The Morning After

The sun rose to warm the earth for another day. But it was still quite early. The people of Gotham City were just starting to rise up from their beds and get ready to start the day. Shops switched their signs from close to open. The smell of coffee wafted its way through the city streets. People walked the sidewalks with donuts and briefcases in hand. Children laughed as they ran to catch the school buses. People yelled in their cell phones as they lost signal in certain areas. The sound of tires running along pavement was becoming more dominant. People left their houses and went to wherever their needs took them. Some being productive and others choosing to spend the day relaxing and enjoying life. Some straightening their ties and buttoning jackets while others plan destruction on the city or just lazed around. Either way, activity was beginning to buzz around the city.

Raven

There were places however were activity was very low. The only person awake in the Titan's Tower was Raven and she was quietly meditating on the roof. She really had no need for it anymore, for her emotions no longer needed restraint. They now roamed as free as they pleased. But she had risen up to this routine her entire life and it just felt silly to stop it now. This was time to think and clear her head as well, so it wasn't completely pointless. Even as adults things were sometimes hectic in the titan's tower. It was also peaceful and really nice to watch the sunset. She was done meditating for the morning and was currently sitting on the edge of the roof just staring out at nothing in particular. It was times like this she would think about herself, her life, her friends, etc. She didn't know why, but she felt today was going to be a good one. It just felt like it was going to be a good one. She rose up off the edge of the tower and starting walking towards the door.

Starfire

She was awake but she chose to lay in bed for a little bit and bask in her happiness. Her life was perfect and she just wouldn't change a thing. She had wonderful friends, a wonderful home, and most importantly a wonderful boyfriend. She smiled to herself as she thought of Robin. He was such a wonderful person. He was always so caring and good. She felt so blessed to wake up every morning with a smile on her face. And so blessed that he chose her. She rose from her fuchsia pink sheets and walked over to her gold vanity table covered with vials of perfume, make up, random pink fluffing, and hair accessories. She gently sat down making sure her posture was correct and picked up her brush. She started brushing through her long thick auburn hair. This was going to take awhile because she had to look absolutely perfect. Her hair must shine and flow with perfect bounce. With such a perfect life one had to look the part. After about thirty minutes of brushing, she looked at herself in the mirror, satisfied with that she saw. And why wouldn't she be? She was perfect. It was why Robin loved her of course. She took a moment to examine herself. She had beautiful eyes the perfect shade of electric green with long lashes that brought out the best in them. Her eyes roamed down to her shoulders, rolling to the side as she checked out them out. Her soft flawless skin carried the perfect tan that never faded. A tan any girl would kill to have. She softly ran her fingers over her collarbone in approval. Yes, she was perfect. And she deserved the perfect man. They had only just started dating but she already knew that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. They were two perfect people who deserved each other. They would make beautiful babies. She sat down her brush and walked over to her lavender walk-in closet and picked out one of her uniforms. This was going to be a gorgeous morning.

Beastboy

"." Beastboy wouldn't be up until the last minute. Until he smelt that awful bacon sizzling down in the kitchen. Till then he snoozed in his junky room.

Robin

Robin had decided he was going to pound out his confusion in the gym before showing his face to the rest of the team. He didn't sleep at all that night, and when he did finally dose off he would find himself dreaming of a beautiful purple woman. A beautiful woman who was twirling around in silky material. He paused.

He REALLY didn't need this.

He continued battering up Karl the dummy. Robin didn't like where his thoughts were leading him. He had already decided that he lusted after Raven that night, but that was as far as he was digging into his mind. He had Starfire and that was all he needed. She was his one and only, he couldn't hurt her like that.

Where the hell was he going with that statement? Hurting her like what? He wasn't planning on doing anything.

Jesus how do you sort through your own thoughts when there are so many? He moved on to knee strikes. Karl wasn't taking the hits so well but so far he was still standing. He didn't like being uncertain about himself. The fact that Raven's secret had him all beaten up like this frustrated him. He REALLY didn't like how obsessed with it he had become. Even though he had just seen her dance one night he had been observing her for weeks. It slightly reminded him of the times he would obsess over Slade's methods. Not Healthy. So he decided he was just going to come clean about it. There was no way he was going to sit there holding that on his shoulders. He was going to confront her about it.

Karl the dummy finally threw up a white flag and fell from his post.

But he was going to have some fun with her first.

Breakfast

"Dude, I'm not eating that." Beastboy declared as he pushed away a plate full of bacon that Cyborg had been edging towards him.

"Come on B, you can't push away something you've never tasted. You might like it!" Cyborg declared as he starting edging the plate back towards him.

All five of the titans had finally made their way down to breakfast. As predicted Beastboy and Cyborg were arguing about something. How they continued to argue about what to eat at every meal was mystery to all of them. However, over time the arguments seem to lessen. The idea of cooking meals that were friendly towards everyone had finally found its way to their kitchen. Most of the fights were now concerned over what was on everybody's plate instead of the table. Particularly Beastboys.

"NO! It's like eating my foot or something! Be considerate! Tell you what, you eat a piece yourself and then I'll try the bacon." Beastboy whined as he pulled the bacon in front of his plate and passed Cyborg a fork for himself.

