It was not a typical scene in the tower late that night. On the couch facing the television set sat Raven. She was sitting with her eyes closed and Robin was very positive that she was sleeping in that position. Beast Boy had volunteered to be the bird's keeper that evening, and lay at her side as a kitten, sleeping. The Pharaoh Hound laid regally at Raven's feet, tongue lazily lolling out of his mouth, he looked very much at home.
Starfire had been too concerned after hearing about her friend's last spell, and slept on the couch, curled up like an animal next to the dark lady. Zmorg the goose was wandering the tower ("I SWEAR if I find ANY goose shit-" Cyborg's earlier reaction had been met with and ended by Starfire's tearing eyes), and faint honks where occasionally echoing throughout the building. Raven had earlier made sure to shut all the doors, however tempted as she was to leave the exit open.
Robin and Cyborg had retired to the kitchen, where they sat and chatted in whisper. They didn't sleep out of concern, but there was something else, too. A mood had overtaken the tower and unsettled both young men. The decision was sort of unanimous among the team that everyone would stay close for the time being, especially the resident empath.
Robin had just described the evening's episode to Cyborg, who pondered it thoroughly. "Well, do you think she was just 'girl-pissed' when she woke up, or something else?"
"That's kind of a tough call to make," Robin answered dryly.
"Well, Rae's not known for niceness, but I think she'd have more control than that outburst showed." Cyborg commented.
"The weird thing is, it didn't affect her at all; her powers didn't lash out or anything!"
"Well, what do you think that means?"
"I don't know for sure," Robin gave the couch an anxious glance. "Maybe I should wake her up and-"
Cyborg was violently shaking his head. "She needs sleep. She's going through a lot."
Robin sighed, "Cyborg, I really think that you should tell me what she said to you this morning," He glanced at the clock, "er... Yesterday morning."
"I told you dude, it's not relative at all. She's just been having some control issues." Cyborg looked a bit guilty even saying that little.
"A detective needs ALL of the information, never leave any details out." The statement flew out of his mouth, and Robin realized he was quoting Batman. The Dark Knight had given the boy wonder the exact same lecture four years before, when he had just become Robin.
"Yes sir," Cyborg grinned at his friend's seriousness. "But really, man, I know we'll get to the bottom of this."
"Maybe it's just time for Raven to face her father. I want to be able to help her," Both boys glanced at the couch in unison.
Robin kept his gaze glued onto the empath, but Cyborg's drifted to the window. "I can't believe it's still raining..."

