There were two things to talk about. One was last night, and one was the imminent end of the world.
Raven chose the end of the world.
"What's the plan?" She asked him, trying to sound casual. His shoulders tensed at the sound of her voice. He was standing close to the edge of the rooftop, watching the sky where it was beginning to brighten.
"I…" Robin was silent. For once.
He turned around to face her. Her breath caught, even though she should have been prepared. He still hadn't put his mask back on; it remained discarded on her bedside table.
"Robin, it's okay to be scared."
"I'm not scared."
Raven sat on the parapet and swung her legs over the side. A smile tugged at her psyche as she saw Robins hand twitch, itching to pull her back onto the side without a twenty floor drop.
"I can fly, Boy Wonder."
"Right. I know."
The end of the world.
"I'm scared." She said quietly. She scraped the heel of her boot against the side of the tower.
"I've been scared for a long time. I know what can happen, I've seen it."
Robin looked at her, but she wouldn't meet his eyes.
"I've seen what happens if he wins. I've seen what happens to my city, my friends." She looked at Robin's hand, sitting on the wall next to her. "I've seen what happens to you."
His hand was sliding down her jawline, feathering over her throat, closing on her breast… No. The end of the world.
"I'm scared of that. That's why I'm going to fight. With everything I have, Robin. Because I will not let that happen."
"Raven…" Robin ran a hand through his wild hair. No, it was hers, her hand, grabbing fistfuls of black hair, holding on for dear life as they moved together…
"Raven, I don't want to tell the Titans what they have to do. I don't want to send them to their death. I don't want to send you."
"We've always told you we would follow you into the end. Why is that still a surprise to you?"
"I'm not surprised," He said, smiling wanly at her. "But I can't tell you to fight a war that we are probably going to lose."
"Then don't tell us."
Suddenly and brilliantly, Raven's face was lit by an orange glow. The sun had finally peered over the horizon, staining the ocean and bathing her with warm hues. Her violet eyes blazed as she faced the day.
"Don't be our leader anymore." She continued. "Be our comrade. Be our friend." She touched his hand lightly. "Just be there for me."
He closed the distance between them before she could register that he had moved. He pressed himself against her back, and his hands slid around her waist. She didn't even think, arching her back so that they could be closer. His face was nestled in her hair, and he held her tightly.
She knew the moment he was overcome because she felt him tremble with it. With force he pulled on her shoulders, turning her upper body to face him. She swung her legs back onto his side and faced him fully, and he came closer still. There was so much power and so much tension in his body that she expected his mouth to crush her own, expected to strain to maintain her balance on the parapet, but he paused just before her quivering, parted lips.
He brushed his lips against hers, with a careful gentleness, as if they were made of glass. Her hands moved up his back, resting with a slight pressure on his neck.
"Today..." He murmured, "I am going to fight next to you, Raven." His breath was warm, and he smelled bittersweet, like cinnamon.
"I'm not scared, because I know you'll be there with me."