disclaimer: still not mine

author's note: ps; this might get a bit graphic & really fast

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Sleep surged over her, claiming her before she hit the pillow. It was a false sleep though, it's warm fingers just caressing the distraught bird. Try as it might those warm, soothing finger tips could not penetrate through her inky feathers to the fledging inside. Instead Raven found herself tossing in her sleep, tangling herself in her wine colored sheets. She curled inwards onto herself, her trapped hands pressing against her chest. Raven finally settled in her sleep, completely ensnarled in her bed coverings. Her dreams like her sleep caressed her gently, easing her into scenes she had become familiar with over the last few months.

Raven had always been a heavy sleeper in the sense that when she dreamed it was like she was in another world. Things felt real to her, and if she didn't know better she would wake up thinking it had actually happened. This made nightmares a terrible and crippling thing, but on the other hand it made her good dreams… well really good.

She could feel her lips curling into a smile as she pushed her way into the Titan's kitchen. She could tell by the breeze on her legs she was wearing a short night gown and by the soft light it was early morning. Raven too had her fantasies that she kept locked inside of her, and since dreams make things come true this is where she could safely let them lose. The bird caught her reflection on the stainless steal kitchen; her eyes were smoky, her lips a bright crimson. And then, she did the most obvious thing: she began to make breakfast.

The bird opened the refrigerator and pulled out a cartoon of eggs along with the milk and orange juice. She put the tea kettle on before she began her search for a bowl to mix the eggs for the scrambled eggs. For some reason though the mixing bowl wasn't in its normal spot under the sink, it was above it on the top shelf. This posed a little bit of a problem for the dark princess since it was just out of reach. Her fingers just grazed the rim of the bowl when she was suddenly seized from behind. Two large warm hands gripped her hips strongly, but she didn't scream or fight the hands pulling her closer. Instead she just eased into them.

Her head titled to one side as he nuzzled the skin by her collar bone. Raven reached up and around her head letting her fingers find his damp hair. She knew who it was without even turning around. She could tell by the hard lines in his chest, his callused fingers that slid gracefully over her satin gown sending swirling circles of shivers across her skin. Her breath hitched softly as he finally bit down on the sensitive skin of her neck. Once released she twisted in his grasp not pausing before she crushed her mouth followed by her body to his.

Raven didn't need to open her eyes to know what was before her, a site no one else in the tower had ever witnessed - not even Starfire his once proclaimed love. She'd often (well almost always) dream about Robin, but in her dreams he was never Robin the Boy Wonder, he never wore his mask.

She melted into his kiss, heat radiating from her where his hands traveled. He hiked her nightgown up and that's when she noticed something wrong. Something slippery and warm grabbed her thigh, and a metallic sent filled the air. Her eyes flew open as she pulled back expecting to see ice blue eyes and Robin's face but instead the gaze that met her's was a deep brown, honey almost in the way they seemed to shine from the outside in. Like something was locked inside and was trying to break free. It took her a few seconds to realized what else was wrong. Blood stained the young man's skin, trailing down his face from his head, from his eyes down his neck and dripping onto Raven.

Her hands pushed against his chest trying to break free from his grip. It was John Doe the man from earlier, he had found her in her dreams and now he had her.

"Whats wrong, Raven?" His hot breath on her ear. "Isn't this what you want?" His grip tightened, and she squeezed her eyes shut. Raven could feel where his bones protruded from his flesh. "Don't you want me?" His voice softened, and sadness swelled inside of her reaching out to him. He was falling, she was falling with him. The winds rushed around them, "Rae, why do you fight me?" His breath stilled on her ears, the air crushed from his lungs.

She woke up a screamed locked in her throat gasping for air and struggling with her bed sheets. Raven flung herself off her bed in seer desperation to free herself, knocking a book off her nightstand as she went down. She was panting now clawing at her sheets tangled around her waist and feet. The bird was soaked with sweat unable to control her frantic heart. The heavy sadness still raged inside of her, mourning for something she couldn't understand making her tremble and shake with dry sobs. She sat on her floor, knees to her chest and began to cry.

