12.

"Richard?"
"Yes, Raven?"

They were outside in the park on a walk in the name of a patrol. Raven seemed uncomfortable and nervous. He never saw her like this before, he chose to savor every moment of it. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, but she didn't succeed in saying anything. He suppressed his urge to kiss those delicate lips.

"So.. how are you these days..?"

He saw her flush up. He could imagine, she's probably her telling herself that that was one of the most stupid things she's ever said. And Raven never say stupid things.

Richard knew Raven was trying to talk to him for a while. She tried a few days ago in the car, and yesterday in the restaurant. Today she tried this morning during their tea and coffee time, during the lunch patrol and on the way to go get pizza. She failed every time. She was frustrated and angry at herself, but since it was flattering Richard that she wanted to talk to him so bad he just couldn't help but push it further.

"Well, I'm sleeping 5 hours a day, drink black coffee in the mornings and have a regular workout. My blood pressure seems to be normal, my brain is functioning quite well and my body muscle did not fail me, so I guess I'm good? How are you these days?"

Well, maybe Raven was right. Maybe he IS a fucking sadist. He couldn't be more curious about what made her come to him like this. Maybe.. He had a thought, an idea, but it was closer to hope. Though he had to chuckle, dispirited. Raven had just come to embrace her emotions. She was learning. He wouldn't expect her to be so open about love.

She had no idea, thought Richard. She had no idea what he felt whenever he met with her eyes, both the glimpse of the tiny hope and the great darkness inside fascinated him. He was raised by a detective - and he wanted to know more and more of her. He quickly learned the ways of her, how she would glance away for a second when she felt happy or flattered, how she would slowly blink her eyes when she's annoyed, how she would turn her head away so no one can see her blushing. People who called her emotionless were a fool - she just expressed them differently. Especially after Trigon vanished, he proudly watched her discovering the freedom to feel whatever she wants to whatever degree she wants. Her powers were in total control, and he of course never told her how happy he was. Both for her and for himself. Because since now she was free to feel, that meant that she was free to develop her feelings as well. So here he was, hoping and waiting.

"Alright, screw this. What is it, Raven? I know you wanted to talk to me about something."

Seeing her face turning into a light shade of red (that would've been almost impossible to tell if it weren't for his amazing observation skills, he added), he decided to drop the jokes and help her out. She breathed. He waited.

She is just so adorable.

"You know, I was wondering.."

What would it be like to hold her in his arms? She's much smaller than him now..

"If you are interested, and if you're not too busy.."

Wait.. is he allowed to actually keep his hopes up?

"Would you like to go on a date with Starfire?"

"…Huh? Starfire?"

It was a rather peaceful morning. Raven was watching the quiet city waking up with the sunrise. Something about this day reminded her of the day the team finally banished Trigon. The appreciation of being alive, the deep stir in her heart of being able to see the city again was a pleasant shock. She would come to this exact spot as often as possible since then. Watching the city she vowed to protect starting a new day became something like her new way of meditation. Richard joined her quite often, and in silence, they would breathe in the bliss of being alive.

"Fancy seeing you up so early."

Richard stood next to her, a cup of coffee in his hands. The way he came up to her was so natural and almost serene as if the past few weeks never existed. Raven kept an emotionless face.

"I could say the same to you."

He smiled.

"I love to watch the sun rising. It's another day given, right?"

If it weren't for him, she would've never understood how it felt. She turned her head back to the city.

"Are you always this cheerful in the morning?"

-Raaaven! You're supposed to ask him out, not make things more complicated!
-Yeah, playing hard to get is overrated.
'Shut up, I'm trying to focus,' Raven had to shut the voices down. She never realized how confusing it was to have emotions split apart. It was like having split personalities. It was like she was a teenager again.

"Most of the time." Surprisingly, Richard chuckled. She turned to look at him before thinking. He hasn't smiled at her ever since the accident. "Well, recently I haven't really been able to."

"So.. how are you these days..?" It sounded so stupid, Raven thought about just vanishing into the wall. Richard gave a small laugh.

"Well, my blood pressure seems to be normal, my brain is functioning as usual, and I don't have any hallucinations of Slade anymore, so I guess I'm good? How are you these days?"
"You sadistic brat," she blurted out. Richard didn't move, taken aback. Then he started to laugh hysterically. Raven just watched him. For a moment his laughter rang inside her like a roar, almost deafening her ears.

'It's just like my Richard. It's just as if he's back.. like he remembers,' thought Raven.
"That," he laughed, "was the freaking," laugh again, "BEST THING I've ever been called!" Then laughter exploded once more. She watched him as if it were in slow motion. She already knew she loved him. Now she realized just how much she missed him.

The laughter died out, and they had a small chat. It was about nothing and everything, starting from Robin's favorite book to villains and different languages. They talked about whether if the team needs a new member, new tactics and it led to Batman. Raven never felt so alive in a while. She was content, almost happy.

"I'm sorry we were a bit on difficult terms recently. I was really confused about everything. Honestly, I still am," confessed the leader. She looked at him, feeling like the moment she faced another sunrise.

This wasn't like when they were together in love, but it was like when they were best friends. It reminded her so much and felt so much like the months after Trigon, becoming ever closer with such a stronger bond. Even possibly developing feelings for each other.

'For now, it's good enough. We started from here. I can do this again.' Raven told herself firmly.
"We need to do this more often, God I missed this."

She smiled at that. He has no idea, she thought. He has no idea of how different the meaning and depth were if she were to say she missed him out loud.

"Anyways, I got to go for the morning training routine, catch up with you later, Raven."

But if she couldn't restore his memories, she could at least try to make him fall in love with her again.

.

.

"Raven, there you are! I must ask you to do the secret talk of the girls!"

Feeling like a cat with a full stomach, Raven patiently followed Starfire to her room. She was caught retreating to her own room, but today Raven didn't mind that much. She was reliving, revisiting and replaying everything Richard said.

"Which do you think is more beautiful, friend Raven?"

Raven looked at the three gorgeous dresses Starfire laid on her bed.. One was red as her hair, one was green like her eyes, one was purple like her costume. The red one was revealing, the green was classy and purple was fancy. She blinked.

"They're all nice, Star."

She sighed.

"That I'm afraid I agree so too. Then which do you think Robin would like better?"

The insides of Raven started to turn cold.

"Why would his opinion matter?"
"We're going to the dance together, and since you know him most well, I thought I'd.. Raven?"

She felt like the world was very far away, the voice calling her was very distant.

"Raven? Are you alright?"