- Stretch - Finally, chapter 3. For those who want more to go on this story, I hope this will further interest you. Raven's hair is longer in my story. Just picture her from the episode 'Birthmark'. Honestly, I like her better with long hair. The story does get better. For those who don't know what techniques were used or what they mean in the fight scene, just used your imagination - hehe. This is just some character interaction between two titans so hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 3 – A Late Night Spar.

Under the bleeding light of a full moon, Raven sat cross-legged in her dim-lit room. She hovered lightly inches from above her bed as she chanted to soothe her emotions and powers. Her hood was removed, revealing her beautiful, delicate skin under the illumination of moonlight. Her flowing lavender hair was slightly longer, falling just beneath her shoulders.

Raven continued meditating under complete silence, her chants slightly echoing.

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos…Azarath Metrion Zinthos…Azarath…" Raven's chanting continued flowing through her thoughts until the sudden illustration of a certain titan flashed within her mind and broke her concentration. She gasped and felt completely surprise by the sudden image. Her body lightly descended down onto her bed.

"Not again…" she whispered quietly to herself. Her eyes peered in frustration. "Calm down. Don't let this control you." Raven sighed under her breath. Slowly she directed her gaze towards her clock beside her bed. It read five am. She turned her eyes towards her window and saw that a night sky was still in play. Deciding that she could no longer meditate, she decided to wander around the tower.

She gently pulled her hood over her head as she slowly hovered from her bed to her door using her powers to slide it open. The corridors of Titan's tower were still consumed in darkness. Quietly she haunted through the silent hallways making her way for the main room. On her way, she passed through a junction. One path led to her destination. The other led to the workout room. Raven remained floating in the air and gazed at the corridor she rarely entered through. However, the longer she gazed at the certain hallway, the more it made her wonder. Call it instincts or impulse, but something was compelling her to journey down this certain path. A light smirk crept along the outline of her lips. Finally deciding to go with her instincts, she gently landed and began walking towards the workout room.

As Raven arrived at the entrance of the room, her eyes began scanning around. It seemed always the same to her when she last came here. In one area was Cyborg's gym equipment. There were dung bells racked up on the wall across from the entrance. A firm, solid matt, practically filled the entire floor. The one thing that interested her however was the punching bag that remained motionless as it hanged from the ceiling. She glanced with slight amusement before walking over to it. This bag was Robin's way of releasing tension. It was a way for him to express his anger. Raven has her meditation, but lately she feels like that hasn't been enough to control her emotions. She gently placed a hand on the bag and lightly pushed. She watched with a smile as the bag lightly rocked back and forth.

Raven brought her hands to her neck and unclasped her cloak revealing the complete outfit of her leotard. She tossed her cloak to the side and begun wrapping her long hair in a ponytail. As soon she was done, she dropped her hands to her sides. Her eyes were closed, her lips shaped in a small frown and her expression focused. She inhaled one deep breath before her eyes opened with determination. A smirk replaced her frown. She stared at the bag for an instant and fell into a fighting stance before delivering a right round house kick to the side followed by a left crescent. For a while, Raven executed punch after punch, kick after kick as she gave the bag a merciless beating. Her moves were accurate and flawless. She delivered one final kick before jumping back into a fighting stance. Her breathing was heavy and her muscles were aching. Balls of sweat began furiously dripping down her forehead and voyaging down her face. Fringes of her now damp hair dropped before her eyes.

Raven straightened herself up and decided she was done. She closed her eyes as she used her hands to move aside the strands of hair that fell across her eyes. "So this is why he trains with this bag." She actually felt good inside. She was calm, in control and somewhat free from certain anger. "It actually works."

Raven smiled at the thought. She turned around to leave when she saw a familiar team leader with a grin displayed on his face, leaning against the wall besides the doorway. She gasped in surprise, her eyes slightly widening at the unexpected meeting, "Robin." She paused for a moment to allow her body to calm down. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to see everything," he answered with the smile never leaving his lips. He pushed himself off the wall and began walking towards Raven. "I'm impressed Raven. I didn't think you would ever come down here. I didn't even know you were that good in martial arts."

"I don't. I just threw punches and kicks. As for me coming down here, I just felt like it." Her voice became cold and uncaring once again.

Robin stopped as soon as he was standing right in front of her, arms folded across his chest, "Well, even if it was just punches and kicks, you performed them well."

Raven slightly turned away from his gaze and faintly blushed to his compliment. "Thanks." After a moment, her eyes vaguely widen as a sudden thought dawned on her. "Did you find out anything on our mysterious threat?"

Robin's attitude altered to the sudden question. A frown replaced his smile and his face became stern. "No we didn't. There wasn't anything out of the ordinary so I spent the day teaching Starfire more about our planet."

Raven felt a pang of jealousy strike within at the sudden thought but just brushed it away. "I see. Where is Starfire now?"

"She went to bed. It is still dark outside."

"So why aren't you asleep yet?" she asked, slightly curious.

