He Was There For Me

Thoughts

"Speech"

Chapter 1:

Robin's POV

It's been almost three months since the Titans got back from Florida. We had been decently busy with criminals. They were causing just enough trouble to keep boredom from driving the team crazy. One night Raven and I were sitting on the edge of the roof with our feet dangling over the side. The rest of the team had gone to get pizza and bring it back for dinner. "Robin?" She asked taking her head off my shoulder. "Yes Angel" I looked at her, my gaze full of love. She slowly reached her hand towards my face. "Can I…" she trailed off. I didn't need her to finish her sentence. I already knew what she wanted. I nodded. She gently grabbed the edge of my mask with her small hands and peeled it off. She was stunned when she saw my eyes. I panicked as Raven swayed, and fearing she would fall off the roof I cupped her shoulders in my hands. My eyes were two clear crystal pools of blue. "Beautiful" was all Raven could manage to say. I smirked at her shocked expression. All of a sudden the roof door swung open. I quickly turned my back to the door. Just because I was letting Raven see my eyes didn't mean I was going to let the others. Raven is special. "PIZZA." Beastboy announced loudly before running back down the stairs. "Here" Raven said giving my mask. I put it back on and stood up before I pulled Raven to her feet. Chuckling I said "Come on let's see if they left us any" Raven looped her arm through mine as we walked down to the living room.

The phone rang just as we had finished cleaning up after dinner. Raven and I went over to the couch in the middle of the room. I sat down and she curled up against me. I loved how she was so open with me. And Raven was mine, and all mine. My Angel. She trusted me with her secrets, and I trusted her with mine. "I wish you weren't wearing you mask" Raven whispered to me. I was just about to kiss her when Cyborg interrupted. "Yo Rob" he called to me. I looked up from my sweet Raven. "What's up" I asked lazily, looking up from my girlfriend. "You got a call from an old friend, says it's important." Cyborg looked at me with a confused expression, probably hoping to find out who was on the phone. My face took on a sober expression. I already knew who it was, and I knew it wouldn't end well. Raven put a hand on my shoulder, but I couldn't feel it. I was freaking out on the inside. I got up off the couch, took the phone and walked stiffly and calmly out of the room. My mind was on overdrive. I couldn't even fathom why he would be calling. I haven't seen or heard from him in over two years. I was wondering what he wanted. He always wanted something. It seemed like I was walking forever, but I finally reached my room. And only after I was sure that the doors were locked behind me did I speak into the phone. "Bruce" My voice was flat and neutral.

"What did I tell you about relationships" Bruce practically yelled.

"Nice to hear from you too Bruce" My voice was dry.

"I'm serious Richard" Bruce sighed on his end.

"Ya ya I know 'It will just put her in danger' I have heard it all before Bruce" I mimicked his voice. Just shut up!

"Exactly, and yet here we are because YOU are in a relationship" Bruce sounded exasperated

"You talk as if I'm the only hero who's ever been in a relationship. What about Green Lantern and Hawkgirl… or you and Selina Kyle?"

"There is absolutely nothing between us" Bruce barked.

"Fine, then what about Diana? I know there's something more going on between you two." I said proving a point. There was a pause and I'm guessing that Bruce was fuming silently on his end. I smirked knowing I had hit a nerve.

"We aren't talking about me and my social life right now. This is about you, and you not doing as you're told" He said after a heavy pause.

"Bruce, why did you call me? Because if you were thinking you were going to talk me into breaking up with her, or to try to FORCE me into breaking up with her you're wasting your time. I LOVE HER!"

"Well you're not staying with her. I won't allow it" Bruce sounded like he had made his decision but I wasn't giving up yet.

(sigh) "We have been keeping it a secret from the media, what do you think you know?" I was ready to go to Gotham right now and strangle my guardian.

"I know you're going out with a team mate and that she had been taken by a villain not long before your trip to Miami Florida which you and your team got back from about three months ago, do you want me to continue" Bruce calmly listed a few small facts he knew.

"How do you-" I was shocked but didn't get to finish my question. How in hell does he know, at least he doesn't know who it is.

"Richard please, you of all people should know I have my ways of getting any information that I want."

"So did you only call to lecture me?" I sighed beginning to get sick of this.

"And to tell you I don't approve-" his tone had gone icy.

"I already knew that" I growled furiously into the phone.

"Let me finish. But I don't know who she is-yet and I intend on meeting her. You have three days to get here or I show up there on day four. Goodnight Dick" The line went dead. I took a minute to collect my thoughts before I went and faced the others, and Raven. This is going to get really bad really SOON!

When I got to the living room Starfire, Cyborg, and Beastboy were sitting at the kitchen table quietly playing a card game Wait! Cy, Star, and BB being QUIET? That was odd in itself. And Raven was sitting on the couch with her hood up. And now I know why they're so quiet…I knew just by the fact that Raven's hood was up how upset she was, these days she only wore her hood on missions. "Angel, why don't you go wait for me in my room" I said walking over and putting a hand on her shoulder. "Ok" she said emotionlessly as she started for the door. "I'll be there in a second" I called after her. She didn't acknowledge that she had heard me. After the door shut behind her I turned to the remaining three in leader mode. "Ok look, I have to leave town for a while. Cy you're in charge. Call the Titans East if you need anything, I'm leaving in the morning and should be back in a few days if everything goes smoothly for me" I could only imagine what would happen if things DIDN'T go well. "What about Friend Raven, are you not going to tell her too?" Starfire asked. "Yeah man, she'll be really hurt if you leave without telling her." Cyborg added. "I'm not leaving without telling her, I want her to come with me. I'm going to ask her now. Besides that's not the only thing I need to talk to her about." And with that I walked out the door heading for my room again. Hopefully she isn't too mad and will want to come, or this will get very ugly in a few days.