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During the waking hours he was Robin the Boy Wonder, even when he was sleeping Robin would be dreaming of cases and villains, but lately and for the last few years the later wasn't always true. When he was sleeping was the only time he allowed himself to be - well human. He was after all a growing boy, and had quite vivid dreams. Dreams that could involve anyone, anywhere and often had. Although lately, most of his dreams just consisted of Raven. Raven's moon lit valleys and peaks under his sheets, with her full lipped smirk and smothering eyes. Not that Robin was complaining, but even when he was with Starfire his dreams had always been full of her.

He settled in bed his thoughts still on Raven and the video, and what had gone wrong. It wasn't like her to be so affected by something, she had seen much worse in her own life and even if she was upset by something, well she wasn't much of a shower. Raven kept things to herself more often than not, especially the darker, sadder things. She had grown with the Titans, and Robin liked to think he was a big part of that. The bird had learn to smile alongside the other titans, and learned to open up, kinda, but more importantly Robin thought she had learned to enjoy life. All that aside, it was still extremely out of character for her to cry, especially somewhere as public as a street corner in Jump City.

"Tomorrow, I'll talk to her." He said to himself, finally slipping into bed. He knew he'd have to be on his A game if he was going to get the dark princess to open up about something, and if his plan was the being his A game he'd have to be up first and get the tea going.

Normally, Robin would lay in bed for hours, his mind always going full speed ahead until he finally felt at ease to sleep. But tonight, tonight was slightly different. From the minute he pulled his sheets around him he could feel the sleep working its magic on him. It was like he could feel it, running long, warm fingers across his back and shoulders - like a lover cuddling close for bed. It surprised him, but he did not fight it, there was something oddly familiar about it. As if the hands of sleep belonged to someone he knew. The boy wonder was drifting to sleep fast, but he couldn't help but be reminded of that morning when him and Raven had been sitting in the kitchen. They had shared something the two of them, something beyond words but he had never gotten a chance to ask her about it. Making a mental note to talk to her about it was the last coherent thought before sleep engulfed him in her hold completely.

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'Dream Training' the ability to be in full control of your mind even when deep within your subconscious, it was training Batman had put him through. He had the ability to fully harness all the control of his dreams, he could tell when he was dreaming and could shift it to fit his whim. Something that came in handy when you had a crazed lunatic madman who lived to twist reality around coming after you. Although most nights Robin enjoyed sitting back and seeing where his subconscious would take him. The only place he could afford not to be 'Robin the Boy Wonder' was when he was dreaming so he tended to take full advantage of that.

Tonight was no different. Or at least that's how it had started out.

Robin was in the training room, he could see his shirtless reflection in the mirrored walls and could even feel the heavy bass solo radiating through the floor boards.

"That's it Raven, one-two." He spoke towards the pale goddess before him, who hit his palm with every 'one-two'. He was boxing with her, "Jab, left, left, duck." He spoke the commands his eyes never leaving her. "Kick." He said ducking as she raised a shapely leg above his head. Robin smiled in spite of himself. Raven was only dressed in a black sports bra and a pair of black shorts. Shorts that affectionately said 'bite me' across the ass. "Have I mentioned, I love your shorts yet?" Robin chuckled, earning him an attempted punch to the jaw.

"Oh, can it. I have to wear this for the next month of training sessions." She knitted her brows together, pausing to rock back and forth on her heels. "I didn't seriously think BB would sneak into Star's room and steal a pair of her panties. I mean, God, I didn't think he'd have the balls." Raven let out a heavy sigh and rolled her eyes turning away to fetch her water bottle.

"Well, remind me to thank BB." The boy wonder said, his eyes never once leaving those words. Raven froze mid motion of bending down to pick up her drink. "Do you like the view?" She questioned casually as she looked over her shoulder back at him.

"You could say that." His lips quirked upwards in one corner as she returned back to him. Robin knew that this dream Raven would take the playful flirting to the next level- something real life Raven would never do. "I'm sure there's a couple other views I could interest you in," the bird practically purred at him closing the distance between them. Raven let her water bottle drop to the ground and put her hands against his chest. "Care to take a look?" She said before bringing her mouth to his. Robin instantly wrapped his arms around her, letting one hand sprawl across the middle of her back and the other cup her ass pulling her even closer.

