Raven gazed at the sleepless city from Titans Tower, the very city they risked their vernal lives defending. It had been another long night of brutal crime fighting. It was deathly still within the tower, her teammates having fallen asleep on the couches sprawled around the main room. The black sky was beleaguered by resplendent stars, the natural beacons of light illuminating the body of water that surrounded the looming tower. She was fascinated at how something so naturally beautiful could change her ominous mood as simply as switching the radio station. As she stood there in her common solitary disposition, only one person conquered her mind.
"Raven, you're still awake? Is everything okay?" The voice came out of seemingly nowhere to disturb her contemplation. She jolted and confronted the source from which the query produced, and gasped inwardly upon seeing Robin gazing at her intently. He was out of uniform and wore nothing but crimson, oversized pajama pants, the bottoms pooling around his feet. Raven flushed a blinding bright pink as she analyzed the six-pack abs and rippling muscles that formed his arms. Rarely did she ever witness Robin out of uniform, always ready to battle in case of an emergency. It seemed the only object he never discarded was the black mask that concealed his true identity, no matter the situation.
"I'm fine. There's no reason to be concerned. Go back to sleep."
"Are you sure? You seemed troubled by something," said Robin, an expression of concern making his emotion quite obvious. He reached out to touch her shoulder in a consoling manner, but Raven withdrew harshly as if his touch would cause her harm. She suddenly wished she hadn't for his countenance betrayed the pain he attempted to hide. This wasn't the first time she hurt him. Robin had always been a loyal friend; he protected her from the enemies they encountered and trusted her enough to share his darkest fears. And yet, whenever he tried to get closer she would just hurt him, refusing to let anyone penetrate the dark barrier she'd toiled so hard to maintain. Always afraid to permit anyone entrance to her tortured soul.
"Raven, you're an exceptional and irreplaceable member of the team… And you're important to me. I hope you know you can tell me anything. Think about it."
It was as if he had peeked into her mind and read her very thoughts. How unsettling. Robin scratched the back of head sheepishly and she realized that he was awaiting her answer.
"I guess I'll think it over. But really, I'm fine," she said, forcing herself to send a reassuring smile. Apparently, it was enough for Robin. He nodded in comprehension and ordered her to get some rest, walking away to retire in his bedroom. Raven sighed. She knew he had no intention of actually dropping the matter, his resilient sense of duty as leader and companion would not allow it. It was exactly Robin's compassionate nature that made her secretly enamored with him. He cared about others enough to put their burdens before himself, a bona fide hero in his own right. What Robin was not aware of was that solace did not exist in Raven's world.