Chapter 50: Lucky Encounters
The overpopulated city of Manhattan. People in every direction, and most of them could care less about anyone but themselves. Such was the way life was in a place like this. People had to work hard to find the right opportunities. Unless one had great connections, they'd have to struggle just to start their career.
It was honestly just like any other overpopulated city. Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Houston, etc. It's all the same with only a different look. But who cares? That's not Sora's problem. He was dealt a lucky hand, becoming wealth itself.
The young Lockhart leaned against a table by the side of the street. A long line wrapped around the building of Rubirosa the pizza shop. Luckily, Sora had already put in his order. He scrolled his phone, ignoring the constant gazes directed on his figure. His features made him stick out like a sore thumb every time.
There seemed to be a commotion further into the city. The people were tense, constantly looking at their phone for info. A big screen played the city news on the side of a building. Cyborg could be seen fighting against a golden robot.
Sure, the sleepy man helped the heroes a lot recently. That was only because the world would be destroyed if not. Why should he help Cyborg? That was way below his pay grade…and too much effort. Not only that, Sora couldn't figure out if the guy was a Teen Titan or a member of the Justice League.
'Maybe it's both.' He thought.
"Extra large deep dish pizza! Pepperoni and sausage with stuffed crust! Your order is ready!" An old Italian man called out from the shop.
Sora took the pizza box and made his exit. There was no reason for him to stay. Alice should be done with her meeting. Right before he could disappear, he noticed something extremely interesting.
The wind rattled his clothes as the subject of his interest zoomed past him. A beautiful woman was flying above the rooftops. Her slightly orange skin and reddish brown hair melded together like the perfect art. Her green eyes were fraught with desperation. A light purple hero suit covered her delicate frame, not leaving much to the imagination.
Sora made his way to the rooftops, slowly walking and observing. She eventually disappeared along the horizon but that didn't make him speed up. He couldn't help but grab a slice of pizza. It smelled so good. He was feeling hungry.
As he strolled across the rooftops in her direction, she just so happened to return. The orange skinned woman flew in each direction before returning to the start. She was lost.
"Pardon, good sir with the hair of snow. May I have a moment of your time?" She called upon noticing him. Sora finished chewing his food before speaking.
"...Starfire of the Teen Titans. How may I be of service?" He answered politely.
Some people deserved respect. The young Lockhart wasn't going to be antisocial with everyone. Only those he disliked. Starfire floated down beside him.
"Would you be so kind as to give directions? I am looking for the house of wares."
"The house of wares…Hmmm…do you know which house of wares?"
'There are a lot of warehouses in this city. You'll need to be more specific.' He thought with a smile.
Her way of speaking was truly a breath of fresh air. Amusing vernacular. It was something he could never get tired of. Not with the jovial personality she was known to have.
Starfire cupped her chin in the thought. Unconsciously, her body floated around him in circles. She was too absorbed in thought to realize.
"It is said to be an abandoned studio. Now a house of wares, it is still being remodeled." She finally answered. Sora thought for a second before slapping his hands together.
"Ah, the Aurora Studio. They just closed down since their building was purchased by a manufacturing company."
"That must be it. Please tell me how one would get there!" Starfire pleaded.
"No problem. Go down Harth Street, turn west on Magnolia, keep going down until you hit the dead end. Turn right then go straight. It's right over the fence." He explained. The teen titan frowned in confusion.
"Uhhh…what?" She didn't understand. Sora gestured for her to come closer. The pizza box was set on the ground.
"Do you have a phone?" He asked.
"Yes! I possess the best of phones! It is called the iPhone of apples." She explained.
"...Can I see?" He asked.
Starfire quickly pulled out her iPhone and handed it over. Sora casually wrapped his arm around her shoulders, bringing her into his chest. He used his other hand to bring the phone between them. The heroine didn't even realize how quickly she'd fallen to his schemes.
"Watch closely, okay?" He spoke sternly. She nodded, her eyes focusing on the screen.
"Please be swift. I must go there immediately." The tamaranean exclaimed.
Sora scrolled her phone until he found the navigation app. He then activated the GPS, and clicked on the warehouse. Her eyes widened as a line appeared that went all the way to the destination.
"...Follow the line, and you'll be there in no time." He explained.
"What sorcery! My phone of apples is a magic device?!" She commented in disbelief.
"It's called a GPS. Whenever you are lost, it will save you. Most of the time."
"Thank you, mister snow haired man!"
"My name is Sora."
"Sora of the snow haired clan. Does all your family possess white hair and golden eyes?"
"...I wouldn't know. There is only my father." Sora answered while thinking of God.
"I understand. May we meet again, Sora."