Cyborg stared at Beastboy and the fork in his hand for a moment before deciding he had lost this quarrel and continued eating his eggs. Beastboy, grinning in satisfaction, pushed away the plate of bacon and stabbed his tofu with a fork of his own.

Starfire to no one's surprise was soaking everything on her plate in mustard. Over the years she had developed some sort of variety with her mustards. Sometimes should bust out with honey mustard or spicy. Every day was different.

"My friends you must try this new wonderful dish I have created! It is the joining between mustard and Raisin Brand! It is glorious! Robin you must try some!" she squealed as she thrust a spoonful in his direction.

Robin was so busy staring a hole through Raven's back that he didn't realize what hit him until the spoon was inside his mouth.

It took everything within him not to spit it back in her face.

Beastboy and Cyborg's throats suddenly needed a lot of clearing.

Raven decided to join the table at the moment setting down her herbal tea and toast down before settling down next to Beastboy, frowning at Beastboy's sad attempts to cover his laughs. Robin, after forcing down that awful spoonful of vomit encouragement, decided to engage Raven in some "every day" conversation.

"So Raven, how has your morning been so far?" he said with a sugary smile.

Raven looked up from her toast to give Robin a skeptical smile, "It's been nice so far, thanks for asking,"

Robin never talked to her at breakfast anymore. He was usually so far up Starfire's ass that the rest of them weren't even there. So what the hell?

"Good good, and how's everyone else's day going?" Robin asked turning to the rest of the table.

Everyone except for Starfire looked at Robin as if he randomly sprouted a second head or two. Since he and Starfire had made it official there hadn't been very many conversations where Robin addressed someone besides her.

Starfire, oblivious to everyone's world but hers, turned to Robin with a sugary smile that matched his own.

"It has been magnificent! It has set up such a glorious mood for the rest of the day!" Starfire shouted happily as she looped arms with Robin. Robin, whose intentions was not of Starfire's attention tried to reciprocate her interest by squeezing her arm in response.

He un-looped his arm and turned back to address the rest of the table again.

"So I've been thinking lately, as the leader I've noticed that the team really isn't as close as it used to be. So I think we should spend more quality time together as a group. Huh?"

Beastboy and Cyborg glanced at each other from their seats, automatically knowing that they were thinking the same thing. Beastboy decided to speak for the both of them.

"Uh, are you sure you and Starfire are willing to share your time with the rest of us?"

It was meant to come out as a joke but something in those words struck home for Robin. He glanced over at Raven. There was no support there. She bore the same expression as the other two. Had he really been spending that much time with Starfire? Was he the reason for the space between his teammates? He looked down at his hands before continuing.

"I think we should start having designated nights where we all do something together. Like have movie nights or go out on the town or something. What do you guys think?"

There was excitement from Cyborg and Beastboy's side of the table. Starfire decided to join in the excitement of planning what they were going to do. Raven just stared at Robin from her spot at the table. She wasn't buying it.

"So Robin," Starfire said, "When shall we have our nights on the town!"

That statement reminded him of why he proposed this in the first place.

"How about Tuesday and Thursday nights?" He glanced over in Raven's direction. Thankful once again that no one could actually see where his eyes were.

Raven froze.

"Yeah! That sounds awesome!" Beastboy said happily. Then he joined back in the conversation he, Cyborg, and Starfire were having.

This left a very still Raven and silent Robin to themselves.

"So you up for it Raven?" Robin asked turning in her direction.

Raven gathered up her composure and nodded in his direction. She picked up her tea and drank deeply for something to do.

Robin smiled and started to eat his cereal.

Breakfast continued pretty smoothly for most of the titans with the exception of one. She sat silently in her seat contemplating just how she was going to handle this situation. Of all the days to pick he chose those. Was it possible that he knew? Because honestly the entire suggestion was so random.

"Are you ok Raven? You seem a little tense?"

Raven was no pushover. She was not going to give Robin the satisfaction of seeing her face. She knew him, and she could tell by his expressions that he had ulterior motives.

"I'm fine Robin," She smiled, "and you have a little milk on your chin."

Robin's smug expression dropped as he hurriedly grabbed a napkin. Two could play that game Raven.

They all continued to finish up breakfast with light chatter, the excitement of planning their nights out died down a little. Robin continued to stare at Raven from across the table. He wasn't done yet.

"Having trouble sleeping Raven? I thought I heard you rumbling around late last night" Robin said as he leaned back in his chair.

Raven stopped in midway motion of bringing her tea glass to her mouth, caught herself, and then continued to drink.

"No Robin I slept quite well, but yes you probably heard me walking back down to the common room to pick up something I had left there earlier."

"It couldn't wait until morning?"

Up until then none of the titans had really paid attention to their conversation, but that last statement from Robin earned some glances from everyone else at the table.

Raven stared at Robin for a moment before answering. She knew something was up.

"Yes it could've, but I wanted it then. Do you have a problem with that?"

He really didn't have anything smart to say to that. "No, I don't have a problem with that. It's yours and you can do whatever you want with it." He picked up his coffee and took a sip to cover up the lame ass answer he just shot out. But he wasn't giving up yet.

