Jennifer

by Killer Moth

Raven is trying to conceal her disdain for Robin's relationship with Starfire, and it's bleeding into her work. Currently on hiatus.

2. Underdog

Disclaimer:I don't own Teen Titans.

Author's Note:I was disappointed by the initial review response but with the passage of time I gained some nice reviews to which I respond:

writerofthefuture:I always appreciate your reviews. They are amusing if nothing else.

idoliar:Thank you for the kind words. I needed to hear that. I remembered in your review/argument of "Slucing High" you called me female. For the record and for everyone to know. I'M A GUY! Thank you.

Chocolate Curlz:Thank you,I push myself to be original. Or close to it as I possibly can. And potential is spelled with a "A".

earthfirewindwater:You're a good egg.

Lain the Fluff-Master:I'm quite glad this impressed you so much. No one ever told me I got good prose before. I'll certainly keep it up if you keep your Robin/Raven fiction up. I like what you got. Keep it up.

I'm using songs that I think fit the Robin/Raven relationship in each chapter,to:A)resolve my feelings and B)get it out of my system before I do the really serious stuff.

I wanted to do "Toy" from the Murmurs but changed it at the last minute because I thought this song fits the situation better. At least in terms of Robin/Raven but I'll let you be the judge.

I also want to give a big,extra special piece of cake for Noriaki Kakyoin and his dead-on insights and criticisms. Sorry man,I'm just on this Lisa Loeb kick.

Timeline:Two weeks after Part 1

Let's get started.

"We're approaching our destination,sir."

The intercom squawked its message to its main passenger as the helicopter was approaching a rocky mountain pass. The passenger inwardly smirked. 'The time has arrived.' Time was once the passenger's problem:to hurry and finish what he thought was the final solution but now it was his asset. It gave him a chance to scheme,to plan,to find weakness. And now within the past year he found it:the final cog in his machine,the final piece.

Now if only no one would screw it up.

He felt the helicopter coming to a stop,hovering.

"We've achieved clearance and going to land,sir." The intercom said.

"Very well,then. Proceed."

The passenger turned his head to the left. He saw one of the engines turning horizontal to vertical. From the mechanical buzzing sound he heard the other engine did the same action. He knew the VTOL helicopter was quite expensive but it was quite useful from time to time.

The helicopter landed on a clear piece of land between two mountains. The passenger didn't get up,he waited. He waited as the patch of land below the helicopter started to make mechanical sounds and actually lowered the helicopter into the earth.

Then he got up.

The patch of land or platform was being guided by pulleys and high density wires,landing towards another platform which he could see someone was standing on as he entered the cockpit. He then walked outside the helicopter on the platform:He saw highly refined metal bulkheads,people working highly advanced technological consoles,he was impressed.

'They've increased the budget.'

The platform landed and turned towards the old woman standing there. He immediately recognized the old crone:The headmistress of the Hive Academy of Extraordinary Young People. Or H.A.E.Y.P. for short. The institution willing to do anything legal or illegal. For a price. She of course recognized the gentleman clad in raven colored body armor with an orange colored half-mask.

"Greetings Mr. Slade."

Yes,the notorious Slade Wilson,sworn enemy of the Teen Titans. Which is the reason he accepted her summons and came here.

"Headmistress." Slade looked around,he already looked around but now he was doing it for her benefit. The things he does to make the little people happy.

"Interesting base. I thought you would be build something more...insectal."

"This is a sub-base hidden from our enemies. The real H.I.V.E. main base when completed will be far more glorious and far more...insectal than this little fissure." she said in what looked a smile. A really creepy smile. A smile which for some reason gave Slade a chill down his back.

"At any rate may I ask why you called me?"

The Headmistress gestured him to follow her down a corridor.

"I called because we've made great breakthroughs in our new genetics division. I recalled your interest in genetics particularly with our nano-probe technology which you bought. So before we go to market,I thought I should give you a peek in case you're interested. You'd be surprised in how advanced we've become--"

Slade always hated this part. He hated the fact the old crone would hem and haw over her organization's latest machine or operative. She sounded like a used car salesman quite frankly. But as much as he loathe it,he understood why:the woman didn't have a much of a life except for the H.A.E.Y.P.,which is a rather depressing fact in of itself. So why take the little pleasure the woman has left in her pathetic life?

