It had been a year since she'd locked the dragon Malchior in his book.
Lavender locks billowed in the wind, long and free. Rosy shards of sunlight poked through the wispy morning clouds, tainting everything a faint shade of coral. Drawing in the morning air, she couldn't help notice the peaceful aura of it all; the grassy scent of the lake mingling with the smoky scent of coffee grounds wafted from her city in the distance.
It always amazed her, how everything around her could be so at peace, even when her own mind was gallivanting in the throes of chaos. Fingernails gripped harder into the soft spandex of her uniform, and the girl brought her knees to her chest, wrapping her free arm around them like a shield.
"I think I broke it." She whispered, a sad smile dwelling on her lips. She hadn't felt that way about anyone since Malchior; not like giddy butterflies were dancing in her stomach lifting her head to the clouds. It was a sappy, cliche feeling, though she couldn't deny she missed it. She only wished someone could love her like she thought Malchior did.
But love was an illusion.
"I wish I'd never gone and broken it."
"Broken what?"
A familiar presence had been accompanying her on the rooftop for longer than he had let on, but Raven didn't bother telling him that. Instead, she tugged her knees closer, keeping her lilac gaze straight ahead.
But her stoic gestures were futile. They had a bond, after all. Robin would notice the way her fingers gripped tighter over the left of her chest, the way her knees guarded her like steel bars, the way her shoulders hunched like she was keeping her heart in a cage. Counting the days in his mind, the boy remembered it was the day she'd defeated the dragon, binding the evil entity to the book, thus binding her open heart to a sinking rock.
"I see."
He cast a sidelong glance her way, and he couldn't help believe that she was so pretty from this angle, in this sunlight. The curves of her lips pouted, the space beneath her fiery lilac eyes puffy. Sleep seemed to tug at her eyelids, her tangled waves like unkempt silk. Her marble skin soaked up the morning light, and she stayed still, like a magnificent monument of sorrow.
He sighed, scooting closer to the statue of a girl, resting his head against her thin shoulder. "You know, your heart's not broken forever."
Beside him, she went rigid, heat leaving her body. How dare he tell her how she felt? He couldn't possibly know. Voicing her thoughts with a simple tsk, Raven dismissed the boy. A cold air flourished over the rooftop, stemming only from the brooding sorceress.
"Don't go all ice queen on me, Raven." Robin straightened his spine, facing her head on. "That's why you still feel so hollow. Because you don't let anyone in." Bright, sapphire eyes caught the sparkles of sunlight like waves on the lake, their translucence only more obvious. Reaching tentatively for the petite hand gripped over her heart like a vice, he gingerly took her wrist, easily deflecting the stubborn flinch. "You don't have to feel so alone, Raven." Bringing her hand towards his chest, Robin offered a hopeful smile. "You know, there are people who can mend broken hearts."
The sorceress refused to face him, yanking her hand away and lacing it with the other around her knees. "Don't need a cardiac suture." Came the muffled reply, strict and bitter like the morning brew beside her. A long, calming exhale released her frustrations, before the girl continued in a softer tone. "I just need a time machine, so I can go back and tell myself not to have bought that damn book."
Sapphire eyes crinkled, a warm chuckle brushed her jaw. His dark lashes fluttered against her cheek, prodding gently at the wall she'd built. "Well, I can't give you a time machine, but I can try and make your heart whole again."
Amethyst glowed, sliding his way from the corner of her eye.
A warm hand traced her jaw, turning her gaze fully on his. Again, he took her hands, this time both, so he could press their chilly touch against his chest. Her palms were ice against his worn cotton tee, but he didn't mind a bit. He knew she'd warm up eventually.
"Feel that?"
Lids fell close, violet lashes fluttering in concentration. "Richard," peeking a concerned eye his way, Raven continued. "You have a seriously fast heart rate. Do you have tachycardia? Does Cyborg need to take you to–"
"Raven," the boy threw back his head and laughed, slowly tilting his chin back to face her, settling so their lashes were only millimeters apart. "I'm fine." Waving off her skeptical brow, he continued. "It's just what always happens to me when I'm with you."
The girl felt the air rush from her lungs. What had he said? Feeling his knees border hers, she felt as if she'd been placed beneath his wing; a protective shield against the world. It was almost cozy, nestled close to her leader amidst the chilly, hazy air while he shrouded her from the blades of daylight. Did he really want to protect her? To protect her heart? A pure look of astonishment must've been pooled in her wide lavender eyes, because Dick repeated what he'd said.
"It's true, Rae." That smile tugged the corners of his lips once more, "My heart starts fluttering out of control, I get all hot and nervous. I could barely stand, my knees were knocking so hard last time I thought I'd lost you!" He rambled on about the symptoms of love sickness, the whole time, beaming softly at the girl like sunlight reflecting on the moon. "Seems both our hearts could use a little fixing, wouldn't you say?"
"I guess we are in sort of a dire situation."
"Well, maybe we can fix each others?" Robin watched her carefully, her cheeks blossoming like cherry blossoms, a demure sparkle in her eyes. The tiny sorceress wiggled closer between his legs, lips parted in awe like she was experiencing something new and wonderful for the first time. Feeling her fingers knead into his shirt, a surge of confidence shot through his veins. The boy pressed on, fighting the scarlet across the bridge of his nose and the sudden dryness to his throat.
"You think we can fix each other's hearts?"
"Sure…." Robin halted, swallowing a bundle of nerves as he teetered on the edge of his confession. "If you want… You can give me yours." Cheesy as it may seem, he did want to give himself to Raven, to make her happier than she'd ever been before. He wanted her to be so blissful that she'd forget Malchior, and whoever else dared make her cry. He only wanted her to be complete again. Hesitating over his final words, all doubts dissipated as a familiar sparkle caught is eyes. He hadn't seen it in a year, but it was unmistakable; and the glimmer of hope in her eyes sent his heart speeding over the edge.
"And I'll give you mine."