Note: Howdy! I hope you enjoy this story, because I enjoy writing it! It's a story in three chapters, based on one of the best Batman stories of all time, 'Favorite Things', which appeared in a Batman comic book in 1996, and has recently been re-published in a compilation book of the best Batman issues of all time. This story, however, has nothing to do with Batman, and the plot only slightly follows the comics', but I still owe a nod to it for inspiring me. So please, review, and above all things, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans, and that means I don't own Robin, either! WAAAH!

On with the show….

The Important Things

I: Night One

It was late. Very late. Robin tore his gaze away from the crowd and looked up at the gigantic clock that hung in Jump City's main street. Twelve o'clock midnight, exactly. Robin put his hands in his pockets and started to walk again, moving among the crowd and watching.

It was a cold night in mid January, the harsh air nipping at his toes and hands and face. A thin layer of snow blanketed the ground and Robin pushed it with his feet as he waked. A cold breeze rushed by and Robin buttoned his coats top button and shivered slightly. He kicked a small pile of snow off his shoes and pressed on.

This was a normal night for Robin lately. It was hard to catch a bandit when he was just an ordinary petty thief, maybe one with good intentions, none the less. Maybe he was a poor man who needed some presents for his kids. Robin didn't know, and normally, he wouldn't care. Petty thieves weren't worth the Titans time. The police could handle it. But this time the thievery had struck Robin hard. They had stolen something of his, something that he himself had almost forgotten about, something that he had shoved in the back of his closet. But now it was gone and he remembered how much it meant. How much he needed it.

The crowd was thinning and so was Robin's attention span. The cold was fogging his mind. He turned the corner and stopped at the locale Coffee shop. It was a nice, homey little shop. During the day it was bustling with Business men sharing a cup of Coffee over lunch, teenagers after school with their friends, parents out for a peaceful night alone while the kids were watched by the babysitter next door. There were always tons of people during the day. But not now. Now there were only a few people populating the many tables. Robin went up to the counter and ordered a cup of coffee. The clerk handed it to him and Robin took out a five dollar bill and paid.

"Keep the change." Robin said as he sat down at one of the many empty tables. He removed his black gloves and his red jacket and his ski hat. He wore street clothes- the last thing he need right now was attention. Even his mask was replaced by dark sunglasses and his was jelled down. Under his jacket he wore a black sweatshirt and red sweatpants, his utility belt hidden beneath the fabric of the sweatshirt.

Robin stirred his coffee a little bit. He wasn't a huge coffee person, in fact he hated the taste, but lately he had been forcing it down because it was warm and it kept him awake. He blew on the coffee one last time and chugged down half of it. Dreadful. He wiped his mouth off and got ready to throw away the rest of the contents when he remembered that he saw someone who may actually need it. Robin walked up to the counter.

"How much do you charge for refills?" he asked, holding his cup out.

The lady at the counter smiled and poured him a whole fresh cup of coffee in a fresh cup "We're closing in 5 minutes and it doesn't seem like we're getting a whole load of more people. It's free."

Robin smiled "Thanks," And then he remembered "How much are those donuts?" he asked, pointing to a small pile of warm donuts that were the last of the batch for the day.

"A dollar a piece," The lady said.

"Great, I'll take four. Oh, and a cup of hot cocoa, please."

The lady wrapped the donuts in a napkin and put them in a bag, then poured Robin a steaming cup of hot cocoa with three marshmallows. "Have a nice night, young man." She said

"You too," Robin said as he put his gloves and hat and jacket back on. He paid and headed for the door. The lady looked at him as he left the store, probably wondering what a small, young, skinny boy would need with four donuts and a cup of coffee at midnight, but Robin didn't care. None of the stuff was for him but the hot cocoa, anyways. Robin turned the corner and found them, the homeless man and his young daughter and son. Robin had passed them before. They were huddled together and shivering. Robin handed the man the steaming cup of coffee. The man looked at him, puzzled.

"This is for you. Figured you'd like some warm coffee," Robin said as he dug into the bag and handed the boy and girl the stack of warm donuts "And these are for you two."

The young boy and girl looked up at him with bright eyes and a wide smile "Thanks, mister nice man!" They said as they started to slowly devour the warm confection.

Robin smiled "No problem" and he walked away with a smile as big as theirs.

A few moments later Robin found himself walking down back alleys and forgotten side streets. Patrolling the crowd wasn't going to do any good. He decided to up the ante and go straight to a source. He stopped in one of the alleys and took off his jacket and sunglasses and put them in a trash bag behind a forgotten dumpster. His eyes were uncovered for a few brief seconds, and he blinked in the fresh air. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out his mask. He chugged down his hot cocoa and threw the cup in trash, then made his way from this alley to the next alley connected to it, and found a door. He knocked 3 times. A tiny window slid open and a pair of dark eyes looked out.

"Password, kid?" the eyes asked.

"Side Alley Shows No Mercy" Robin said, repeating a password he had learned long ago from another source.

"You're in" the eyes said and they unlatched the door. Robin stepped inside, warmed by the refreshing warm air. After a few more steps he could smell the sting of alcohol in the air, and it was strong. He bit his lip trying not to gag, and after a second got used to the smell.