"We have actually developed chemicals that can transform our mediocre students into super soldiers. We called them Super Beings. They can easily dispatch your enemies. If fact--"

'That's enough.'

"I didn't come because of that but thank you. I came because I need three toys you gave me not too long ago:Agents Jinx,Mammoth,and Gizmo."

The old woman looked shocked. "B..but they have failed every mission. I was going to liquidate them for their failures."

"I can certainly understand why you feel that way but I have use for them. I'm conducting an...experiment of sorts."

The old woman threw him a quizzical look. "All right,but I'd like to know why."

"I need them. That's all you need to know."

"It doesn't work that way Mr. Slade. If I'm going to override protocol and snatch them from the soup so to speak,I'd like to know why."

Slade took a heavy breath and thought:He did not want anyone to know his business. But he did not want to break off this arrangement and go to someone else,someone else he may not trust. He knew H.A.E.Y.P. and H.A.E.Y.P. knew him. Why destroy a good thing? Besides he had a fondness for the Headmistress. She never backed down to him. Most of the time anyway and besides she was to the closest he had to a...friend.

"As I said before I'm conducting an experiment involving the Titans. Your 'failures' has had much experience with them. I need to see if my hypothesis is true."

"Which is?"

"May we go somewhere...private?"

She nodded and lead him to her private office and closed the door. Slade then produced a mini-cassette and went to her video player and installed it in the open port.

"I've been observing the Titans' most recent battles. Particularly the aftermath of said battles." Slade said as he adjusted the device. The monitor on the adjacent wall turned on.

The image started with a battle damaged street. The police were putting the villain of the day in the paddy wagon. Robin was in a hug by Starfire.

"I originally thought the alien was my only way to get to Robin but then I discovered a rather interesting...wrinkle."

He turned a knob and it showed a different angle featuring Raven staring at the couple with a stare full of longing and something else. Could it be...love?

"I thought it was interesting to see the emotionless half-breed show such a look. I first thought she was envious of the closeness Robin and the alien shared. Then it became much more clear."

The image then showed that Raven showed that same longing,love-fulled look after Starfire left and just stared at...Robin. Slade froze the image.

"The daughter of Trigon falling in love with a human? I don't believe it."

"Yes. I found it unbelievable myself. And that's why I need those three. To test to see how deep these feelings are."

"I..I'm not sure this is a good idea. We've seen the extent of the daughter of Trigon's powers and they're not to be trifled with. Especially if she's in...love as you claim."

"I'm not claiming anything. That's why I want to conduct this experiment. To see if I'm right."

"And if you are?"

"Then I found my perfect pawn."

"You know you're sowing the seeds of your destruction by doing this."

"I know. But look at it this way:if I win no harm,no foul. If I lose you're out three liabilities."

"Well,when you put it like that."

They both stared at the screen,at Raven's face. The Headmistress was thinking how deep of a grave Slade was digging by toying with the daughter of Trigon's emotions like this. She cared about him. He was a very good client after all. Slade was thinking of all the schemes he would use if he was right. And if this pans out he might end up with not just one but two apprentices.

'Oh the fun we'll have.'

Slade inwardly chuckled.

Robin couldn't put his finger on it but something was...off. But what? There was a lull in the crimefighting lately yes,but that wasn't it.

What was it? Think! Two weeks ago everything was fine. Wait... now he remembered:nearly two weeks ago was when Beast Boy and Raven pronounced they were a couple. And for some reason that didn't bode well for Robin.

'Why?'

He had Starfire,that was enough. Wasn't it?

Before this revelation it was. But now...

'Why should I care who Raven dates? That's her business as she so often reminds us.' Raven's antisocial personality leaked everywhere:in the Titans' battle plans,the occasional sarcastic remark,even in their own minds. Robin underestimated how much of a impact Raven has on everyone.

'I doubt she knows herself.'

Robin then wondered about Raven herself. Surely having a boyfriend for the first time would be cause for elation, to quote Starfire. But she's acting the same as she usually does. Except within the past week she's been acting even more emotionless than before if that's possible.

