08

"Raven, where the eff are you? You suddenly disappeared during pizza.."

Her communicator rang, and Cyborg squinted to try to figure the place out. Luckily it was dark.

"I had to meditate," was the only answer she could give.

"Rae, what's wrong? You haven't meditated in years. You alright? You seem a bit.. odd these days."

Raven gave a long sigh.

"Cyborg, please."

Her voice was sore, and Cyborg could clearly hear that. But he didn't probe. He kept his worried look, but he just nodded.

"Just call me if you need me."

She murmured a small thanks as his face disappeared from the screen. She gave a small sigh.

Surprisingly, she was at Red X's shitty apartment. She desperately needed to get away from everything, and this was the only place she could think of on Earth that didn't have any of Richard's traits. Every single bit of the Tower, including her own room was full of memories of him. Even the bank, the streets, the park, everywhere within range had imprinted him there.

"Yo, Robin. A word?"

Empty boxes were on the table, the other untroubled titans were chatting and laughing. On a set of a new boardgames Beast boy ordered, Robin seemed slightly out of focus. Cyborg walked out of the common room and waited for Robin to follow.

"What's up?"

Cyborg gave him an eyeing look. Robin was trying to play it cool, but the older Cyborg now had no problem looking through that. It was never easy to read Robin, years ago Cyborg often wondered what was going on in his mind. But Robin was thrown back to his late teens, although an adult his body may be. He definitely was no Nightwing anymore.

"What's going on with you and Raven?"

Robin didn't answer. Cyborg waited, but there was no answer. It was clear there was something going on. Cyborg sighed.

"Robin, you're family to me. I know you've had issues ever since Cinderblock, and I can understand that you're confused. But you can't mess with Raven. You're dear to me, but if you ever mess with her, I'mma really beat yo' ass really bad. I'm serious."

Robin, unlike the Nightwing he was, flared up.

"What's that supposed to mean? What did I ever do to her?"

Cyborg looked at him with a hard stern look. He almost forgot that the young Robin used to be hot-blooded although calm and prudent others might think he was.

"I dunno, dude. Maybe it's what you didn't do."

Robin fell silent again.

"I'm just saying so you know. Now if you'll excuse me, I'mma get ready to beat the shit out of a certain little thief."

Cyborg left to his room. When he turned back, Robin stood where he was, not even moving an inch. He only turned his head around-rather instinctively- when he heard a squeal from the common room.

"Raven, you're back! Um.. are you okay?"

"Dude, what happened?"

Raven was indeed back. She was soaking wet as if she was caught in a terrible storm, although the night sky was clear with shining stars.

"Did you go for a swim or something?"

Raven gritted her teeth. The lights flickered in her room, and the furniture was shaking. Beast boy saw a red flash in her eyes. He decided not to go on with the swim-in-the-lake joke he had in mind.

"I'm going to my room."

She walked past her friends, meeting eyes with Robin. He was standing in front of the door to the corridor. He looked surprised and rather concerned. Raven didn't know which she wanted to do first - to run to him and kiss him, or to smack his face and yell at him. She ignored all the noise in her head and heart. She ignored Robin, and went straight to her room. Her lips felt like it was it was burning, the sudden touch of lips wasn't fading away as she wished it would. This one wasn't from her lover. It was from a thief who managed to steal a sneaky kiss from her. She rubbed it off yet again with soap. She'll make sure to choke Red X and put him into a dimension with scarce oxygen next time.