No, this day was for the very-soon-to-be Mrs. Rachel Todd. Not only was it her wedding day but it was also her birthing day. What a strange feeling it was hosting such a stranger who was nothing like her but made up of everything her.

Looking up at Star, Raven couldn’t help but feel envy. How happy she seemed plucking out the curlers from her hair. Just as happy as she was planning the wedding and caking the makeup on her face. How easy it seemed for her to pretend that she was happy for this new person. Or maybe it was just that: Easy.

After all, she was the easiest one to explain away.

Her eyes drifted away from her friend to the large hanging white dress in the window. There she was in all her chiffon and lace appliqué and feathery glory. Waiting for her first breath of life with Raven’s last. Rachel’s dream wedding dress...

Raven’s feathery, chiffon, lacy bleach white coffin.

—-

“Where did you get this suit? Men’s wearhouse?” Jason muttered as he crossed his bow tie over his neck in the mirror.

“Yup,” Dick replied with a definitive pop.

“Yeah, I can feel it. The material is so… cheap,” Jason sneered. “Y’know, you could’ve let me have one of my Tom Ford suits that wasn’t rigged with anything for today.”

“Had to go full out basic for this,” Dick explained, securing his last cuff link. “Tom Ford is far from basic.”

He huffed. “I guess that’s true… it’s just all so…”

Plain. Boring. Unimaginative. Cheap, and not in financially savvy good way. It was so…

“Vanilla…” Nothing like what he envisioned.

Dick let out a small chuckle. “Then, we’re doing something right.”

Turning to his “Best Man,” Jason raised a quizative brow. “Well… that sounds cryptic. And I’m the one getting the ball and chain today.”

“Don’t say that. Raven’s not that bad.”

“I’m unofficially getting married to a woman I hardly know for a mission with no end date and under the circumstance that I “behave” myself, lest, I be sent to jail. All so that I don’t go to jail and I get my wrap sheet wiped clean,” Jason replied, dryly. “I’m not exactly marrying out of choice here. She’s my literal ball and chain.”

“She’s still not that bad…” Dick paused. “Once you get to know her.”

Jason snorted, turning to the dresser for his cufflinks. “Do you see us getting along?”

“Hmm… if I remember correctly, you did have a small crush on her back in ‘03 when you guys first met,” Dick mused with a smirk.

Jason rolled his eyes, trying to hide the slight blush that started to creep on his cheeks as he fiddled with his link. “I was a kid, then. That was back when I thought I had a chance with Wonder Woman too.”

Dick shrugged. “To be fair, so did Bruce.”

“True. He with the Cat again?”

“Y’know, he can’t seem to quit her for too long.”

“Ugh, how long has this round of the merry-go-round been going this time?”

“For a while now this time,” Dick mused, watching Jason struggle with the link. “About 10 months, I think.”

“Well, I owe Alfred $40 now,” Jason laughed as he continued to fumble around with the accessory. “Damnit.”

“Let me,” Dick muttered, coming over to him and taking the link out of his hands.

A weird and tense sort of silence passed between the two as Dick worked the link on his sleeve. It was so strange how easy they could talk but then, memories of how everything went down would slam into them. Rendering them silent. Debating if now was the time to hash things out. If now was the time to apologize. If they should apologize…

Jason cleared his throat, looking at anything in the room. “Didn’t get to ask earlier - how is Alfred?”

“He’s good,” Dick nodded, moving onto the next sleeve. “Still Alfred. Patching everyone up, giving Bruce shit about his life choices… He’s upset that you didn’t tell him you were back. From the dead.”

“I know…” Jason sighed, “I’m not looking forward to that phone call.”

“Less or more than the call from Bruce?”

“Less. Bruce will just brood disappointedly at you through the phone. Alfred will send you a care package full of poisoned tea and biscuits when you’re low on groceries… And you will thank him for it,” Jason snorted as Dick secured the last link.