"I'm not that tired yet. I thought I might work out for while on the bag but found it to be occupied when I arrived," he answered as he brought back a smile across his lips.

Raven returned a grin, lightly laughing. "I'm sorry." Her tone was actually light and carefree.

Robin's eyes vaguely widen from the way she apologized. It was meaningful in a somewhat cheerful way, which was rarely seen with Raven. He couldn't help but feel enlighten by her melodic laughter. "Don't be sorry. I'm actually curious though to why you're up this late and using the bag."

"To be honest, I don't know. I just couldn't sleep and for some reason, I just wanted to train without using my powers."

"Well, since we're both down here, would you mind being my sparring partner?"

Raven's eyes widen. She was a little surprise to his offer. "You want to spar with me?"

"Your techniques are impressive and I could teach you a few things in martial arts. So, what do you say?"

Raven remained quiet for a moment as she eyed him skeptically. She lightly wilted her head and began wondering for a moment. As she finally returned her gaze with determination, a smirk formed across her lips. "All right boy wonder. I'll spar with you…but I'm not holding back just because you're my leader."

Robin lightly chuckled to her agreement, "Wouldn't have it any other way."

Robin and Raven turned away from each other and walked a few feet in front of them before turning around once more to face each other. Together they performed different warm ups. Robin began throwing a few light punches and kicks. Raven stretched out her arms and clasped her hands together. She began stretching them side to side before dropping them beside her. The two titans were now staring each other down with grins as they both fell into a fighting stance.

On the wall to the side of them, a clock read one minute to six. Raven and Robin remained motionless for what felt like time without end as neither one made the slightest movement. Eyes were focused on each other. The timepiece on the wall slowly moved, sounding a tick tock hum with every passing second. At last it hit six. It blared out a quite beeping noise that lightly echoed within the room. Upon hearing the signal, Robin and Raven step off and made a dash for each other. Robin threw a fist towards Raven's chest. She easily dodged by stepping around him. Robin followed up with a back round house, but Raven jumped out of the way just before impact and forced a sidekick that aimed for his gut. Robin reacted by grabbing her leg, her foot just inches from his stomach. "Not bad Raven. You actually almost hit me." He smiled as he vaguely struggled with his hold. Raven just leered as she returned her leg with force to escape from his grasp. They stand down once more and fell back into a fighting stance.

The darkness of the night-torn sky slowly faded as an orange sun rose from the horizon behind a sparkling ocean.

Raven and Robin continued to lightly spar with each other; oblivious to how much time has passed. Once again they were at a stand off as they stare each other down with sweat rolling down their faces. Their breathing was sluggish and intense. Robin waited as a stream of a single sweat trickled down across her eyes. He ran in full force at the right moment. Catching her by surprise, he speared tackled her and pinned her to the ground under his grip. Their faces were inches apart.

"That was a dirty trick," Raven said in annoyance.

Robin just mocked her with a grin, "It's called using any opportunity you have."

The dark sorceress smiled mischievously as a black aura engulfed her leader's body and lifted him into the air. "What? Hey…that's…" Robin began but was cut off when he was thrown onto the ground. Before he could make a move, Raven went on top of him and pinned him to the ground with their faces once more just inches from each other. Robin struggled under her hold, "That's not fair Raven. You use your powers." His tone sounded in frustration.

Raven just continued staring with a grin and enjoyed the dent she was making in his pride. "I didn't say I wouldn't use my powers."

Robin ceased struggling under her hold. Their eyes gazed into each other for a moment as they continued to smile at one another. For a moment they remained like this until Raven lightly pushed herself off him and offered her hand to help him up. Robin accepted as he found himself being pulled up on to his feet again.

Raven watched as Robin casually swept his costume from dust. "You're not the only one who can fight dirty," she said with a smirk.

As soon as Robin was done dusting, he focused his eyes towards a grinning Raven. "You're a lot stronger than I thought Raven."

Raven remained smiling. She untied her hair tie and lightly shook her head to release her long lavender hair. Robin watched as her hair fell just below her shoulders, "I see you grew your hair."

"I just didn't feel like cutting it for a while."

"I haven't notice. You always have your hood on. It really suits you," the boy wonder complimented.

Raven's eyes faintly widened. She turned her head away as she felt flushed at his comment.

"You really surprised me today Raven."

Raven whirled her eyes towards Robin, a little confuse to what he meant.

"I never thought of you coming down here and using the bag. I also never have thought that you were a natural in martial arts."

"I have a great teacher."

Robin smiled. " Raven…" he began but was cut off by the sudden blaring of the alarm that sounded throughout the tower warning them that trouble has occurred.

Robin sighed as the entire room began flashing red. He turned around without finishing what he wanted to say to her. Raven remained for a moment. She felt slightly surprise and frustrated by the interruption. She raised a hand to her cloak, engulfed it in a black aura and quickly brought it to her. She tied it back on and placed her hood over her head before running after her leader.

To be continued…

Well there's your chapter. I'll post next one soon. READ AND REVIEW. Thanks.