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RobRae Week 2019 | Day 4: Gotham

HEIMAT (n.) a place one can call home

Raven breathed in the cold, dank air of the city. It was different from how her home city felt. The air was thick and gritty. The smell of car exhaust, garbage and the sewers were prevalent in the air. The city has always carried a certain gloom even under the light of day. Now, in the cover of the night, Gotham was even more ominous.

From her perch atop a building, Raven had a wide view of the city's night life. Despite the dreary weather and the well-known dangers the streets were known to possess, some people were still up and about. Some, she figured, were probably the normal working class, on their way home after a grueling day from their jobs. Some figures skulked in corners and she surmised they were probably the homeless. And some others seemed to be up to some shifty stuff she really had no intention of dealing with, despite the tingling of her hero-senses. Besides, the city was not her jurisdiction.

She doesn't think the Dark Knight would take too kindly to her making any moves in his turf.

Then something was approaching her perch. Her empathy quickly flared out, an instinct to determine danger, but she was met with a familiar mix of emotions, one she was more... intimate with.

"Found you," Robin spoke, striding towards her spot by the edge of the rooftop.

"I wasn't hiding," she answered, a small quirk of a smile on her face.

"Yeah," Robin plopped down beside her, "but you weren't anywhere near either."

Raven turned towards her leader and friend, "Did you need me for something?"

Robin shook his head. "No. I was just wondering where you were."

His response was genuine and so Raven didn't pry further. It was just like him to fuss about the whereabouts of everyone. He always did it back at their city, so of course he'd also do it now that she was in his home city.

"I wanted to look around."

"At the night life?"

"Of what the city looks like under the cover of the night."

"There's something even darker there."

Of course. She can feel that. "I know," she answered. "But the city has a protector. He'll take care of it."

There was a pause before Robin answered. "Yeah."

Silence enveloped the two birds for a few moments. Raven felt Robin thinking deeply, probably about the city that used to his home and its protector, his mentor, his father-figure. She couldn't assume to know what he thought about the man, or how he felt about him despite what she saw through their bond. Robin's relationship with Batman was complicated. But what she knew – and felt – was that Robin cared. Despite the misunderstandings and misgivings, Robin cares deeply for Batman, the man who made him who he is today, and she has no doubt that the Dark Knight might feel the same.

"So," Robin cut the silence suddenly. "How do you like Gotham?"

Raven quirked her lips as she answered, "Dark and dreary."

Robin returned her smirk. "Perfect for a little raven, then?"

Raven gave a little scoff, much to Robin's amusement. She turned towards the streets again, the people milling about now only scarce and few. "My mother grew up here."

Robin stilled at her answer. Raven rarely mentions anything about her mother. The rare times she did were during her lowest moments, after waking up from nightmares of Trigon's coming. Moments he was witness to, moments where she let him see her break and let him hold her together.

"This was her city," Raven continued. "This was her home too, I guess. I just wanted to see what it was like."

Robin scooted closer to her, letting his arm touch hers, letting her know that he was there and he was listening. "So, you have Gotham blood in you, too, huh?"

Raven gave another scoff at his deduction, but there was a soft smile on her face as well. "Yep. Half Gothamite."

Robin chuckled at her dry tone. "You'll fit right in then," he teased, playfully nudging her shoulder with his. Raven shot him a mock glare and nudged him back, only harder.

"The city's not all gloom and doom, you know," he said after a moment. "There are some pretty spots, too. There's the park. The museum. And this little hole in the wall I know that serves the most delicious apple pie. There's also this quaint coffee shop that I go to – their tea is pretty famous around here. And there's also the mall, if you're inclined."

Raven gave a hum of approval after Robin finished enumerating the places he thinks she'd like. "Maybe I'll visit those spots sometime."

He turned to look at her. He was caught by the serenity of her expression and the softness of her eyes. She was at ease beside him, in the city that was his home, and something about that satisfied him. "Good. I'll take you out tomorrow then."

Raven turned to face him, one eyebrow quirked. "I think I can manage."

Robin clicked his tongue in disapproval. "Nope, I'm taking you out tomorrow."

"Won't Batman need you around?"

"Not for the whole day."

She knew him well enough when it was pointless to argue. "Very well."

Robin cannot help the wide smile that broke on his face at her easy consent. His impulsive decision to bring her along to his trip to Gotham was proving to be a good move. He mentally gave himself a pat in the back.

Raven felt the warm flood of self-satisfaction from the boy beside her but she decided not to say anything. She didn't think she'd want to know what the smug look on his face was for.

The birds stayed in their perch for some time before Robin decided it was time to turn in. "We should probably head back now. Alfred has your room ready."

"Oh," Raven stood up and dusted herself. "That's kind of him."

"Yeah. It's also kind of like, his job."

Raven shot him a mock admonishing look. "Shame on you, Richard. The spoiled brat in you is showing."

Robin laughed. "Kidding, Rae. I am not a spoiled brat."

"Sure," Raven quipped with a dry tone. She started walking towards the rooftop access door and Robin trailed after her, grin still plastered on his face.

"He might also have a cup of tea waiting for you."

"Tea sounds good."

"Yeah," Robin replied, getting the door open for her. "But not as good as coffee."

Raven sighed. "Not this again, Robin."

END.

AN: Random title I just pulled out of the dictionary hehe~