“Ha! True,” Dick laughed as he stepped back and looked at the mirror, both doing last minute primping before they were called down to the Long Walk Down the Aisle. “Robin rule number 1?”

“Never piss off the Butler,” they said in unison before breaking out into another shared laugh.

“How could I forget that rule?” Jason, jokingly, criticized himself.

Dick’s laugh trailed off, letting the intensity from earlier seep back into his bones. He sighed as he straightened out his suit jacket again. “Y’know, we’re going to have to talk things out at some point, right?”

Jason’s smile faded away into a look of mild annoyance as he fixed his tie again. “It’s not enough that you’re marrying me off to someone I barely know?”

“Nope,” Dick answered before clapping a hand on Jason’s shoulder with a playful smile. “You shouldn’t have died - but all things considered… it can wait for another day.”

“Thanks…”

Dick made a strange noncommittal noise, walking over to the door of their suit to head outside to the impending long walk of doom. “Don’t thank me yet… I didn’t send Alfred an invite.”

Jason paused, staring blank face at his older brother who just stood there with the door open and a semi-guilty grin on his face.  He blinked. “I already died once, Dick! I’m not exactly looking forward to dying again!”

Dick shrugged. “Sorry.”

—-

It was a beautiful day.

The warm southern breeze carried the melodic songs the birds sung in time with the soft notes of “Ava Maria.” The green grass gleamed in the golden early afternoon, still wet from the morning dew. The white country rose covered gazebo stood proudly as the pair stood within it’s archway, staring down their “pastor” as a gang of “witnesses” sat behind them.

It was so picture perfect. Sickeningly so perfect. God, it was such a beautiful day for a beautiful wedding.

What a shame it was wasted on them.

Raven pressed her lips as she felt a trickle of sweat at the back of her head, her somehow near to 200 pound dress weighing down on her. How did women do this, she wondered as she straightened her shoulders, trying to hoist her dress up. Her head was itchy from the pins pressing against the back her head, making sure the half up part of her hair stayed high and tight, while the hairspray on her perfectly spiraled curls crunched from the slightest movement she made. Her feet were killing her, certain that she had lost feeling in her three smaller toes on both feet from her too tight heels. She could feel her pores clogging from the 5 layers of makeup painted on her holographed face from the obscenely large rose gold “engagement ring” resting on her left hand. The corset she was wearing underneath squeezed too tight on her ribcage, making it hard to breath…

Why would women put themselves through this torture for just one solitary day? She wondered again.

Letting out a breath, she batted her eyelids open and tried to focus on the “Ceremony” which was really just a photo opportunity to really sell the story that she and her very-soon-to-be-fake-husband were an average, everyday newlywed couple. All in the name of justice.

God, she wanted to gag at the thought… but she was already too busy trying not to faint.

“Okay, now you guys face each other, hold hands, and look like you’re saying your vows,” Cyborg said as he wandered around them for another shot.

They had avoided looking at each other up to this point, neither of them fully ready to face exactly what they were signing up for. As if locking eyes with each other would make what they were doing just all the more real, and they couldn’t run. Not if they wanted to catch the guy they were after and not if he wanted a clean slate.

But lord, did they want to just run.

With heavy sighs, they decided it was time to face the music and turned to each other. Raven handed her country rose and baby’s breath riddled, lace wrapped bouquet to Starfire as she slowly placed her hands in his. Why did they feel like handcuffs? Emerald green eyes meet deep blue, and at that moment, they both had sealed their fate.

Such a wonderful day for a wedding… Tragic, it was a funeral.

“Look at each other lovingly. Say some words like these are your actual vows.”

They both rolled their eyes and let out a low groan of annoyance. “Haven’t we been degraded enough?”

“We’re not degrading you.”

“She’s wearing feathers, for god’s sake,” Jason replied back as he pulled out a handkerchief and gently patting down her cheeks of sweat whilst looking sweetly at her whilst his tone read indifferent. For a guy who didn’t seem to want this as much as she did, he was doing a good job of acting for the camera. “And she’s dying in it. You’ve got your shot. Let’s move on.”

