Another one shot series I have started, I didn't feel like this one fit quite the tone I was going for in 'Conversations' and I have a couple more ideas for this one as well. Mostly Rob/Rae and Rae/Speedy in this series. Again I want to dedicate this to Alena-chan and Emaniahilel, just because they deserve it :)

Disclaimer: Not mine, or I would have been in there with Robin/Nightwing before anyone would have blinked twice.

"Why him?" The words echoed with his pain.

"Because he thinks about me in ways you never could and he needs me as you never will." Raven's voice was quiet, but not without emotion.

"I think about you all the time," He protested. "And I need you."

"No, no you don't need me." She sighed and shook her head. "You don't think about me first and he does."

"We are superheroes; we have a duty and a responsibility." He defended himself.

"Robin, are you angry that I didn't choose you over him, or are you angry that you lost to him?" She asked looking him in the eye, imploring him to understand.

"I…I don't know." Confusion hung thick around him as he took in her question.

She smiled and shook her head, saddened that he couldn't say what she wanted him to say, but this was why she had chosen Speedy. This conversation only served to affirm the choice she had made.

"Robin, you are my best friend and that will never change, but we aren't meant to be anything more." She continued to gaze into his face, "I don't know if you can ever be anything more. You are a superhero and you refuse to believe there might be something more available to you out there. You refuse to be human."

"You aren't human." He regretted the thoughtless comment he flung at her, but she only shook her head at him.

"Perhaps in some ways I am more human than you will ever be." She was hurt by his accusation, but she knew that it was thrown at her in anger and she would deal with her pain later. "I hope someday you learn to be more than a hero."

"I can't." He whispered and the impact of it buckled his knees, forcing him to sit on the couch they stood in front of.

"I wish I could have helped you Robin, but you would never have let me." A deep sadness and regret bled into her tone.

"But Speedy does?" His voice was harsh, but not angry. He knew what he had lost and he also knew that there would be no return from her decision.

"Yes he does, he lets me help him and he makes me human. Maybe one day you will find someone you want to be human for as well." She sat beside him, raising a hand to lie upon his shoulder and quickly withdrew it; he wouldn't welcome her touch now.

"Do you think it will ever happen?" His voice was so lost and young she considered lying to him, but she knew she couldn't.

"I don't think so Robin…you won't allow yourself to be less than a hero and when you can't be less there is no way anyone can make you more than you are."

It took him a moment to attain the meaning in her words and once he did he looked back at her, sorrow emanating off his entire being.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be more for you." He said simply and tried a smile.

"So am I Robin," She returned his smile sadly, "So am I."