Robin forced their bodies to move, turning them around so that he could push Raven up against of the mirrored walls. He coaxed her legs up and around his waist, her arms slipping around his neck while he easily held her in place. "Maybe I should thank BB too." Raven said with a small laugh pulling her mouth awake from his long enough to find his jaw, trailing kissed back to his ear. Robin couldn't help his smile, "Next time I'll pick what you wea-" He nearly finished what he was saying when something caught his attention. Something he saw reflected over the back of Raven's shoulder; like a shadow had drifted across the mirror. But, he didn't get a real chance to look at it because he attention was demanded elsewhere. The bird took in a sharp breath as she sunk her teeth into the soft flesh of his neck.

"Oh, oh, you better pay attention to me Mister- Boy- Wonder." She said kissing up towards his jaw.

"How can my mind be anywhere else?" Robin asked pulling back from her to look at her straight in the face. And when he did, he dropped her. He could see right through her. "What's wrong Robin?" She asked from the floor as he took a few steps back from her, her body was becoming transparent. "You're becoming invisible!" He shouted at her. "Cant you see me?" she asked, her voice sounding distance and airy - but oddly calm as she looked upon her faded hands. "Wont you find me Robin?"

"Raven whats going on?" He shouted at her as her body began to fade completely from view. "Come and get me Robin!" She shouted back at him, her voice barely even registering to him. Robin fell to his knees trying to grab at her misty form, but came up empty handed. "Rae!" He called for her watching as her eyes blinked out, and he was left staring at his reflection. Dumbfounded and confused he continued to stare at his reflection, until his reflection started to move by itself. His reflection self's hand reached up at his face to peel away at a mask he was not wearing, almost always Robin was mask-less in his dreams, but despite that they stilled pulled on the reflections skin.

He watched in horror as the smirking reflection managed to tug off it's own face, as if it was a mask, relieving a bloodied face and crooked smile and two deep unblinking honey brown eyes.

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Robin stirred, slowly fighting his way awake from his strange dream. He blinked, rubbing his eyes with both hands yawning as he sat up. His mouth felt dry, as if he had been sleeping with his mouth open, but there was something more there - the dream had almost an aftertaste. The Boy Wonder was fully awake in seconds, thanks to years of dedicated training and already jotting down his dream. He head learned to keep a pad and paper at his bed side, sometimes in his unconscious cases worked themselves out, puzzles that his waking mind couldn't crack would piece together so eloquently. Robin was a firm believer that dreams told stories, usually it was just fantasies, but he always considered them important. If it was one thing Robin trusted the most in the world, it was his mind. His eyebrows furrowed as he jotted down the events of his dreams in a think bold lettering. 'JOHN DOE' was in the middle of the page in small upper case lettering, as if the mystery man was somehow a key component. He also noted things like, 'disappearing Raven', 'turning into John Doe', 'having to find her', before he paused to chew on his pen. Which only reminded him of the strange after taste in his mouth, something, some how just tasted off. Like the time BB tricked everyone into eating tofu chili. But there was something sad about it too - like Robin could taste a certain loneliness, and desperation, emotions that weren't his.

The leader noted that one his pad as well, always knowing the importance of details before he settled back against his headboard. He closed his eyes for a moment, and took a deep breath. Once again he tasted something that didn't belong, this time the sadness was mixed with something he recognized: lilac. His eyes opened again and he was climbing out of bed before he realized it. Robin stood and took a deep breath wondering why his room smelt like his other feathery counterpart. He also felt a chill rising from his door as he stood there trying to figure out why an alarm was rising in him. Robin who always followed his gut crossed into the hallway still sliding a shirt over his bare chest.