“Just a few more shots… Raven, you say something,” Cyborg said, clicking his camera again. “And look like you actually like him.”

Raven sighed as she looked up at him, feeling absolutely nothing but tired. Not even angry or sad anymore. Just tired. And hot. Say something? She wanted to say so many, many things. How dare her friends just sign her off? How dare they fluff and primp and beautify her and celebrate her going away? How dare they turn her into someone who is nothing like her? Erase everything her? How dare they tell her to smile for the camera while she was dying inside? While the man who she was chained to held her hands and wiped her cheeks, acting like he was the only one who cared. And he very well could be as it was his funeral too.

 She pulled a soft smile on her face and hoped the rest of her features will fall in line and said the one thing she could think of that wouldn’t turn her face sour.

“It’s...such a beautiful day.”

Jason paused for a second before allowing another smile to grace his face but unlike his first smile, it was more genuine. It was more.... sad. “Let’s not start this off with a lie, Raven... It’s the worst day.”

“And got the shot. Let’s get the rings.”

[megwritesfanfiction]

98 "Take a deep Breath" RaeX

Okay, this was fun to write! 

Disclaimer: Don’t own Teen Titans. Not making a profit.

One Hundred Ways to Say ‘I Love You’ #98: “Take a deep breath.”OTP: RaeX

“Seriously?”

“Why is that so surprising?” Raven’s jaw clenched as she fought a smile. Her arms folded across her chest as she watched her boyfriend lower the gun to the table of the shooting lane.

“You work in law enforcement.” Jason smirked, leaning back against the table.  “I figured you all would have weapons training.”

“We aren’t trying to kill people.”

“You all have adopted the Batman Code, huh?”

Her eyebrow raised curiously.

“Beating the bad guys within an inch of their lives and then throwing them in jail.”

“I won’t even dignify that with an answer.” Raven decided. “Point is,” She gestured to the shooting range. “I have no reason to learn to shoot a gun, I have no reason to shoot a gun, and therefore, I have no reason to be in a gun range.”

“Come on.” He pouted, pulling her closer to him. His arms wrapped around her waist as he puled her back to his chest. Jason turned her to the target. “It’s a practical skill.”

“I’m an interdimensional half-demon.” She smiled a bit dangerously, as her hands went above her head to cup his head. “I would like to think that I am more dangerous than that piece of metal.”

“Naturally, but,” Jason murmured, kissing her neck. “I can also show you how to use it and disarm it safely.” He reached in front of her and placed the gun in her hands.

The empath layered her hands fitting them around the gun, remembering how his hands looked when he fired a gun.

“You’ve been watching me.”

She could feel the smile in his voice. Raven refused to stroke his ego.

“Loosen your grip a little. The gun should rest in your hands firmly and balanced, but not too tight.” Jason instructed softly. He gently molded her fingers, adjusting her trigger finger to the side of the weapon. “First rule, your finger should only be on the trigger when you are ready to shoot.”

Raven nodded.

“Straighten your back,” He told her, pulling her hips down to lengthen her spine. “Legs a little wider.” He whispered, stepping his leg between her own to adjust her legs. “Good, now,” His hands traced from her wrists to the tops of her shoulders. “Imagine there is a straight line from the barrel of your gun to the target.”

“I could always get one of those laser pointers.”

“You don’t need one.” His breathy chuckle tickled her skin and sent a shiver down her spine. “When you’re ready place your finger to the trigger,” His hands fluttered down her shoulders to the front of her stomach. “Take a breath.”

Violet eyes fluttered closed as she focused on the target in front of her. Raven inhaled.

“And squeeze.”

[philchoart]

"Arkham X 2.0" commissioned by ArkhamRedX (Josh Dunkley) for Roysovitch 's Earth-27 project. Concept/Design by Roy Westerman Character Owned by DC Comics FB page for Earth-27: www.facebook.com/Earth27Project GoFundMe campaign for Earth-27: www.gofundme.com/earth27project