Why is she so sad?

Robin has been with Raven for over four years now. He can usually pick up any fluctuation in her moods based on their time together and his detective skills but now...now...

'Now I don't know anything more.'

'Isn't this what she wanted? To finally get rid of the loneliness?' Robin knew Raven lived a lonely life based on what he deduced and on very little she told him. And it looks like Beast Boy was the key to freeing her from that loneliness.

So why he isn't convinced?

Obviously there was a deeper issue here but how was Robin going to find out?

'Simple. Ask her.'

'Ask her?'

'If you care about her,you have to.'

'What about her--'

'If she values the friendship and you know she does,she won't turn you down. At least until the end.'

'You're right. I have to try. I care about her.'

Robin left his room to do just that.

"So he says don't worry,I've got Krabbys! Ha,ha,ha! Can you believe it?" Beast Boy said to Raven sitting on the couch on the living room.

"I can't believe you still have all those teeth." Raven deadpanned.

Beast Boy glowered for a minute and said nothing. Raven taking cheap shots wasn't new but since they have paired up,she almost goes out of her way to do that. Most times she wouldn't even bother,so why now?

'Maybe it's just Raven stuff.' Beast Boy has been with Raven for two weeks and he still can't figure hardly anything about her,she hasn't opened up much,like her past. But then that's not a shock dealing with the antisocial psychic as long as he has. But she hasn't said one thing that was truly...open. She tells him little things,little things that so blatantly obvious it could make you spit but nothing else. Beast Boy knew this would come hand-in-hand with Raven but it doesn't mean he has to like it. Beast Boy saw Starfire walk towards the kitchen. He thought of Robin.

'You may caught a beauty Bird boy but I caught the real prize. The diamond in the rough.' Beast Boy was surprised he thought that:associating with Raven,he had to read and learn stuff to try and keep up with her. That phrase was something he read last night. He had to admit he liked the novel Raven gave him but he would never admit it to her. He did have his immature image to maintain. What he didn't know was Raven caught those last thoughts. He forgot to raise his mental shields yet again.

"I'm going to get something to eat. Want anything,babe?"

"No thank you." he walked towards the kitchen leaving Raven to her thoughts.

She hated the endearment. It was so simple,so easy to say. No brainpower whatsoever. Nothing to make her melt. She often wondered what endearment Robin would give her if they were in a relationship. No doubt something that was intelligent but charming and beautiful.

'You'll never going to let this go,are you?' her conscience asked.

'How can I? He is someone you can't easily let go.'

'You have to. You're in a relationship now.'

'I guess if Garfield has some depth to him then this wouldn't be that much of a problem. But he clearly doesn't. I'm trying but...'

'I know. '

'Maybe I shouldn't have done this. He's too...childish for me.'

'You needed someone. The way you were going you were going to explode very soon if you didn't end the loneliness.'

'I know but Garfield? Why couldn't it be R--'

'Yes you wish Robin would come and save you but he can't. You know that.'

'I know. I know it everytime I look at them. I wonder though...is he happy? With all this messing around with Garfield I've had no time for him.'

'I'm sure he understands. He knows how hard it is budgeting time with your friends and time with your significant other.'

'True,that's how it was with Starfire and he still made time for us. I should do the same.'

'You didn't finish your thought:do you think he's happy?'

'He'd have to be wouldn't he?'

'There is one way.'

'I'm not probing his mind. Everyone is fair game but not him.'

'No. I meant ask him.'

'No I can't.'

'Then stop your pining. Either you resolve the tension between you and find out where you stand or shut up and get off the pot.'

'Dear God,I have been around him too long. But you're right. I have to know,I should have talked to him about it when it first started but I was afraid. Afraid of my reaction,afraid of him. If I give a damn about him at all and I do,I should respect his choices and be happy for him. As long he's happy,I'm happy and I'll put up with this.'

The conscience seems satisfied with the answer and said nothing. But as she focused on what happened to Garfield,Robin sat down next to her.

"Raven."

"Robin."

"Raven can I ask you something?" he looked around to see if Beast Boy was here.

"Of course. What is it?"

"Well there is something on my mind..."

"And you'd like it removed? Get on with it."

Robin inwardly grimanced. "I'll come back."

