Thunder boomed and lightening struck outside the Teen Titans' Tower. The Titans had returned home from their most recent victory against the H.I.V.E. not long before the storm had begun.
Tim drake whistled to himself as he made his way through the Tower. It was oddly quiet inside the Titans' living facilities so Tim decided to head towards the training room. Where most of the Titans were probably off recovering from their recent battle, Tim would rather prepare for the next one.
Surprise was written on his face when Tim opened the door to find Superboy laying facedown on the floor groaning in pain while an unaffected Ravager stood above him with her arms crossed and a smirk on her gorgeous face.
Tim couldn't help it when his laughter got the best of him. It never failed to amuse him when someone knocked Kon off of his high horse. It only made it better that it was a girl who did so this time.
"What's going on in here?" Tim tried his best to hide his laughter.
Rose's smirk lit up her crystal blue eye. "We were having a little fun. Right, Kon?"
Superboy moaned in pain as he stood up on his feet. "Yeah. Fun." His voice dripped with sarcasm. "If anyone needs me I'll be soaking my bruised body in a bubble bath." He held onto the side of his ribs and walked out of the training room.
Tim and Rose shared a hearty laugh as soon as he left. "You did that to him?"
Rose shrugged her slim shoulders. "I guess I did. Why is that so hard for you to believe?"
Red Robin quickly cleared his throat and blinked. "It's not hard for me to believe. You're an amazing athlete and I notice your fighting skills improving everyday."
"You really think so?" She questioned doubtfully.
Tim stepped closer to his shorter teammate with the gorgeous blue eye and long platinum white hair. "Of course I do. And you don't need me or anyone else to tell you so. You should feel it, Rose," he took another step closer until their bodies were only inches apart then he planted his large palm against the top of her chest. "In here. That's the only place where it matters. Understand?"
Rose's breath caught in her throat at the feel of Tim's skin against hers. Everyone in the Tower knew she was attracted to the Red Robin and she couldn't understand why she always seeked for his approval.
Craning her neck to look up at her taller teammate, she looked into his beautiful brown eyes and let out a deep breath. "Don't look at me like that."
Tim quickly dropped his hand but he didn't move away from her. "How exactly am I looking at you?"
"Like I'm worthy of being your friend and teammate." She turned her head away from him in shame. "You and I both know that if it wasn't for Dick, you wouldn't have allowed me to join the team."
"Hey, that's not fair." He spoke softly to her. "I didn't know you before. All I knew was who your father was."
"And now?" She raised a curious brow.
"And now what?"
"And now what do you think of me?" She placed her hands on the wide expanse of her hips, which Tim found distracting.
A grin broke out on his handsome face. "I think you're a little rough around the edges, but besides that you are a warrior princess. You've been through more horror and terror than most of us combined and yet here you stand. Your loyalty cannot be bought but must be earned. You feel as though you owe the World something for all of the terrible things your father has done. But I'm here to tell you that you don't owe anyone anything."
Rose looked up at Tim as if seeing him for the first time in her life. No one in the Titans, Hell, no one in the World had ever understood her so accurately as Tim Drake just had. It was as if he peered into her deepest thoughts. "Why are you suddenly being so gentle with me?"
Tim answered her honestly. "I questioned your loyalty when you first joined the Titans. But now I see you for who you really are. I trust you as my teammate. And I have faith in you, Rose Wilson."
In that moment, Rose had never wanted to kiss anyone more than she wanted to kiss Tim Drake. But then she remembered the last time she tried that and how he shamefully rejected her. She didn't want to relive that pain if she could help it.
"Thank you, Tim." She said seriously. "It means a lot coming from you."
A comfortable silence passed between them.
"Would you like to spar with me?"
Rose smirked. "I would love to."
Raven sat peacefully on the couch of the living room with a book in her hands. She was in dire need of some peace and quiet after all of the action she and the Titans endured earlier in the day.
"Oh, Raven!"
