Author's Note: While on vacation visiting Emaniahilel (on ff . net), she had me listen to "Lullaby" by the Dixie Chicks and described a visual that came to mind. I asked if I could draw the visual, she said yes. Later, I asked if I could write something around that image. Again, she graciously said yes. This is the result.
Also, you can find the illustration at my devart account - kysra . deviantart . com.
Spoilers for "Hide and Seek."
Is Forever Enough?
By Kysra
Part IV: A Few Months Along
It's a common misconception that we Titans only function as a team. In reality, we were actually given individual assignments when the need arose; and it just so happened that, several months after he promised to "spell it out" for me, Robin pulled me aside after breakfast one morning to schedule a one-on-one briefing.
This was not an unusual occurrence as Robin was not only a remarkable leader but also an excellent manager, able to match team member with client according to said team member's strengths and weaknesses alongside the demands of the job as if it were mere reflex. There was no need to include the others in what would become my mission; and since I had the utmost trust in Robin's judgement where crime fighting was concerned, I did not question his outline of the job ahead. It was to be a simple courier run: go to start location, pick up cargo, carry cargo safely to end location. Simple, though Robin did warn me that the cargo was special, that it was not only special to us but to the rising and irrepressible Brotherhood of Evil.
As the danger was very real despite the simplicity of the actual assignment, Robin insisted that we plan and begin a personal hand-to-hand combat training program for myself. So, when I wasn't pouring over maps and plotting out the clearest, safest route to get the special cargo from point A to point B, I was locked in the gym with Robin getting punched, kicked, and thrown.
We did not speak of his feelings or mine. There was no flirting, teasing, or any sort of physical contact that was not of the violent-with-purpose kind. Our sessions were strictly business-as-usual, and I was not disappointed that it was so.
Our friends, however, began to make connections - though, I was notably neither the recipient of Robin's favoritism nor did he treat me differently in any significant way.
Beast Boy, surprisingly, was the first to take notice though he limited his commentary to grumbling about Robin's pheromones stinking up the Tower whenever I was within earshot. I did not understand his jibe properly until years later (which is very fortunate for Robin). Cyborg, on the other hand, merely threw an occasional warning glare in Robin's direction if he got too close to me. And Starfire, well, she declared a small cold war for a time until she realized that I had done, was doing nothing to invite Robin's attention away from her. Eventually, she just outright threatened to feed me to a razor-toothed Snapgort should I dare break Robin's heart (as if I were the one causing such an uproar) before declaring me worthy of the title "Friend" once more.
Considering all of that, I saw the opportunity to venture forth on my own (in the Alps no less) as a sort of vacation. After all, there was no indication that there would be any unforseen obstacles (though I was certainly prepared should something arise); and I desperately needed the space such a separation promised.
Imagine my surprise when I realized the special cargo was three small children.
Unfairly (I can admit that now), my immediate reaction was to think Robin was punishing me for my lack of a response to his feelings. This conclusion was only confirmed (in my mind) when all efforts to contact him were denied. Later, I would discover that he had sent me to the Munchkin Maulers not only because I was the most suited to the task, but because Professor Chang had been making some very vocal, very personal threats against the Titans on behalf of a colleague. Apparently, the threats were serious enough for Robin to send me away as an effort to preserve his second-in-command as well as Titans West while he and the others threw themselves into a battle royale with several members of the Brotherhood in a prevention themed retaliation.
And while he and the others were taking care of one threat, I was struggling with another - in the form of Msr. Mallah. It has always been a point of speculation, the reason why Robin chose me to be his second-in-command; and no mission had ever illustrated the answer so perfectly as my first hours in the Munchkins' company.
Robin and I have very similar theories where battle is concerned, theories that are based upon very specific moral guidelines. It is in our approach that we differ significantly. Where Robin bounds head-first into a fight and molds events through his reactions to the enemy, I will hover above the fray and give aid or protection where I can. Both positions require an ability to take accurate account of a rapidly changing field and strategize accordingly within a second's notice. It is a talent both Robin and I possess though we harness it in opposite ways. He is most clearly the aggressive offense of the team whereas I am strictly a defensive player.
And what the Munchkin Maulers needed most during their trip to Sanctuary was someone to defend and protect them.
And though he could not possibly have known I would become so utterly attached to Melvin, Timmy, and Teether, I cannot deny that Robin had made the right choice . . . Just as I made the right choice in deciding that I loved him back.