"No,I'm sorry. It's been a long morning."

Robin mentally and physically relaxed.

"It's fine. Sorry. Ah,I wanted to ask you something...personal. About you and Beast Boy."

Raven stared at him but inwardly was starting to panic.

'What would he ask me? A double date? To see that he and I know this is a sham? What?'

"I just want to know if you're happy."

Raven looked at him like his head exploded. In fact something may have achieved that in the background. Not that it matters now.

"I...I..."

"Let me finish. I'd like to think I know you. You and your various moods. And ever since you've been with Beast Boy,you've been more depressed and more withdrawn. All which concerns me."

'He actually cares? About me?'

Robin continued. "Usually most times when you have a first boyfriend or girlfriend you feel happy or close to it in your case. But I haven't got that from you and I'd like to know what's wrong."

Raven finally spoke. "You speaking as leader?"

"No. Not leader to subordinate,friend to friend. I care about you Raven. Always have." Robin said,surprised how easily that slipped out from him.

'Oh,Robin. Save me from this.'

"Well..." Raven was about to speak when the TV gave off a screeching sound and changed images. The new image showed a half orange mask Robin was quite familiar with.

"Slade!"

"Greetings my senshi. I hope the morning finds you well. I've a party for you."

"Titans,in here now!" Robin bellowed.

The Titans gathered by the main screen.

"Slade!" Cyborg said.

"Since when did he get his own daytime talk show?" Beast Boy quipped.

"I've a building in the city built full of C4 ready to detonate. Unless you and the sorceress get to a specific location within the hour I will detonate it." Slade said with a deadly tone in his voice. But then again he always says things in a deadly tone.

"Alright Slade." Robin said tersely.

"No back-up. Just the two of you or I'll detonate."

Robin hated to go against Slade without any backup but Raven was going with him. That gave him an iota of comfort.

"Fine."

"Good. Now for the 'where'. Don't blink."

The screen flashed a bright light. Cyborg adjusted his red eye and Raven gave off a bubble of dark energy and shielded her eyes. They both saw it was a map. A map of the city and a Slade symbol pointing toward the docks:Pier 41.

"I look forward to seeing you both.And do be quick. You wouldn't want any more innocent blood spilled because our feud do you?" Slade said in a smug tone before signing off.

"I know where it is." said Cyborg.

"So do I." said Raven. "Pier 41."

"Anyone noticed that he said not to look for it?" Robin said.

"Yeah,I did too. So while you and Rave take care of One Eye,we'll look for it." Cyborg said.

"But what if the building full of C-stuff is a trick like that Khronoton thingy back when Robin was Slade's apprentice?" Beast Boy said.

Everyone just stared at him.

"Hey,it takes me a while." he sweatdropped.

"We're wasting time. Robin and I will go to the pier. You all look for the building." Raven said.

The Titans shouted affirmative responses and left. Expect for Beast Boy. He came to Raven and Robin.

"You be careful. Alright babe?" Beast Boy said as he leaned to kiss her. Robin kind of rolled his eyes but he noticed something else. Based on her body language Raven looked liked she was going to throw him off.

'There is something to this,hopefully I can find out while we get there.'

Raven gave him a subtle cold look. "I will. You get going."

Beast Boy saw the look but didn't take the hint. "Yes ma'am. Off I go."

After he left,Raven turned to Robin. "Sorry. Shall we go?"

"Y..yeah." Robin said in a coming out of a trance mode.

"We'll fly there and we..."

"No. No flying. We'll use my bike." Robin said remembering the last time he levitated with Raven. He was gyrating like a monkey in heat. No way in perdition was he going through that again.

"But..."

"Raven,please."

Raven gave a sign. "Fine."

"Besides it will give us a chance to talk." Robin said as he headed for the elevator.

'Oh goody.' Raven thought as she followed.

Raven followed him to the garage. And a millon thoughts went off in her mind.

'What if I lose control? What if I slip and tell him? What if I...'

"Raven? Here's your helmet." Robin said handing her a dark blue helmet. She looked at it:midnight blue was her color. 'How does he knows these little things?' Raven thought for a minute.

Freezing,boring,

wondering where I'll be on my birthday.