Sighing deeply, Raven looked up in annoyance to find Cyborg and Beast Boy entering the room.
"Can I help you two stud muffins?" She asked sarcastically.
"We're stepping out to get some pizza." The biggest smile crossed Cyborg's face.
"You wanna join?" Offered an equally as excited Beast Boy.
"I think I'll pass. But thanks for the offer."
"More pizza for us!" Cyborg and Beast Boy raced to the elevator.
Alone in the living room at last, Raven returned to her book. Just as she was getting to the best part, someone or something jumped onto the couch next to her.
"What the fuck?!" Raven groaned.
"Whoa, what's the matter with you?" Asked none other than Kid Devil himself.
"Maybe it's the fact that you have no home training!" She barked at him.
"I'm sorry but the last time I checked the living room was open to anyone."
"Fuck off, Eddie." Raven stood up from the couch but before walking away, she shoved the book into Eddie's chest. "Read this. It'll teach you a thing or two."
She stomped away and headed towards the Tower's long hallway. Halfway to her bedroom, a sudden noise caused Raven to stop in her tracks. Her eyes peered into Starfire's bedroom. Standing in the dim lit room, in a close embrace, Raven watched Dick Grayson, her best friend, kissed her other best friend.
"Rae? Are you okay?" A concerned voice questioned.
Raven quickly wiped a tear before turning around to face Donna Troy. "Yeah, I'm just gonna get some sleep." Were her last words before she escaped to her room.
A slightly confused Donna Troy headed to her own bedroom. Switching on the light and sliding off her shoes, the last person Donna expected to see sitting on her bed was Jason Todd.
Donna and Jason had quite the past together. They fought side by side and eventually became good friends. But their friendship was deeper than most could ever comprehend.
"I thought you weren't speaking to me?" She accused with a raised brow, hands on her hips.
Jason dug his fingers through his hair and looked up at her with a blank stare. "I don't know what you want from me."
Donna's eyes narrowed to slits. "Try honesty."
Jason avoided her deep blue eyes. "Trust me you don't want the truth."
"If you aren't going to be honest with me then I suggest you leave. Now." She gritted her teeth in anger.
He didn't move an inch.
"This isn't a game, Todd." She stared menacingly at him and crossed her arms over her chest. "Until you can tell me the truth, I don't want to look at you."
Jason looked down at his hands and clenched his jaw tightly. "I was jealous."
"Excuse me?" Donna couldn't believe it.
"You heard me, Donna. You flirted with him right in front of me..." His voice was full of hurt.
"You're telling me you punched Kon in the face because you thought I was flirting with him?" Donna's face was shocked at best.
Anger pierced through Jason's body as he stood up off the bed and clenched his fist at his sides. "You touched his arm and batted your perfect eyelashes at him. I thought I was going to be sick."
"First of all," Donna walked up to Jason and stabbed him in the chest with her finger tip, "I wasn't flirting. Second of all," She stabbed him again, "You don't go around punching people just because you're upset, and most of all," Stab, "Why are you jealous of the idea of me and Kon flirting?"
He looked at the wall above her head. "I don't like the image of you and another guy."
"But why?"
"It doesn't matter, Donna..."
"So you don't want me to be with anyone else but at the same time you don't want me for yourself?" She tried to grasp where the conversation was headed.
Green eyes met blue when he finally looked down at her. "I'll never be good enough for you, Donna." He said softly.
Donna's eyes lit up as her own voice softened. "Don't say that, Jason."
"It's the truth." His brows met in the middle. "You're everything I wish I could be. But you and I both know I could never be like you."
"Jason, stop." Donna suddenly enveloped Jason's large frame in her arms as their bodies met in a tight embrace. "You're apart of the Titans again and you're doing the right thing by standing by your team."
Jason reluctantly slid his arms around Donna's tiny waist and hugged her back. "You're just saying that to make me feel better. It's what you always do."
Donna pinched his bicep, "I do not."
He held onto her tighter and realized that he never wanted to let her go.