When I got to my room Raven was sitting on the edge of the bed with her back to the door with her hood still up. Something was definitely wrong! I walked in pulling my mask off as I went and crouched so I could look into her eyes. I lowered her hood; she didn't need to hide around me and I didn't want her too. "Raven, Angel what's wrong?" I was worried. She just looked at her feet. I put a finger under her chin lifting it so she would look at me. She tried to resist me and look away but finally looked at my blue unmasked eyes with her violet ones that were full of sadness. Trying again I asked "What's wrong, what did I do?" I was getting desperate. We hadn't fought since we got together and I didn't want to start now. "You put up walls, to keep me out. Do you even know how much you hurt me" she said quietly jerking her chin away from my finger. "I need to go" She stood up to walk to the door. I grabbed her wrist before she had even taken two steps "Wait, let me explain" Raven reluctantly nodded and sat down on the bed with me. Her arms were folded across her chest as if she was trying to protect herself. "Well that was Batman on the phone. Things are kind of tense between us and have been since before I left Gotham. I need to go down there for a few days to talk about and settle some things with him." I explained. I could feel her anger ebb away slightly but she seemed determined to stay mad at me. "Oh, ok. Then I guess I'll see you when you get back" She looked away and stood up again to leave but I pulled her back on the bed with me. "Raven, I hope you don't think I'm ditching you." She looked out the window with an ashamed look on her face. That must have been what she was thinking. "Angel, I was planning on taking you to Gotham with me. I'm sorry about the walls, but I tensed up when I realized who it was on the phone. Whenever Batman calls… it's never for a good reason or just to say 'hi' and check up on me. I wasn't trying to hurt you or keep you out, I would never do that to you." Raven opened and closed her mouth a few times before she could make words come out. "You want me to come to Gotham?" she asked disbelievingly. "Of course I do, I'd be lost without you by my side" I told her honestly. All Raven could do was stare at me. She leaned forward and gave me a tight hug as the little remaining anger and sadness faded. "I'd love to go with you." I smiled into her hair and kissed her forehead. What I had told Raven was true. I did need to talk to Bruce about things, just not the usual stuff about the tower, this was more about him keeping his pointy ears out of my city and more importantly out of my relationships.

"When do we leave" She asked me with just a hint of excitement even though I could feel it bubbling inside her. "Well it's about a three hour drive so, how about 8 tomorrow" I threw on some cotton pajama pants and slid into my bed. She took off her cloak nodding and crawled under the covers curling up against me. I was lying in bed on my back, propping myself up a bit on one arm I leaned over and kissed Raven. When I pulled back she sighed. I lay down on my back again and Raven turned on her side so she could rest a hand on my bare chest.

I awoke before Raven the next morning and was content to lay there and just watch her sleep for a bit. I wanted her to get some rest, especially since we had a long ride and a big day ahead of us. At quarter to 7 I finally woke her with a kiss on her forehead. "Mmmm what time is it?" she mumbled tiredly. "It's quarter to 7, I thought I'd let you sleep a little longer since you weren't up yet and it's going to be a long day" "Oh (getting up) what should I bring?" She asked me as I got up as well to look through my closet for clothes. "Civilian clothes, no uniforms" Raven nodded heading for my shower. She loves using my shower… "Ok I'll pack after I shower, but why no uniforms" I loved her curious mind. "We won't be patrolling, Gotham is the Bat's territory and Robin left Gotham a long time ago." And I doubt he would even let go out with him I thought grimy. "What so no reunion party?" she asked jokingly. "Very funny, I left for a reason. And he was it. The older I got the more we seemed to fight" She nodded and walked into my bathroom and a short time later I heard the water turn on. Since I had clothes in Gotham I decided I would go train and try to figure out why Bruce was demanding I visit when he didn't even approve of my relationship in the first place.

After a quick workout I went back to my room to throw on some dark jeans and a red long sleeved shirt with a denim jacket. I went to the kitchen to grab some breakfast and leave a note with instructions and a reminder for the others that they wouldn't be able to reach me or Raven for the next few days. I was just finishing the note when Raven came in asking "No clothes?" I didn't want her to know how bad things were between me and Bats so I downplayed it a bit, for her sake. "I have some clothes that I leave there. I go down every now and then to try and patch things up but it never seems to work out that way. Things are usually worse off by the time I leave than they were when I got there." I said looping her arm with mine and leading my girl to the garage. "So Cyborg is letting us use the T-Car?" She asked me when we were at the door. "No I had something a little different in mind" I walked over to a tarp and uncovered a black motorcycle that I had just recently bought and fixed up with Cyborg. "No, Robin I'm not getting on that death trap" She was backing away from the bike. "Come on Rae" I started. "Robin I've seen how you drive!" I could tell Raven was beginning to panic. She always had been afraid of my bikes. "Angel, I promise I'll be really careful. And besides we don't have any other way to get there" I begged. "I'll teleport us" Raven stated looking determined. I sighed. "No Rae, you're not draining yourself to get us there" I told her sternly. "You are so lucky I love you. I trust you with my life, I just don't trust the bike" she said giving in. I stowed away her bag and got on. Raven slowly followed and straddled the bike. Feeling her hesitation I reached back grabbing her hands and wrapped them around my waist. "Hold tight Angel, I don't want you to slide off." Raven squeezed as tight as she could and put her head on my back as we sped off.