You kissed me in a dream last night.

How could I?

I wouldn't know.

'Right. The world's greatest detective trained him. Of course he'd know.' Raven had this glassy eyed look broken up by Robin speaking. "Are you ok?"

"Fine." she blurted and put on the helmet. She sat behind him and blushed. She had to touch him or she'd flip out of there. Fortunately the helmet hid her blush.

'This is the only time I'll get to touch him. I have to savor this.' she thought as she was preparing to burn the memory and the touch into her brain.

"Ready?"

'Ready as I'll ever be.' "Yes."

"Then away we go." Robin said as he revved the bike and took off.

"Umm Raven?" Robin asked. She looked like she was in deep thought. So he used the only recourse left.

'Raven?' he said in his mind to reach hers,apparently it worked.

'Yes?' said in a distracted tone.

'Are we going to talk about this or not? I'm willing to give you all the time and space you need but only as long as you're willing to deal with it.'

'Robin...I...'

'I promise it will stay between just the two of us. Please?' he added the privacy issue in hopes to seal the deal. Apparently it worked.

'Robin,I'm sorry. I'm not denying it. It's just...I'm so confused and never felt this way before. I don't know how to...' she said but the telepathic voice had a definite undercurrent of emotion in it. One Robin couldn't ignore and would not.

'Whenever you're ready. I'm here for you. Got that?' Robin interrupted.

She responded by gripping his waist. He got the message.

'Got it.'

The two sped off in comfortable silence.

The two achieved their destination. Robin activated his communicator.

"Anything?"

"Nothing yet,we'll keep checking." Cyborg said back to him.

"Good,we'll contact you as soon as we secure the place and take down One Eye. Out."

Robin put away the device and stared at the abandoned warehouse.

"It usually comes down to this Raven:you,me,some supervillain craving our destruction,and an abandon warehouse."

"Yes,and to quote something that Beast Boy no doubt would say:"why couldn't it be a roller rink or something?""

Robin looked at her and had to try so hard not to laugh. He gave a big smile and laughed very loud mentally.

"That's good. Let's get started."

They entered the warehouse and it looked empty

Robin was able to shout asking for Slade when he was beaten to the punch.

"Well the gang's all here. Let's give the scruffy roadkill lickers a proper introduction!" A high-pitched annoyingly familiar voice said from above.

"Prepare for trouble and make it double!" said by three people.

"To educate the uncultured masses!" a low pitched feminine voice said.

"To show the world that our intellect surpasses!" the high pitched voice said.

"To denounce the evils of ignorance and hate!" the low pitched voice.

"To extend our teachings to here and to Hell's Gate!" the high pitched voice.

"Jinx!"

"Gizmo!"

"Mammoth!"

"The H.A.E.Y.P. circling Earth all day and night!" Jinx said.

"Surrender to us now or you're surely lose the fight!" Gizmo said.

"That's right!" screamed Mammoth.

"What a pointless motto." Raven quipped.

"You're just jealous! Jealous you're not working for the H.A.E.Y.P.! Jealous you don't have a motto." Jinx screamed at the caped Titan.

"Whatever." Raven said.

"Enough of this! Do you have Slade's detonator or not?" Robin screamed at the trio.

"Right here. If you want it,come get it." Jinx said after indicating it was the detonator,put the square grey box by her foot and the trio rushed towards them.

"Good luck Raven." Robin said to Raven.

"We're going to need it." she returned.

Jinx headed for Raven while the two boys bullrushed Robin. Jinx threw several jabs and Raven dodged them all and did a Rolling Kick. Jinx blocked.

"I see you still fight like a boy." Jinx smirked while holding her leg.

"I see you still look like one." Raven countered,quickly removing the leg before Jinx saw a opportunity.

Robin tried to hi-jump kick Gizmo out of his techpac but he dodged. Robin tried to check Raven's progress every now and then a glance but then focused on the tiny twerp. 'I'll check on Raven after I take out the trash.'

"Please,you look more like of a boy than me. No wonder Birdboy wants nothing to do with you." Jinx smirked.

"What did you say?" Raven silently growled with a red tint in her eyes.