------
Raven's eyes shot open. The girl recalled the previous day, going over every detail in her memory, including her father's "visits". She then glanced at her two companions, feeling a brief moment of guilt.
"They care about me," her mind whined miserably, "they stay with me all night just to make sure I'm okay. But I chose greed." The guilt grew a bit stronger as Raven closed her eyes, "I was given the choice between living as a hero with people who love me, and power. I chose corruption over my team and my friends!"
Raven had failed to observe the chair that had begun levitating. Naturally, when she snapped back into control, it came crashing down on the floor. The dark girl cringed, and squinted in the dim light. Thankfully, it seemed that her companions remained asleep. All but the hound, who rose as Raven did and followed her to the kitchen.
"Water's already on," Raven nearly jumped at the sound of Robin's voice.
"Did the chair...?"
"Yeah. But I think I'm the only one." Robin grinned, Raven half- returned it. "It's a cold morning."
"What time is it?" Raven glanced out the window as she asked.
"Nine O'clock. Dreary weather..." The rain had let up some, but the sky was still dark with heavy clouds.
"It's kind of strange." Raven looked down at the canine beside her, he was making an anxious sound. "We should let him outside."
Robin just nodded, following as the empath approached the exit.
Once out of doors, the Boy Wonder suddenly realized, "Hey- won't he run off?"
"No." Raven's hood was up. Robin decided not to question her response, curious as he was at her certainty.
"Listen, Raven. I know you don't like having to talk about this, but I want to help you with whatever is going on." Raven was turned away, bothered, as he had expected. "Please Raven, I'm here to help; the whole team is. Let us help you."
"There's nothing you can do." Ravens voice, though strong, was quiet.
"I don't believe that." Despite the situation, Raven found his reaction amusing. The boy was so determined, one of his best qualities was determination.
"I know very little about this myself, Robin. If it was otherwise I would be taking more action."
"Well at least help me understand what's going on," Robin peered into the empath's face as she turned to look at him.
"My father is offering me power, the power I have potential to use if I become what I truly am, the daughter of Trigon. He wants me to be corrupt like he is, a demon. Choosing the power that corruption offers would be giving up everything I have fought all of my life to have. I would become as damned as the souls that my father has taken, but I would be rewarded, rather than punished, by immense power, and influence over many different realities." Admittedly, she had been waiting for Robin to ask for this information, and was not surprised when he looked shocked at those words spilling from the dark lady's mouth so readily.
Not wanting to sound stupid (Raven was the only person he ever had to worry about that with) Robin spoke, "Can you fight it? I mean- he can't force you to accept corruption... can he?"
"No," Raven moved closer to her companion, not wanting to speak loudly, "but he knows how to manipulate me. If I can't defeat him, my father will kill me in my own mind. If I fight corruption, I fight my father. I would gladly choose death and free souls from my threat... but. The power is tempting. My human side and my demon side are both entranced by such a promise. In fact- you can't share what I say next with ANYONE else," Raven's gaze pierced past Robin's mask, straight into his eyes and soul.
"I won't, I promise."
"Swear."
"I swear."
"I was succumbing to corruption when I was brought back into reality yesterday. I would have become a damned half demon if I had been brought back even one second later than I was," Though her voice had remained quietly monotonous, Raven fought back tears, aware of the trees in front of her slowly uprooting themselves. The empath had not cried once since the day of her birth, now was not the time to start.
Robin's eyes where wide. "Raven..."
"If I become corrupted, my first target will be this team. I want to fight against my father, but when it comes down to it, I don't think I will. I have to destroy myself before he can get to me." Raven hung her head slightly, the thought bothered her more than she had expected.
"Never." Raven shot a scorning look to Robin, but he persisted, "I won't let you die, and neither will the others. We are going to defeat Trigon, once and for all."
"Now that you've made your speech," Raven's down was cynical and cold, "get serious."
"I AM serious. Raven, as long as I'm alive, the members of this team are my responsibility. You guys are my family. I'm going to help you face Trigon, danger or no."
"My soul might be happier, damned and dead," Raven argued bitterly, although it was clear she was not trying anymore. "I would be free to express my emotions and not feel trapped within my body. Even screaming in torture would be better than suppressing everything I feel."
Robin's heart went out to the girl suddenly. Her soul was so full of pure emotions, for that is what souls thrive on. Yet here she was, a girl who had endured seventeen years of forcing feelings away, vanishing all forms of expression and feeling, and living only for meditation and the occasional chance to smile without destroying something.
The rain began to pick up again, they would head in soon to join with the others. Before anything, however, Robin wanted to do something he wouldn't have considered before two days back. He embraced the empath in as comforting a hug as he could manage. She was still in his arms, grateful for the comfort of them, throwing her pride away for this one weak moment. The two where soaked now after being out so long. Raven was unusually cold. After a minute had passed, the dark lady pulled away, the rain was back in full, as heavy as it had been the previous day.
"...Let's go inside."
Robin held the door, suddenly feeling as though he might have upset her, "Was that okay?"
Raven just met his gaze, "You're a good friend."

-------
Cyborg was beginning to wonder if he was not loyal as a friend to have all these conversations with Robin about Raven. This time, Beast Boy was in on it as well. They had convinced Starfire to bring the dark lady out of the tower so the conversation could take place, Robin would fill her in later. Of course the girl had gladly accepted, and immediately ran to Raven's room, an unhappy Zmorg clutched in her arms.
"So if Raven fights back she DIES?" Beast Boy was hysterical, "That's not fair!"
"No kidding," Cyborg said darkly, "We have to figure something out."
Robin said nothing. Yes that would be a challenge. But what Raven had confided in him was another concern, one he alone would have to bear. Could he somehow keep the beautiful half demon from becoming corrupted? Not alone... But that didn't mean he wasn't going to try.

------
"Isn't it wonderful to be out of the tower? And Zmorg looks much happier!"
"About that," Raven stopped walking down the mall's floor for a moment, "Humans generally don't keep geese as pets."
"They don't?" Starfire seemed genuinely surprised.
"Yeah, I figured one of the guys would tell you that. Anyway, they won't allow him in the mall."
"But where shall he stay?"
"How about outside..."
"All by himself?" Starfire was concerned.
"He'll live, trust me."
"Very well..."