Raven, along with the others gave Robin one last odd look before continuing with breakfast.

"Hey Starfire!" Beastboy chirped out happily, "so I had this dream the other night and…"

Robin continued to stare at Raven through his mask. Thankfully it kept everyone from seeing what he was really staring at.

"Your performances on missions has really improved lately Raven, been putting in extra rounds in the gym?"

Raven put down her tea altogether. "Well Robin I appreciate the compliment and no, I have not been working out extra. Why do you ask?"

"Oh no reason really, I've just noticed your legs are looking quite toned lately"

itRobin now had Cyborg's attention.

Raven just stared at Robin. What the hell was his problem? She had put down her empty cup.

"My legs are as they've always been Robin. I'd appreciate if you kept your eyes to yourself" with that comment she rose to go pour herself another cup of herbal tea.

Robin smiled to himself. He had poked through that perfect composure.

Cyborg wasn't really sure where this conversation was going.

Robin watched Raven as she poured herself some more tea.

Raven wasn't really sure what to make of the conversation either. The conversation itself wasn't really that strange itself but usually they weren't this friendly towards each other in front of everyone. Raven was a private person. When she was with Robin alone she could be herself, but having the conversations they have with each other at the breakfast table wasn't usual. She decided she was done eating and went to sit in the common room a little early.

Robin put down his cup as he saw Raven come back to the table. He prepared himself for his next couple of comments that he was going to fire at her. He was going to get her to crack. He was a little surprised though when he saw her pick up the plate that no longer held her toast and excused herself from the table. Un-expected. He considered following her for a minute. But no doubt that would look weird, if they even noticed of course. He looked around the table. Beastboy had engaged Starfire in a conversation that to him involved over the top hand movements and screaming. They wouldn't notice if he just up and followed Raven. He looked at Cyborg, and Cyborg stared back at him. Well, almost everyone was distracted. He knew that Cyborg and Raven were close so of course he would have some concern over what just happened at the table. But he wasn't trying to hurt her feelings or anything.

Actually.

What was he trying to do? Was he trying to get her to admit right there at the table that she stripped? Did he want to humiliate her in front of her friends? No, of course not, but that's pretty much what he had been doing. He felt a little guilty. So he just forgot about Cyborg's glaring eyes and got up to follow Raven.

Raven knew he would follow her into the common room. He was trying to make some sort of point at the table and he hadn't made it there, so of course he was going to follow her and prod until he did. So she sat on the couch and waited, flipping channels aimlessly until she heard Robin walk in. He didn't say anything to her right away. Just sort of hovered behind the couch trying to gather his thoughts and figure out the "right" way to go about what he was trying to the entire morning. He thought he wanted to just pull it out of her. Now he wasn't sure what he wanted. A confession? An explanation?

"Raven, could I talk to you for a minute?"

Raven continued to stare at the TV. Robin walked around the back of the couch so he could look her in the eyes. Raven looked up at him from the couch.

"Well Richard, what else could you possibly want to say to me that wasn't voiced at breakfast?" She sneered as she rose from the couch.

He didn't know how to answer that now, having his motives from earlier change.

Raven continued to look at him for a moment before getting up and walking out the room. She had enough to think about without Robin adding to it. And when he was ready to explain himself he would.

Robin watched her get up and walk out of the room. Well this didn't go as planned at all. He sat down on the long red couch. He couldn't do anything right when it came to Raven. It took Beastboy's statement to realize that. They were his friends and Raven was his best friend. Being in a relationship shouldn't change that. He felt awful now. So he was through playing. He was just going to be honest with himself and Raven.

He got up and walked to the elevator.

Raven lay on her bed staring at the ceiling. Her life worked the way it was and now that was about to change. She was about to lose the one thing that kept her grounded. She guessed it wasn't the end of the road. I mean there were always other placed open other nights. But it wouldn't be the same. It wouldn't feel the same. Stupid Robin. Right about now he was the root of all her problems. Why couldn't he just leave her the fuck alone! He should just go to Starfire and get out of her life. Even though she wanted him there she knew that he world would be a lot easier without him. Raven hated having a weakness. So she was going to rid herself of it. She didn't need Robin and her world would not end without him.

*knock knock*

Raven didn't want to think about whom that would be at her door even though she was pretty sure who it was. She thought about just laying there and ignoring him.

*knock knock*

He would only stay there for so long. She could just turn her back to the door and waited until he left.

*KNOCK*

"UGH!"

She got up angrily and pulled the door open.

"What Robin!" she yelled in his face.

Unmoved by her anger Robin just stood there and looked at her. He knew what he wanted to say and he was going to say it.

"I like watching you dance."

…*slap*

A/N: sorry this took awhile. Not sure why but this has been a hard chapter for me to write, i just wasn't feeling it. Also i've noticed that a lot of people favorite my story but I don't get a lot of feedback. I like hearing what you guys have to say about the story and i take your suggestions seriously. Please review. Thanks :)

IsabellaRoth: haha! I love reading your reviews.

Bellavira: Thanks :)