If this seems a little to similar to "Just a Man/Dream about a Cloudy Sky" that's because this was the first of many drafts that lead to "Just a Man". Sorry for the abrupt ending there will be No more.

J. Suede

Mind Riot

When he found her she was sitting on the steps of the fountain in the entry room of Raven's flat. He was a bit worried that her personal feelings might interfere with the upcoming operations within the Factory. Much had happened to her over the last few months and even more over the last few days. He didn't like the idea of discussing her feelings or broaching the subject of what it meant to be called the Devil's Child. But she was his partner; she trusted him; had laid her life in his hands more than once. With all the dirty rotten things he'd done to her over the course of their partnership the least he could do was console her after the revelations her grandfather had brought.

He spoke his first words from across the barren stone room, his distance giving her time to hurriedly wipe some tears from her eyes. The answer to inquires of her well being she gave with a timid smile. He could tell she was a little startled by his concern but she quickly deduced the reasons behind it.

"You are afraid I'm unprepared for the mission tonight?" He wasn't going to lie to her, she deserved better. "My emotions will not cause any compromise during the operation Amon. Like you, I was trained not to let personal feelings get in the way; to put them aside for the sake of my duties."

"Yes, Robin, as a hunter you've proven yourself mature enough, but anyone with eyes can see you're hurting." He was standing before her now his eyes slipping from her sad yet determined face to the well behind her. The bit of decorative stone work was a symbol of a turning point in their relationship; a place where the term partner had taken on a new meaning for him. "Sometimes our emotions fester, being ignored for so long; we make rash decisions that alter the course of our lives and the lives of those around us." He wondered if she understood what he was referring to, she was always startling keener to his thoughts than anyone else had ever been, aside from Nagira.

"Amon" the anguish in her voice prevalent, "If I could take it all back, give you back your life I would. If I had known all the wickedness behind my creation I would have let you hunt me the first time in the ware-" He stopped her useless confession, kneeling down and grasping her face. She felt warm under his glove-less touch, a tear rolled down the crevice his thumb made against her cheek.

"Robin, you've never wanted to die, and if I had known then what I do now, I never would have taken aim. I would have helped you flee sooner." she gasped at his return confession and he moved tears from her face. "I've been a fool, seeing my only choices being with Zaizen or with Solomon and I played them both very well for as long as I could. Even now I could help you disappear and still return to Solomon as a hunter, but I've done wrong to too many people, myself included. I'm determined now to do right by you Robin." This wasn't so much a counseling of her predicament as it was a plea of forgiveness on his part, Amon thought bitterly. "What ever happens tonight I wish to stay by your side Robin."

He saw that she had no words, so when she leaned into him, he welcomed her. Cradling her head against his chest, he moved his fingers over her face and through her hair tucking it behind an ear. "I don't have to be alone anymore." She spoke the words that he'd been thinking.

He spoke with his lips against her hair. "I'm a stray mutt who's followed you home."

"I have no home to lead you to." she said, pulling away with a sad smile.

"You're always so melancholy, one day I'll learn to make you laugh." He said standing and pulling her with him.

Standing a step below her their eyes were level. One of his hands rubbed gently at the back of her neck and her own were both gripped around the lapels of his coat. She began to look a little worried after a full minute had passed with him making no move to pull his gaze from her face, "Amon?" He leaned his forehead against hers closing his eyes and sighing.

"Robin, there's something else"

He felt her head tilt up and her little, nose bump gently against his own. Her breath moved softly between their lips

"Yes?"

"Mind Riot" is a song written and preformed by Soundgarden.

Yeh, pretty abrupt ending.

This was one of my first and I hated how cliché a sappy it was so it evolved over time into "Just a Man" Aside from the blatant fluff, It lost some of the character I first saw in the two. I should have posted this when I wrote it. Six years later I'll give it up now in its original unfinished form, and with the addition of a title that is purely reminiscent.