"Come on. With your frigid attitude and very scrawny body? Please,the only way you'd get laid is forcing someone to with your powers. I'm saying forced because no one would go through that willingly." Jinx smirked,she knew her words were having a powerful effect on the gothic sorceress.

Raven was seemingly paralyzed. Everything was going off in her head. 'No. No! He could love me! He could! If only we had a chance! If it weren't for her. My...best friend.'

Jinx looked at Raven. 'The boss was right. The gothic freak does like Birdbrain.' she turned to Robin who was grabbing a leg from Gizmo's techpac and spun it and him around waiting to fling him at Mammoth. Jinx powered up her hand to release a hex bolt. Nothing strong. That was the boss' orders. Little did she know of the chaos to come.

"Just to keep you up to date,my powers have the capability to mathematically stop vital organs like his heart or his brain. Now we both know you'll never have him so let's ensure that." Jinx sneered as she prepared to fire her bolt. Jinx was speaking a half-truth:She did have the power to alter probability. Not just in inanimate objects but people and in terms of their physiology and the probability of function and malfunction. Not enough to kill,yet. Not that Raven knew that. Raven came out of her daze to see that Robin let go of Gizmo and flung him into Mammoth. Making them both unconscious. She threw her bolt.

"Robin! Watch out!"

He turned and saw the hex bolt and had no time to dodge it. He absorbed it and fell.

The blast was strong but not enough to kill. She controlled the function of the bolt so it would mathematically stop production a neurotransmitter that keeps people conscious. A very small dose. Normally she couldn't refine her powers like that but with some recent training with Slade now she can. 'Just enough to keep unconscious for 30 seconds to a minute. That's what the boss said.' Just enough to prove Slade's point.

'Whatever that is.'

Raven rushed towards him and cradled his head in her arms. She then released a scream:a demonic scream full of longing,sadness,and...rage.

She turned to Jinx.

"YOU DID THIS! YOU TOOK HIM FROM ME! NOW YOU WILL PAY, LOWLY MORTAL!" she screamed in a deep demonic voice. Four crimson eyes burned brightly at her. Indigo tendrils were starting to reveal themselves through the cape. Whirling fast enough to snap someone's neck easily if they're weren't careful. She delicately let go of Robin and then hovered towards her.

Jinx was shocked to say the very least. She didn't predict this would happened. 'Slade didn't tell me about this.'

Raven caught the thought. "NO,HE DIDN'T. WORRY NOT FOR YOUR MASTER LITTLE GIRL. HE'LL BE JOINING YOU SOON ENOUGH!" Raven bellowed as her tendrils quickly wrapped around Jinx's limbs. She bought Jinx closer to her and smiled a mouth full of fangs. "IF YOU BELIEVE IN A GOD LITTLE GIRL,BEST PRAY FOR ONE NOW." Jinx tried to turn away from Raven's fang toothed maw but couldn't.

Robin started to come to. He was shocked what he saw:Raven looming over Jinx. Indigo tendrils flashing everywhere. He remembered when Raven last acted like this:several years ago with Dr. Light. But even that wasn't so intense compared to this. What the hell happened? Last time he checked Raven was fine. What could have happened between then and now?

He was knocked unconscious.

Could that have something to do with it?

'That Raven's acting this way because of...me?'

'No. That can't be. Can it?'

Before Robin could debate this he had to save Jinx. He tried to get in Raven's peripheral view but the tendrils were lashing at him. They nearly took his head clean off his shoulders. He grimanced.

"RAVEN,STOP!" Robin screamed and the tendrils wrapped around him.

"Raven,stop this please." Robin said in a begging tone. Raven turned and looked at him. She unleashed an another powerful demon scream. This time full of frustration and sadness. The crimson eyes disappeared and the tendrils relaxed their grip and release them both. Raven ran to Robin.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I thought you were..." Raven said as she fell into his arms. She then did something she hasn't done in ten years.

She cried.

"I understand. Thank you for stopping." Robin said in a comforting tone. He almost cried himself. Something he hasn't done since his parents died all those years ago. Jinx ran towards her fellow students who were waking up.

"Let's double team that goth bitch! She will pay for humiliating me!" The others agreed and ran towards Raven and Robin lunging at them. Raven noticed them.