He paused at Raven's door, which was down the hall from his, and pressed an ear to it. He heard nothing. Robin fought the urge to knock, not wanting to wake her if she was sleeping, but the unease in his gut told him otherwise. He was about to override the code on her door when something caught his attention. Movement in the air, followed by another chill made him head down stairs towards the main living room. The closer he got, the colder he felt, and the quicker he moved. His highly trained instincts were going off at full speed now, something felt defiantly wrong.

Robin practically tripped over himself reaching the last stairs, his body humming ready for a fight - but what he found was not what he expected. He quickly pivoted towards the windows, the moon was nearly full and illuminated the space including one dark bird in the open window. He felt something tighten at the site of her, but dismissed it - concern taking over his killer instincts. "Raven?" Robin spoke softly, and when she didn't turn he called her name louder.

"Hm?" Was her whispered response, as if he pulled her from trance, as she turned to look over her shoulder.

"What are you doing?" Robin asked, quickly closing the distance between them, "How long have you been standing here?"

"Oh, um.." She trailed off, looking back towards the city outside of the tower before shaking her head as if physically trying to rouse herself. "I.. I.. don't know." Robin stopped in front of her, pausing for the briefest of seconds before reaching past her and closing the window shut. "It's like ten degrees out there Raven!" He said in a small horror giving her a once over, she was paler than normal with splotchy cheeks, and swollen eyes - a clear sign she had been crying. "You've got to be freezing." He reached out and touched an exposed arm and if on queue she started to shiver.

"I.. guess .. I was.. Lost in thought?" She answered in more of a question then anything, as she turned to face her friend. Robin wrapped his hand around her arm and lightly pulled her towards the couch, she obeyed with no resistance and sat down when he tugged her. "God, I don't know what you were thinking," Robin scolded lightly grabbing an afghan Star had knitted in a hideous color combination and threw it over her. The bird didn't answer, instead she just settled back into the couch. "Want me to make you some tea?" He questioned, already getting up before she answered when she shook her head. "No, just stay here."

Robin surprised by her requested just sat back own on the couch looking at her. "Rae," He started, "Whats wrong?" Raven who had been starring out the windows briefly glanced at him before returning her gaze to the window, and a long minute when by before she said anything. And even then, she just shrugged. "I think I'm getting sick." Was all that she said to him, before leaning her head against the couch.

"Awfully sick." She said, closing her eyes and visibly swallowing as if her throat had suddenly become dry. The dark bird could feel the dark sickness rolling around in her stomach. It was like no sickness she had ever encountered before, and she was nearly positive Cy would not have an antibiotic for this. But she didn't want to tell him the truth, not yet - there was no sense in worrying Robin. "Oh, Rae," the boy wonder sounded relived, all memories of his weird dream or Raven's strange behavior slipped away, the flu - he could handle the flu. "We'll take care of you - don't you worry."

"We'll see." she mumbled too quietly for him to hear her before her head lulled to one side, and slid down onto his shoulder. Robin felt his heart beat spike, but he choose to ignore it, and instead he sighed softly to himself. The boy wonder sat there in silence for a few minutes, allowing Raven's shallow breathing to lull his body back from his frenzied state. "Hey, hey Rae?" He said quietly, not wanting to wake her on purpose, but wanting to check if she was sound asleep. When she didn't answer he shifted her so that he could get one arm behind her and the other under her. With what seemed like practiced ease he hoisted the petite Titan into his arms and headed back upstairs.

He smiled to himself looking down on her as he cradled her to his chest, knowing that this was bound to never happen again, and then he could never tell Raven how cute and seemingly fragile she seemed in his arms. It was this distraction, along with the false relief that she was just sick that caused him to over look one simple thing - Raven never got sick. Nor did she ever fall asleep on the couch and need to be carried to bed. That was Star, or BB, and hell even Cyborg one New Years Eve party - but never Raven.

It was with those thoughts he put her to bed, un-crumpled her sheets and tucked her in before going to bed himself.

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author's notex2: uh yeah, so it's been awhile - don't hate. Also, hopefully no one is too out of character, like I said its been a while since I've seen the show. And, to clear things up, all the Titans range from like 21ish to 24/25ish. BB being the youngest, then Raven & Robin are around the same age, Star & Cy.

xo

loser