Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans, any of the characters, zlich. DC comics does, and I am grateful for their existence, though I still do not own them. I do however, own this fic I made up, and the poem verse at the beginning and end. Yay!

Okay, you may not like this pairing, but I find however, and I feel it is much more close to reality than the RaeBB ones. I would love reveiws, even negative ones, since this is my first fic I actually published on I would love critique on how to improve. Hope you enjoy. This takes place after "Birthmark" so look it up if you haven't seen that episode. (Best TT episode ever!) With that, read on!

"Behind the Mask"

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Listen to me creature of the night

Let me show you the light.

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Raven shook her head. "No." Her tone, straight and to the point, her body, taught, long fingered hands resting upon her hips, everything about her spelled out the word she uttered. She exhaled slowly, closing her eyes then opening them slowly. She didn't look up at Robin's face. She knew that one look would cause her to abandon this, and eventually end up in loss. Loss, just like the rest. "I'm sorry Robin. But I have to leave."

She paused, swallowing. She kept repeating in her mind her mantra of 'azerath metrion zinthos' to keep her emotions steady. But she could feel Nevermore shaking as she bit her lip, demanding herself to stay focussed. Azerath. Metrion. Zinthos. Repeat.

"But- Rave-"

"No." The final tone of her voice made Robin stop speaking for a moment, searching for a solution, just like in any battle, but this one far more important.

She continued looking at the her bed, knees curled up to her chest protectively, as her azure cloak spilled out behind her, a river.

"Are you at least going to look me in the eyes?" He tilted his head at her. "Come on, Rae..." His hand twitched as he almost let it rise to lift her face, but he shook himself, forcing his hand to stay motionless. There was no point in still following up with this, she's going to leave, and the more attached you grow, the worse it will be, , he told himself.

Raven blinked at the pet name, but shook it off. She answered back with a stinging response, looking still at the bed. "What eyes? You always wear that mask, I never know what it is there!" Good. Biting sarcastic response... I'm becoming more myself...

He blinked once, only once. The comment had been well aimed. But he parried the blow in this battle of tongue, but kept the words quiet. There was no point in "Why do you always hide your emotions?" he murmured inaudibly, and let her continue. The smell of sandlewood lightly mingling with the scent of Cyborg's late night cheese bagels, an odd combination, but it was home. His home.

"Robin, You know now why I have to leave. I could've just left, but I want to let you know. I do it because I care for all of you. I couldn't bring myself to live knowing I betrayed the only friends, I, I ever had..." her words started to stumble, and her emotions shook violently in her mind. 'azerath metrion zinthos. azerath metrion zinthos. azerath metrion zinthos.' She rushed herself in her mind. Don't cry. You'll end up destroying the city. Don't cry. Empty your thoughts, empty your emotions. She paused and slipped a hand over his, grasping it.

"Robin, You're the closest friend I ever had, and you have to understand this. You're always going on with that super hero act, but you never know when to back off if its to much for you. I'm asking you, back down! Trigon, he's, merciless. He'll kill off the entire planet and not think twice of it. He's done- he's- done- it before, He'll do it again. I already find it hard enough to bear this curse, let alone bear the guilt of your lives?" Raven found herself speeding up, and stopped. Breathe in, breathe out. Relax. She continued, much slower. "I can't endanger you. Just forget I ever came here."

Robin clenched his fists. His stubborn side taking control. "No! No Raven! I can't let you just leave." He blinked, searching for a reason. He knew there were so many, but his brain couldn't function. "The team needs you... We need you... I need you!" He squeezed a bunch of the comforter in his fist.

"Listen to me Robin." Her voice was cool, in both tone and pattern, as she closed her eyes. "There are plenty of others you could find to add to the team. You can do without. You'll find a way. Beast Boy will be happy, Cyborg never really talks to much to me, Starfire will be glad I'm not to depressing, and you, you can have Starfire for yourself now." She shrugged, knowing he was embarrassed to start anything with Starfire with another girl around, though she found it obvious the way Starfire was constantly flirting with Robin. That girl... sometimes... She stopped herself in shock, her thoughts doing a double take. Not, jealous...?

Robin's desperate tone cut through her mind like a frozen knife, leaving behind a trail of hushed silence. "But I, I don't want Star! I w-love... you!" He blurted out, and looked at the bed.

Raven's head rose as she looked at him, slightly perplexed, but mainly shocked. "Robin?"

He shook his head, voice stumbling. "Ju-Just forget it. You're going to leave any ways..." He was glad the mask hid his eyes, not that he would cry or anything, but still.

Raven scooted forward, and wrapped her arms around him, "Robin..." she murmured softly, barely audible. The question burning struck her and rose straight from her heart. "But... Starfire?"

"Just a friend! A cute friend! But, Rae, nothing like you... I want you to stay not just for the team... but, because... I love you Rae." He took another breath, and started panting. He didn't know how to explain his feelings, for he had always kept it hidden, ever since the Bat days. "And now I know you'll just leave. Not a chance. I mean, not like I had a chance before since you hide away your feelings... but now-" He stopped talking abruptly, for he couldn't continue since something preventing him. He gasped, eyes widening beneath his mask. Her lips were pressed against his, eyes half closed, their violet color shinind with happiness. "Mrph... Rae.." He voice voice was lost as she ignored his comments, and he stopped, unsure of why he was disputing this... All shock left him as he wrapped his arms around her, gently rubbing her back. As he lost touch with reality, Raven's hands made it to his hair, as she caressed it softly, wondering what she was doing. Stop! Stop! You'll kill the world worse than destiny will have it! The other side of her mind argued back, Destiny can go screw itself. As long as I have this, I could care less... She couldn't stop. The emotions had been pushed down in the volcano too long and finally exploded.

He felt almost evil doing this, because she was just before speaking of containing everything, yet it was he who started this...

Her hands snaked to the edges off his mask, peeling it up, her fingers rubbing the skin underneath. Robin stopped, and shook his head. "Rae... you don't..." He blinked his eyes, forcing back the tears. So much was going on. I want this so much, but it had always been a lost fantasy. It was never meant to join reality. She shouldn't be! ... and yet she is! Was this just her emotions getting the better of her, or did she really...

He opened his eyes and looked at her, and saw her staring at what she had done, mask in her hands.

She gasped, and looked at him surprised. He hid his face in his hands. "Rae..."

She blinked. "Why do you hide your face, Robin? You, you have such beautiful eyes..." She murmured softly, hand reaching up to his wrist, pulling it away. She blinked at then gasped. "I must go, my emotions are already wreaking havoc. I will remember you... Robin..." His name was almost inaudible, as she grabbed her cloak with her free hand. A sigh inside herself, and she slipped her hand away from his, stood, and practically ran out the door. Her cloak billowed up as she swung it over her head, pulling the hood further over her face.

"Raven..." he murmured softly, just then realizing she still had his mask.

He let her keep it.

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Why do you run from your thoughts,

Your mind in constant fright?

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End.

There you go! Enjoy! Once again, any comments, criticism, even rants, are greatly appreciated! Kick me in the teeth for all I care! Also, would you like me to continue this and make it a full story of her continuing her journey/life without the Titans? -gives you cookie for reading-