"You won't hurt us anymore." She got out of Robin's warm arms and faced the trio. Robin ran to get the detonator. She charged a ball of dark energy and threw it at them.

"Shadow Ball!"

The Shadow Ball connected and absorbed the criminals and exploded in their faces. The trio skyrocketed out of the building and into the air.

"Well we learned a lesson here today." Jinx said flying through the air

"Duh,we did?" Mammoth grunted.

"Yes,don't piss off a goth girl!"

"I'll say." Gizmo muttered under his breath.

"What was that?" she screamed.

As the trio went further out of sight,they screamed:"Looks like we screwed up again!" and went into space leaving behind a star trinkle.

Robin looked at the detonator. He wanted to console Raven but this was priority. They both knew that.

It was a...communicator. It activated showing Slade's mask.

"Slade where is the trigger?" Robin exclaimed.

"Sorry Robin,once again there was no trigger."

"Then why?"

"Just to prove a point. Until next time." The image then disappeared. Robin then looked Raven whose eyes were red from crying. Robin turned on his communicator and Cyborg's face appeared.

"Rob,we--"

"There is no building. It was another trick." Robin said in a very tired voice.

"A trick? Then why?"

Robin looked at Raven again. "I'm not sure. Meet you at the tower. Robin out." He turned off the device and stared at Raven. "Let's go home." he held out his hand. Raven gladly accepted it. The ride home was in complete silence.

Slade looked over the footage of Raven's transformation over and over again. She was far more powerful than even he anticipated. She would be a very powerful weapon. A very powerful weapon indeed. But apparently she possessed a strong,indominable will. Not even he could control her. And worse,if Robin and the half-breed get together then he'll never get to Robin.

'Perhaps I can still use this information to my advantage.'

Slade rewound the footage again. He would find a way yet.

'One day.'

Robin parked the bike and looked at Raven.

"I'm not going to ask to talk about it right now but we have to...soon." Robin said.

"I appreciate that very much. But please don't tell everyone what happened. I've already humiliated myself once."

"Raven,it doesn't--"

"Please." she said it in a very pleading and very emotional tone.

Robin sucked in a breath. "All right. But the two of us are going to have a long talk about this. And don't tell me no because..."

"Fine. Tomorrow night. Midnight." she turned to him "Please don't tell Garfield." she said pleadingly as if she read his mind.

He stared at her for a minute. "Alright. For now. But tomorrow night you tell me everything that's bothering you. And I do mean everything."

"Fine." she turned away and walked towards the elevator. "Robin?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. For everything." she left.

Tonight proved one incontrovertible fact:Raven Roth,the most antisocial person in existence has actual feelings for someone and has shown them:to her leader.

'That can't be. But that's the only explanation makes the most sense. Nothing else made her flip out. Unless it was our friendship that did it but I don't think it was that. Not that intense.' The far better question is would Robin return these feelings? He had Starfire. That's enough isn't it?

'I don't know anymore.'

He cared very deeply for both of them but he had made his choice. Didn't he? Raven,when reflecting back would make an excellent girlfriend with her deep personality. So would Starfire with her lightness. But the real question was which one would he go to and be with and which one whose heart he would have to break?

The darkness or the light?

'I'm so confused.'

One)Well the action part finally arrived. Don't worry. The super angst will be back in full swing next chapter and I'll do my best not to depress the hell out of you all.

Two)I based the Headmistress a little from this old boss I used to have. Both are cranky,old crones who deeply loved their jobs...because they had nothing else. Like it was a privilage to work for that biddy. Oh well life goes on.

Three)I wanted to put in a Rocko's Modern Life reference but I couldn't(Sorry Iain,I tried.). So I put in various things particularly Pokemon references. I know the H.A.E.Y.P. motto was tortured but I love the Team Rocket motto(both versions) but anyone wants to do better,go for it. Best one I'll use. But remember use the Team Rocket prose and syntax or no dice.

Four)Next one should hopefully be in two,three weeks. One shots I need to write plus free time plus computer problems will delay things. Part of life.

Five)See if I improved. Review. This means you R/R writers. Constructive criticism perfectly acceptable. Inflammatory will get nothing but my disrespect. You don't want that do you?