By that time the "eyes" man was half-way down the hall.

"Hey, wait!" Robin shouted, running to catch up with the man. The man was huge, 6 feet tall and muscular. His eyes here steel and his face was stone.

"Yeah, what do ya want, kid?" Steel-eyes said, turning to face Robin.

Robin knew how to keep his cool when scared "You know a guy named C.T. Thompson?"

Steel-eyes nodded "Yeah, he's here. Across the dance floor and next to the pool room. What ya want with him?"

"I…have some business to attend to with him" Robin reached in his pocket and pulled out a 20 dollar bill "20 says you won't call the cops or anything like that?"

Steel-eyes took the creased bill "Deal, kid."

Side Alley was a nighttime hangout for almost half the city, and was extremely popular. The owner was extremely wealthy because of it, unfortunately. Unfortunately, because Side Alley was hardly legal at all. They sold drinks by the truckload, yet they had no liquor license. They let kids under 21 in without a problem. There was most certainly some selling of illegal drugs. Needless to say, this was not one of Robin's hangouts. But it was useful, very useful, when trying to catch a criminal.

Robin casually walked down the rest of the hall and approached the door. The music drummed loudly in his ears. He peered through the small window and looked away. Robin would never get used to these places, but going into these places was part of the job description of being a super hero. Thoughts ran through his head. He didn't have to do this. This wasn't a necessary mission. And then his hand snapped towards the door knob and swung open the door. It was important. Important to him. He walked around the dance floor and his ears pulsed at the sound of the ridiculously loud music Robin saw C.T. at the corner of his eye. Robin approached him.

"Can I interest you in somthin'?" C.T. asked. He was a tall guy, blonde hair, steel gray eyes, 12 piercings, and that was just the visible ones.

This was where Robin had to make a split-second decision of weather to play along or just drain him of information and turn him in. There was always a right and wrong path to take, but sometimes they merged. "Sure"

C.T. started to dig into his coat "what can I get for ya?"

"Can we…keep this on the down-low?" Robin asked, digging into his mental book of slang.

C.T. nodded "Sure, step into my office" He said, pointing to a small storage room. The man opened it and they both went in. Robin paused for a second, then grabbed C.T. and slammed his into the wall. Robin brushed his jelled-down bangs away, revealing his well-known mask. C.T. struggled. Robin looked him square in the eye.

"What do you know about the recent robberies of many, big houses and estates?" Robin said, pushing the man farther against the wall.

C.T. gulped "d-don't suppose I can plead the fifth?"

Robin shook his head "Not a chance. Now talk,"

"W-what's it t-to ya?" C.T. stuttered

Robin was growing impatient. He threw C.T. across the room, and the man fell into a stack of metal buckets.

"TALK!" Robin shouted, grabbing C.T. by the collar

"I don't know nothin' much, but I do know someone who knows, a guy who lives on two-eleven, seventeenth street. Knows all about it. A-and that's all I know, honest!" C.T. gasped, panting.

"You swear? Because you do know that I could throw you and the illegal store in your jacket in jail." Robin said

"I swear, really man!"

Robin could tell he was telling the truth. He released C.T. and left him there, letting himself out and walking out of the place.

Robin walked back to behind the dumpster, and put his coat and sunglasses back on. He walked through the streets and alleyways until he reached Main Street. He glanced up at the clock. One O'clock in the morning. It had been a long night, but at least now he had a lead…

Starfire sat the Titan's kitchen table, sipping some hot cocoa. She hadn't been able to fall asleep, and a steaming cup of cocoa always helped. She took a sip and chewed on one of the three marshmallows she had put in.

A few moments later she heard the door open. It was Robin. It always was these days.

"Greetings friend Robin" She said, sleepily.

Robin smiled "Hey, Star."

"Robin, what have you been doing out so late?" Starfire said. She hadn't meant to, it just…slipped out.

"I've been…looking for something" Robin said, taking off his coat and throwing it haphazardly on the couch. He had remembered to take of the sunglasses and put on the mask before he came in. He pulled a chair back and sat down next to Starfire.

Starfire looked at him, puzzled "Something so important it is worth loosing hours of sleep over?"

Robin smiled and nodded "Very worth it,"

She stared at him, looking for an answer. When he did not give it she sighed and went to put her now empty cocoa mug in the sink. She sat back down a moment later "And you are not going to tell me what?"

Robin chuckled "Not a chance."

Starfire smiled and mock-glared at him "Very well, silly boy."

Robin chuckled again and stood up, pushing in his chair. "Gonna go try and sleep. Night, Star."

"Goodnight, friend Robin" She said.

Robin went for the door, and then looked back.

"Starfire?"

"Yes?"

"You should try and go to sleep soon, too."

Starfire nodded and smiled. He stood there, smiling at her for a moment. That was when she noticed it. A big, black bruise on his forehead. Robin left the room and Starfire got up and prepared to head back to her room.

"I hope what you find what you're looking for soon, Robin," She whispered, as a silent wish.

To be continued….