With those words, she flew off in the right direction. The young Lockhart picked up his pizza box and gazed at the horizon. He was still interested in what the commotion was. Is it a villain team up? The Teen Titans were all active.
It was at this moment that Starfire returned. There was a burning desire that could be seen on her cute face. She floated in front of him again. Sora had a frown on his face.
'I thought she was in a rush?'
"Back already? What's wrong?"
She looked at him, then at the pizza box in his hand. A gulp could be heard as the smell reached her nose once more. The grumble of her stomach revealed her intentions.
"Would you be so kind as to allow me a slice?" She asked. A chuckle escaped his lips.
"Of course. How could I say no to you?"
"Yes!" The young heroine exclaimed with glee.
The sleepy Lockhart gave her a slice while simultaneously grabbing the phone out of her pocket. He casually put his number in before giving it back. As she flew off again, Sora called out.
"If you need help again, you have my number!"
Starfire waved without turning her head. She flew even faster than last time. The pizza slice hung from her mouth. Sora closed the pizza box and vanished. He wanted to see what was happening for himself.
…
…
…
The warehouse was almost completely finished. Still, the electricity hadn't been reinstated, so it was extremely dark inside. Sora floated in the clouds and watched from above.
Robin, the sidekick to Batman, was currently on his last breath. He was getting beaten senseless by a man in a half brown half black helmet. A grown adult was breaking the limbs of a teen. Sadistic.
'Deathstroke. Or Slade, depending on who's watching.' The young Lockhart thought.
He couldn't figure out why the man had such a grudge with Robin. All Sora's memory revealed was that this elite mercenary was a serial stalker. The talented killer was always watching the boy. Maybe Slade hated Batman? Who knows.
None of this mattered to the sleepy billionaire. Starfire had joined the fray, helping Robin fight. It was more like she was fighting Deathstroke herself. Batman's sidekick was out of commission. Still, this didn't matter to Sora either.
In another part of the warehouse, a pale skinned woman could be seen curled into a ball. Her hands were clutching her head and the red crystal above her brow was pulsing. Silky purple hair fell out of her hood, revealing her origins. A black bodysuit covered what the cloak didn't, her perky bottom peeking through the material.
Despite the pain she seemed to be going through, the woman was still floating. Darkness radiated from her body. Her presence seemed so…delicious. With him being a figure of light, that dark energy caused his instincts to flare. He wanted to dominate it.
'This is a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect Raven to give me such a feeling.' He thought with curiosity. Every cell in his body was screaming.
DING
He was beside her in an instant. The young Lockhart pulled her floating body into his embrace. Placing his finger on her forehead, he sent a soothing stream of light into the red crystal. Her pain immediately seemed to disappear as if it was never there.
"What the…"
At that moment, Sora felt something. His heartbeat felt extremely loud. The darkness fed on his light, and his light fed on the darkness. An astral chain was formed. It linked the two together. Only then did it disappear. The feeling couldn't be described.
The sleepy man sat on a massive tire as she floated over his lap. His face was contorted into a weird frown. On one hand, he was curious about what just happened. On the other, he wondered if he'd made a horrible mistake.
"Siiiigh. Only time will tell." He grumbled.
His light sense focused on Starfire, who was still fighting Slade. The villain seemed to be taking it easy. He was toying with her. After crippling Robin, his goal was probably complete. He'd leave soon.
Sora felt movement in his arms. Raven wasn't floating anymore. She was fully on his lap. Maybe she was free from the recesses of her mind. Her eyes slowly opened. Those purple hues were still hazy, and she was still groggy. What a beautiful bundle of darkness.
"Nnnnngh…who…" She mumbled quietly.
His thumb gently caressed her face. Her pale skin was nice and smooth. That weird feeling between them seemed to be mutual. Her hand weakly grasped his arm. The two of them were resonating, him with light and her with darkness.
"Sleep. You will feel better soon." He spoke gently.
The comfortable sensation of his light washed over her. It only took a second for her to fall asleep. She was exhausted from whatever mental battle she'd been fighting. By the time she woke up, Sora would be gone.
This...bond between them. It couldn't be described. It was almost as if they were kin. An overwhelming feeling of possessiveness flooded Sora's senses. He didn't know why he felt this way. Maybe it was due to that chain. Still, it caused him to act.
The now incredibly angry Lockhart tapped his finger on Raven's forehead. He sent an overwhelming amount of killing intent and light inside the crystal. Whoever was on the other side would feel that.
Only then did Sora calm down. He gently set her on the tire, wrapping her in his aura. It would disappear once she woke up. The sleepy man couldn't help but glance at her once more. After a long frown, he took his pizza box and vanished.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
SwayStar
SwayStar When there's trouble you know who to calllllllll...TEEN TITANS!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone