"How is he?"
Beast Boy slowly closed the door behind himself as he approached Raven.
She was sitting in a chair beside the bed Robin was resting in. His torn and bloody uniform had long since been discarded, and he'd been redressed in a pair of shorts. A spare mask was on the bedside table, and though the first day he'd needed bandages around his injuries, Raven had healed him enough that he no longer needed them. After the third day, there wasn't so much as a scar remaining, but she hadn't left his side even after all the injuries had healed. "Not until he wakes up."
"He hasn't come to yet." She answered, her eyes sweeping up and down Robin, looking for anything that might have kept him from waking, for some injury that she might have missed and desperately needed to heal. "But his sleep seems more restful." She said. "He isn't tossing and turning anymore."
"That's good, right?" Raven didn't answer, and Beast Boy swallowed nervously. After nearly a minute of silence, he cleared his throat and said, "Here," and offered Raven a bag of chips, "You haven't eaten since you got here."
"I'm not hungry." She mumbled.
He shuffled around on his feet. He glanced at his leader, still unused to seeing him in such a state, then at Raven, just as unnerved by her sullen silence. Even though he teased her about being a introvert, he'd long since learned that Raven was far from the depressed person he thought she was when they'd first met. But right now, with how crestfallen she looked, it was like the person he'd projected her as was actually in front of him. He took a step forward and hesitantly placed the bag in her lap, but she didn't react beyond a single glance down at it. "Look, he's going to be fine. He's got the IV bag and you've healed all his injuries. He'll come to!" He tried to put some fake confidence into his voice. "So until he does, you need to take care of yourself, too."
Raven took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Beast Boy." She said quietly. "I'm not going anywhere and I'm not doing anything until I know he's alright. I never should have left him. The one time I let my emotions get the better of me, he nearly dies. I should have been in control of myself- I never should have told him how I felt, and I never should have left when he turned me down. At the very least, I should have brought one of you here, whether Robin wanted to keep his past a secret or not. Slade was never strong enough to take on all of us. Even if it was just me and him, I could have teleported us away if we couldn't handle it. It's my fault." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "So just... go. I'm not hungry. I'll let you and the others know the moment he's awake."
Beast Boy didn't respond right away; he honestly felt like if he had walked out she might not have noticed. He swallowed the lump in his throat. He didn't like seeing any of his friends down, it was part of the reason he was always thinking up jokes and coming up with pranks. Raven's powers might have made her the strongest on the team, but right now she looked like she was more wounded than Robin had been. Seeing her like this worried him more than when she would disappear into her room for days at a time.
"You know, I still write Terra letters." He admitted.
Raven looked up at him with wide eyes mixed with confusion and surprise.
"I don't send them." He kicked at the ground with a foot and looked away, clearing his throat again as he held back the emotional that always clawed its way to the surface whenever he brought up Terra. He'd never told anyone this, but he wanted to Raven to stop beating herself up. "That'd just be weird. But- there's still so much I want to tell her, the good and the bad." He shrugged despondently, then continued. "I mean, unless she comes back, she's still gone, know what I mean? But Robin- he's not gone. And even if it takes time, you'll move on, but the two of you will always be friends." He forced a smile on his face as he realized how serious he sounded, completely unlike his usual self. "So cheer up, okay? He wouldn't want to see you like this."
Raven didn't respond, was completely unsure how to as she reminded once more that somehow Beast Boy of all people was the first person on the team in a semi-serious relationship, and he gave her a nod before walking out the door.
When the door closed behind him, she let out a breath and glanced down at the bag in her lap when it crinkled. She frowned as she lifted it up; she hadn't been lying earlier when she said she wasn't hungry. She set it on the bedside table, then looked back at Robin.
He hadn't shifted, and the rise and fall of his chest was slow and easy as he continued to sleep.
She lowered her hands to her knees and gripped them tightly as she was reminded of how he came to be like this, and how she had brought the Titans to his rescue just a few days ago...
"He's in trouble!" She shouted suddenly.
For the first time since returning to the Tower, Raven lowered her empathic shields and opened herself up to the aura's of the people around her- currently, it was all a mixture of a confusion and concern, but that all paled in comparison to the feeling pressing in on her from all sides.
Ever since she'd been into Robin's mind, she felt so much more from him than just the general emotions and intentions from everyone else- the attacks from Slade's hallucination had left her with a bruise that had slowly healed, but what shocked her more was that she continued to feel what Robin felt. Not just emotionally, but physically; it had started to bug her when she watched him train and felt his exertion, but she hadn't pieced the puzzle together then just yet. But in an ensuing battle with Plasmus, when Robin had been pulled into the creature and his revulsion became hers, she finally learned that they were connected in more ways than one.
She never told him. It was easy enough to add on a few extra minutes of meditation to block of his physical echoes.
And right now, all she could feel was the pain of him being attacked, of being stabbed and beaten and the overwhelming fear that he was losing the fight.
"What!? What do you mean!?" Starfire closed the distance and put her hands on Raven's shoulders, while Cyborg and Beast Boy approached as well.
"I-I don't know! Something's happening, he's in a fight." She huffed, closing her eyes as she re-centered herself and Starfire let go. "We have to go, we have to go now!"
"But, what about his whole secret identity?" Beast Boy asked, more out of panic than anything else.
"He won't have one if he dies!" Raven shouted back, then lifted both hands into the air. "Get ready! Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!" She focused everything she had on Robin as shadows enveloped the four and teleported them to fight.
They faded away after just a moment, and it took some time for their eyes to adjust to the light. All except Cyborg, whose robotic eye didn't need to adjust and instantly scanned the area.
"Robin!"
His yell drew the attention of all four Titans, and they spun to see Slade rip his sword from Robin's chest, flicking the blade to clean the blood off of it.
There was a moment of silence; Batman, Joker, and Harley had no idea how the Titans had appeared out of nowhere, and Slade was regarding them with contempt though his one visible eye. In that instant, they understood what Raven had meant.
Then all hell broke loose.
Starfire screamed, her eyes glowing green as she launched herself at Slade in blind of rage. The masked criminal dropped several smoke bombs in the area, clouding the area and narrowly dodging Starfire's strike.
He wasn't lucky enough to get past Cyborg's thermal scanner, and took a shot from his sonic cannon right into the chest, knocking him back into a wall. "What have you done!?" He shouted as he charged forward, swinging at Slade with enough force to punch a hole through the wall behind him. Slade narrowly dodged it, slashing across Cyborg's chest with his sword and leaving a large gash diagonally across his chest.
"Only what I swore I would do." Slade answered calmly. "I swore I would take Robin's life after all of you took mine. My job is complete." He jumped in the air to dodge a kick from Cyborg intending to sweep his legs out from under him.
"Liar!" Beast Boy caught him in the air, shifting to a large pterodactyl and flying him into the ceiling. Slade fell without control, and was unable to block an attack from Starfire.
"He is not dead!" Starfire screamed, her punch sending him across the room.
"Ooooh, he flew!" Harley laughed, watching as Starfire sent one bolt after the other towards him. Slade was able to land on his feet, and threw a grenade at the alien, the explosive going off just a few feet away and knocking her back.
"Raven!" Cyborg shouted.
Her eyes had been on Robin's still form as the fight raged on around her, but she blinked and lifted her head to Cyborg when he called her name.
"I'm detecting a heartbeat, but it's faint. He might not have long!"
Her eyes widened, and she took a single step towards him, the first of a full sprint to close the distance.
But a bullet tore through her shoulder, and she fell to her knees, eyes glowing red as Joker laughed behind her. "Oh no you don't!" He shouted. "That boy is going to die tonight!"
She roared, turning on Joker and releasing a wave of dark energy with a sweep of her arm. It traveled like a shockwave, knocking Joker off his feet and loosening Batman's bonds. The shadows were writhing around her, reacting to her unbridled rage. Her ears were ringing, and the only thought on her mind was, "They have to pay, they have to pay, they have to pay!" Over and over it repeated, and she picked up Harley with her shadows and through her across the room as easily as a pitcher throwing a ball.
Joker rolled his neck as he stood up and recovered from the attack. "Oh ho, you want to play? I'm not afraid to hit a girl, you know!"
But before Raven could act, Batman tackled him to the ground and struck him the face. He stopped for just a moment to turn and bark, "Help Robin!" Before he turned his full attention back to Joker.
Hearing his name helped reel her in. As much as she wanted to tear apart Slade and Joker, she turned on her heel and ran back to Robin, ignoring the gunshot wound fading as her body healed itself, leaving nothing more than a torn scrap of cloth in her cape and leotard. "Robin! Robin!" She called his name as she knelt down in the pool of blood, steeling herself against the nausea as she did so. "Azarath, Met-"
"Forget about me!?" Harley shouted, running up and her hammer poised to swing at Raven. The half demon was barely able to erect a dark energy shield wall in time to defend herself, but Harley was vicious and unrelenting in her attacks, and Raven couldn't let her guard down for a second.
"I can't help him here." She thought frantically as she looked around. Slade was holding his own against the other three Titans, his attacks and dodges timed so well it looked like he was dancing between the Titans wild strikes, completely unfocused as they were all lost in their own anger. She turned to see Batman and Joker fighting as well, but the Dark Knight was at a disadvantage in his weakened state and lacking his equipment. "We have to get out of here. We can't win like this." With a yell, she formed spikes on the barrier and sent it outwards, forcing Harley to jump backwards. "Hey!" Her yell got the attention of all the heroes. "We need to get out of here and regroup!"
None of the heroes wanted to stop their fight, but neither had they missed Cyborg's declaration that Robin was still alive, if only barely. With difficulty, they let their anger go and stopped their fights, then ran to gather around Raven.
"Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!"
They were momentarily surrounded by shadows, and when they fell away they were in the Batcave.
The Titans looked around in confusion, unsure where they were.
"Bruce! Raven!"
They turned to see Alfred standing up from the chair in front of the massive computer monitor.
"Oh no..." He ran forward to kneel beside Robin. "Richard, what happened?" He muttered, looking over his wounds.
"Richard?" Starfire asked in surprise. She glanced at the other Titans, who were all looking down at their leader with surprise.
"Help me get him on the operating table." Bruce picked up Richard from one side, and Alfred the other, and the carried him to the nearby table where the Dark Knight had spent many an hour stitching his wounds shut with Alfred's help.
They set him down, and Bruce took out a shot of adrenaline. "Wait." Raven lifted up a hand, but winced when he turned his full attention on her- even injured, the Batman was intimidating. "I can heal him."
Bruce shook his head. "I know of your powers. But I'll take care of him."
"Master Wayne, please." Alfred turned to Raven, taking a step toward her and placing a hand on your shoulder. "Thank you for returning. And for bringing backup."
She gave him a small smile, in spite of the situation, but her face fell when she turned back to Robin. Bruce used scissors to cut away his shirt, and pulled his mask off, setting it to the side as Raven stepped forward. Guilt overwhelmed her as she saw the purple bruises and open wounds. "This is my fault." She raised her hands and closed her eyes. "I have to fix it." She focused all of her desire to heal Robin into her magic, and a blue aura enveloped her hands as she slowly lowered them to his bare skin. Her fingers twitched at the warmth and the firmness, but she grit her teeth and refocused. "Now's not the time for that." Her hands moved slowly from injury to injury, and Bruce and Alfred watched with no small wonder seeing the bruised skin become a healthy skin color, how the open wounds from Slade's sword became scars, and her hands finally settled on his face as she healed the wound there before letting the magic fade from her hands. She didn't lower them, and her brow knit together in concern. "Richard..."
Behind them, Starfire shifted uncomfortably.
"Will he be alright?" Beast Boy piped up as the group approached him slowly.
Alfred pulled out a stethoscope and lowered it to Robin's chest. "Heartbeat is steady... I don't hear any problems with his breathing..." He pulled out a flashlight and opened one eye, watching as his pupil dilated when he shined the light in it. "Well, I'd say he'll be alright once he gets some rest." He sighed as he turned back to Raven. "He's lucky to have someone like you by his side."
She nodded, but in the back of her mind she wondered if he knew what had caused her to leave.
"So."
The group turned to face Robin's ex-mentor.
"You are the teammates Robin found after he left here." He looked them all over, studying them from head to toe.
Beast Boy was the first react, sticking his trembling hand out. "N-N-Nice to meet you sir! I'm Beast Boy! I've heard so much about you! Not from Robin, he doesn't like to talk about you, but I used to hear about you from the Doom Patrol and I also was wondering if maybe I could have an autograph because your so cool like I people call you the Dark Knight and that's just the coolest title ever I wish people would call me Beast Man because you know I'm not a kid anymore and if you ever need a sidekick again I can give you my number but I don't want to wear green tights like Robin does and-"
"Dude!" Cyborg smacked him the chest to shut him up, a sentiment shared by the group.
There was a moment of silence as they all chafed under Bruce's gaze.
"When Robin wakes up, take him back to your city." He pulled his mask off, and turned around. "I am in your debt for rescuing me. But this is my problem. Not yours."
"No."
They all turned to face Raven, her expression serious. "Slade was our villain. We lost track of him after... It doesn't matter. He came here to draw Robin out alone, and we're not leaving till we find him and get our revenge."
"So you'd kill him?" Bruce continued when Raven blinked in surprise. "I heard what he said earlier. I know why he went after Robin. I do not know how he could have come back from the grave, but after seeing your magic, I wouldn't be surprised by any explanation. Would you kill him again, even though Robin has survived?" His tone softened at the question, and he turned to look back at his old apprentice.
"If it was my choice alone, yes." Raven heard the other gasp behind her, but ignored it. "Slade has caused us too much trouble for far too long. Just so you're aware, he died at the hands of his apprentice when she turned on him, we didn't kill him back then. And when a demon resurrected him, he came after us with the intent to do much more than kill us. Then he spent all this time after we defeated that demon plotting to kill Robin, and nearly succeeded." Raven folded her arms across her chest and scoffed. "But Robin isn't going to kill him, and neither will we. Robin isn't going to let this go, either; he's obsessed with stopping Slade at all costs. It's caused more than one disagreement between us in the past. If you want to avoid another argument with him when he wakes up, you may as well accept the fact that we're not going anywhere."
Bruce frowned at her. "So, he's told you all about the two of us?" The way he said it wasn't a question, it was an accusation.
"He didn't-" They tried to answer, but Bruce continued.
"He must have, because there was no way you knew to come here. And I doubt you came here without an invitation." He turned his head sharply to Alfred, who frowned at him.
"Master Wayne, stop your arguing with Master Dick's friends. You're injured, and they've helped the both of you. Master Dick only came here with Miss Raven initially, and now that they're here there is nothing we can do about it. From my understanding, Master Dick didn't spill your secrets, even to his friends."
"But he did tell you." Starfire took a step towards Raven, and Cyborg glanced between the apprehensively. "Why did he trust you with the secret of his past and not with us?"
"Not with you." Raven could read the jealousy on Starfire's face as plain as day, to say nothing of the emotion radiating from the alien. "He didn't tell me." She glanced back at Bruce, who was studying her curiously. "I found out on accident. Do you remember that night Slade's mask poisoned Robin, and how I went into his mind to try and help him? I saw his past then. It wasn't up to me to tell you his stories. I told him what I had seen and he asked me to keep it a secret, so I did."
Starfire wasn't pleased with this answer, but before she could say anything Alfred stepped in.
"There, you see? Raven and her allies are trustworthy; you all fight on the side of justice, I doubt they'd ever willingly betray their friend or you now that they know what they know." He turned his attention to the Titans. "Will you take Master Dick upstairs? Miss Raven can show you the way."
"Sure thing, mister butler sir!" Beast Boy's response got a chuckle.
"You all may call me Alfred."
"A most glorious meeting it is, Alfred!" Starfire floated over and shook his hand vigorously. "I am Starfire, princess of the planet of Tamaran!"
"And I'm Cyborg. Nice to make your acquaintance."
"Well, I must say, it's been too long since we've had this many guests at the manor! I will endeavor to make sure your stay here is pleasant in between the crime fighting."
Cyborg picked Robin up and they carried him to the elevator, and after a few moments he was in his bed upstairs.
"I'll stay with him." Raven said as Cyborg set him down on the bed. "I still need to finish healing him." She explained, pulling the chair from the desk and setting it at the bedside table. She told them which rooms were available and sat down.
"... Take care of yourself, okay?" Cyborg put a hand on her shoulder, and she nodded silently, but didn't look up at him.
In the few days since, she'd barely left his side. She changed him and continued to heal him, but he hadn't woken yet.
The others had come and gone, asking about his condition and checking up on her.
But Robin did nothing except stir in his sleep every so often, his face shifting as he dreamt.
"Richard..." Raven whispered, reaching forward to take his hand in both of hers. "Why won't you wake up?" She asked the silence for the dozenth time. "You're not injured, there's nothing effecting your mind... What else must be done?"
"Ahem. What are you doing?"
Raven dropped Robin's hand as she stood up and turned to face Starfire. She was standing in the doorway with both hands on her hips, her expression one of disdain.
"I'm watching over him, like usual." She turned away and pulled her hood over head. "He's not up yet. Obviously."
Starfire strode into the room, her eyes on Raven. "I will take over from here."
The half demon turned to look at her in confusion. "You don't need to. I'll be fine on my own-"
"No, I do not need to. But I want to, and I am. You have been with him for far too long."
Raven brought herself up to her full height as she turned to the alien girl- she knew Starfire didn't like it when Robin was under the attention of another girl, but she'd never once turned that kind of ire on her. "What difference does it make? I'm fine, and he's not going anywhere. I can keep watch."
Starfire stepped closer. "I just want to make sure you aren't going to go somewhere when he needs someone by his side."
"What is that supposed to mean?" She asked in anger.
"He trusted you." Starfire stepped closer, glaring down at Raven. "He brought you here because you knew of his past, through an accident I might add, and you abandoned him." Starfire saw the hesitation in Raven's eyes. "You were his friend, and you let him down. He is like this because of you. The rest of us would never have let him down that way. You can take your leave of him, I will be the one here for him."
Raven grit her teeth. How dare she? "I won't. And I'm still his friend, even though I've made a horrible mistake. I'll apologize to him when he wakes up, but until he does I'm not going anywhere."
"You would be lucky if he still considers you a friend after you ran away when he needed your help. What exactly did you two argue about that caused you to leave?" She asked, her voice raising a notch as she did so.
Cyborg had asked her not to bother Robin and Raven, but none of them had left the manor while they'd waited for Robin to recover, and Starfire had done nothing but pace and question Alfred, who had given her no answers, hiding the knowledge of what he had seen in an effort not to escalate things without Robin's knowledge. Though the butler did not know who Robin had feelings for, if it was either of the women on his team or not, he knew that disclosing Raven's feelings was not a wise choice. Though he hadn't known Raven long, he knew enough about her to know she wouldn't want her feelings revealed... not that anyone would, really.
"That's none of your business." Raven growled at her, squaring her shoulders and gritting her teeth.
"It is all of our business." Starfire bit back immediately. "I am not going to repeat myself, and I tire of going in circles with this conversation. Tell me what went wrong, or leave!"
Just when Raven was about to tell Starfire to make her, there was a groan behind them.
They momentarily forgot about each other as they turned to see Robin lift a hand and rub at his eyes, then slowly push himself up. He was frowning in his exhaustion, and he stretched his arms over his head as he yawned. Then, he blinked his eyes opened and turned to the two women in his room. "Raven? Star?"
"Oh, Robin!" Starfire jumped in the air and shouted his name, floating into air and flying into him in a tackle-hug. "You are alright!"
"Ow, heh! Nice to see you too, Star, but you're gonna break my ribs!"
"Oooooh, I do not care! I missed you so much!" She nuzzled into him, tucking her head under his chin and smiling.
Raven watched as Robin shifted uncomfortably, then lifted his head to meet her gaze. She saw something there, but wasn't sure what it was exactly. "You came back." He whispered, his voice a whisper and the corner of his lips curling up into a small smile.
Starfire curled into him, and he put an arm around her- the act causing Raven to frown at him. "Yes, well, when I felt you dying I felt compelled to do something." She turned around and started walking to the door. "I'll let the others know you're up."
"The others are here... too?" He faltered as Raven slammed the door shut behind her.
"Yes, Raven brought us all here to save you." Starfire answered. She threw a dirty look at the door, confusing Robin, but his confusion was replaced with a flush as Starfire uncurled, straddling his hips and bringing her face an inch from his. "Uh, Star? Personal space?"
"Your eyes are so blue..." He swallowed nervously, but she didn't move. "Your name is Dick Grayson. Why do they call you Richard?" She asked, staring intently.
He frowned for a moment, feeling his face flush. "I-I don't know. It's just another name you can use. People came up with it a long time ago. Really, Starfire, I'd like to get up."
"But your name is not Richard Dick Grayson Wayne. Why do you not have your fathers name?" She asked curiously, not moving.
"He's not my father." He muttered. "He adopted me. It's how I became Robin."
"So your parents are gone? I am so sorry, I did not know I was asking. Please, forgive me." She rested her forehead against his, closing her eyes as her face scrunched up in regret.
"It's fine Star, really, please get up-"
The door opened behind them, and Robin pushed his head back into the pillow as he tried to put some distance between them.
"STARFIRE! Get ahold of yourself!" Cyborg's shout made her jump backwards, and he ran forward and pulled her off of Robin. It took a lot of willpower for him not to turn to Raven.
"Good lord. Perhaps you are an alien, miss, but you must abide by our customs here!" Alfred pinched the bridge of his nose and turned around.
"Starfire, gross!" Beast Boy closed his eyes and held up his hands to shield his gaze.
"Enough!" Robin shouted as he sat up. "We weren't doing anything, what the hell is wrong with all of you?!" He threw the covers off himself and shook his head, bringing his legs to the ground.
"Jeez, glad to see you too..." Beast Boy mumbled as he and the group walked over.
Raven stood behind them, her eyes on the ground.
"It is quite a relief to see you alright, Master Dick." Alfred stepped forward to lean down and pull the young man into a quick hug.
"It's good to see you too, Alfred. And all of you." He added quickly as he stood up, wrapping his arms around Cyborg and Beast Boy when the came forward. He lifted his head to Raven, who was still looking away. "Raven." He called out, and she shifted to bring her cloak around herself, her face obscured by the shadow cast by her hood. "Thank you."
She nodded, but didn't say anything, and his face fell slightly.
"...Where's Bruce?" He asked as he looked at everyone else.
"At work." Alfred supplied. "He needed to make an appearance after his absence. Not even the CEO of Wayne Industries can up and disappear like that, I'm afraid. He should be back in the afternoon."
Cyborg whistled. "I never really thought about it, but I guess Batman had to get money from somewhere to have all his gear and the batmobile and the suit and all. Still, to think you were loaded all this time- but everytime I want a double burger with extra mayo when we go out, it's all 'oh Cyborg we can't afford to eat like this all the time!' You little..."
Robin snorted. "I hate to break it to you, but I'm not loaded. Bruce barely gave me an allowance when I was here, and it's not like I was able to access it at all once I ran away."
"Why'd you run away, anyways?" Beast Boy asked, but looked around nervously when everyone turned on him. "I mean, you know, since we're here and all..."
"Look, let's just leave it at we had a difference of opinion, all right? He thought I shouldn't be a crime fighter and I disagreed, so I left." Robin stretched and sighed. "I need a shower. And something to eat, I'm starving. But we can all talk some more after that."
For hours, Robin felt like he was doted on. It felt like if he so much as sneezed, he would get a tissue handed to him from everyone else.
The constant questioning about his past in Gotham was annoying in its own right. He'd never wanted to talk about it, and now that there was no point in hiding it, there was no point in dodging their questions, all while Alfred interjected with "corrections" that reminded Robin of his past boyhood antics. Antics that he didn't want to be reminded of.
Starfire's constant invasion of his personal space was just the icing on the cake. The rest of the cake came in the form of her constant hugging and attempted holding of his hand when she thought the others weren't looking; after the eleventh time of telling her to stop, he announced he was going to the cave to train and that he would be back later.
Although the others said they wanted to join him, he told them he would speak to Bruce alone and not to bother them until after he was done.
Truthfully, he didn't know or care if Bruce was down there yet. He was happy to be back with his team, but there was only one person he wanted to speak with, and he hadn't seen Raven since noon when he went to take his shower.
But her absence had provided him with an opportunity to think about how he was going to apologize.
Unfortunately, as he stepped out of the elevator and into the cave, he realized he had thought very little about what he was going to say to his old mentor.
Batman was standing in front of the computer, looking over a dozen different things as the night approached. Robin came to stand behind him, looking up at the police reports and security camera footage that were on the screen. "Guess he's trying to figure out where Slade and Joker went."
Batman turned around to face his former apprentice, his expression neutral. For a moment they stood in silence.
Then, Bruce removed his mask. "Glad to see your safe."
"...Thanks... You too." Robin said slowly. There was a heavy silence between them for a moment before Robin broke it. "How'd you get captured? You can usually handle Joker and Harley, even without Slade interfering."
"Hmph. That small arms shipment I went after? It was a dozen bots made in the image of that man. I was working my way through the henchmen guarding them when Joker and Harley appeared and surprised me. You're right; I was able to handle them, but the robots started to tip the scales. Then Slade himself appeared, and I was captured."
Robin nodded slowly. "He uses those stupid things all the time. Most of the time we can't even get close to him and when we do, it's almost always him using a robot as a proxy."
"I was told this Slade is an... obsession of yours."
"He was." Robin admitted. "Because he was trying to corrupt me, and I was trying to stop him." He decided not to mention the part where making him Slade's apprentice was another reason- that he wanted to prove he didn't need a mentor. "But I was never able to on my own."
"And then he died. Your friends say it was the hand of another, but is it true?"
"There was this girl, Terra- she was unstable, but deep down she was a good person. Slade got to her, but she came to her senses and saved us, our city... it cost her her life. She could control the Earth, and when she was saving us, Slade ended up falling into a lava pool."
Bruce studied him for a moment, but he could tell there was no lie in the other mans voice. "And he came back somehow? With the help of a demon?" He blinked when he saw Robin's teeth grit and the muscles in his neck tense.
"Yeah. A demon named Trigon was trying to destroy the world, and needed Raven's powers to do so. He resurrected Slade to help him get to her, and-" Robin's fists clenched as he recalled the events, "He did. But Trigon abandoned him after he outlived his usefulness. He offered to help us in exchange for fully returning him to life, and he disappeared after the battle."
"I see." He sighed and shook his head. "You've been busy while you were away."
"I'm not staying here." It came out harsher than he meant it, but he didn't try to correct himself.
Bruce shook his head. "You don't have to." Robin relaxed slightly, and Bruce stepped forward. "You're a leader and your team needs you... Speaking of, Raven said she went into your mind and saw your past which is why you brought her along, but why did you send her away after bringing her here?"
Robin sincerely hoped his face didn't look as red as it suddenly felt. "I-... I messed up, and said something I shouldn't have."
But even in the dimly lit cave Bruce was able to see the flush, and piecing together everything he'd learned, there was only one thing he could think of. "Have you apologized to her?"
Robin sighed. "Not yet. She's been avoiding me since I woke up. Besides, I don't even know what to say..."
Bruce chuckled. "Seems he's not all grown up, yet." He reached over and clapped the other man on the shoulder. "That should be obvious. But if you're still not certain, you can come with me. I was about to go on patrol. Maybe it will help you gather your thoughts?"
"No... No, thanks. If I put this off, things will just get worse. I'm going to go make this right." He turned and headed to the elevator. "Just, promise you'll call if you get into any more trouble, alright?"
"As long as you promise not to come alone."
Robin found her on the roof.
He successfully avoided the others, and when he received no answer from her door, he pulled out his communicator and followed it.
Raven had her knees pulled up to her chest and her face wasn't visible, even if her hood had been down.
He steeled himself, and cleared his throat quietly before calling out to her. "Moon's full. It's a beautiful night out."
She lifted her head to see the full moon rising over the city in the distance, large and golden, but didn't turn to Robin or say anything back.
"I didn't get a chance to thank you properly earlier, but- Thanks for coming back for me."
"You're welcome." She mumbled.
He approached slowly, like he was afraid she might disappear into the shadows if he spooked her. "Mind if I sit?" He asked, and at her slow, single nod, sat beside her, close but with enough distance to not be uncomfortable. "Um, mind if I ask something? You said earlier you felt me dying... how?"
Raven sighed, stretching her legs out and leaning back on her hands. "When I went into your mind, I connected us in more ways than one. You knew that we were more... aware of each other, to put it one way, but I never expected to be able to feel what you felt. And I didn't want to tell you about it because I thought it would make things weird. Usually I can close myself off to it, but when I got back, I hadn't..." Her face fell. "I was thinking about you, and I felt it."
He looked out over the horizon. "How come I don't feel what you feel? Physically, I mean!" He added quickly, then immediately felt the urge to smack himself.
"I don't know." She admitted. "Maybe it was because I cast the spell on you and not the other way around." She scoffed. "Wouldn't be the only mutual feeling you didn't have with me..."
Robin swallowed hard and looked up at the stars, thinking of what he should say and how he should say it for several minutes.
Then he spoke.
"I was dreaming about you."
She looked at him out of the corner of her eye, but he continued to look up.
"You and I were living a normal life. No powers, no gadgets, no villains... We had a home in the suburbs." He laughed quietly, but his expression quickly fell. "Then Slade came and took you away." He sighed, and turned to Raven, putting one hand on the roof to lean on. "Listen, Raven: I am sorry for turning you down. When Alfred called me, I was afraid of returning here and being seen as... not good enough, by the person I had run away from. But I realize now, that when I was trying to be seen as capable and ready in my own right, I was putting myself down a cyclical path with no end. The fighting would never stop, and I'd only lose the people I care about if I kept going." Raven turned to him, and he hesitated just for a moment before he reached for her hand and placed his over it. "But I can't fight forever. I don't want to fight forever." He admitted with a shaky voice. "And I want there to be something, someone else there when I finally stop. So, if you can forgive me for turning you down... Maybe we could go out sometime?" He asked nervously as his face started to turn red.
Raven's expression was blank, her eyes flitting back and forth between his. Her hand did not move underneath his. Slowly, she lifted her other hand to cup his cheek. "Do you mean it?" She asked.
He nodded without hesitation, slowly as he gave her a small smile.
"Say it again."
"Raven, will you go out with me?"
She'd tuned herself to his aura, and though she could feel shame and nervousness, but beneath it all, she felt something rising up within him... Hope.
She lunged forward, dropping her hand from his cheek and wrapping her arms around him.
Robin smiled as he returned the hug, clinging tightly to her, happy to hold her in his arms once again, something he hadn't done since she'd saved the world. The irony of the fact that Raven had initiated both hugs was not lost on him; but he figured that in the future he might be the one to initiate without fearing Raven might send him to another dimension.
What surprised him was when she pulled back, she linked her arms behind his neck and pulled him into a kiss.
His surprise didn't last long enough for him to not react in time, and he felt Raven smile against his lips as he leaned into her touch.
After a few more moments, they separated, smiling as they held one another.
"Sorry... Was that too fast?"
"No, no." Robin shook his head, his smile not fading in the slightest. "I think after everything we've been through, that was actually a little overdue!"
The entire roof shifted as black energy shot out from Raven.
"Uhhhh... Sorry..." She muttered, dropping her head.
"Don't worry about that. Bruce can pay to have that fixed." He chuckled, pulling her close to him. Thankfully, Raven was content to shift slightly so the angle was more comfortable before she slumped against him. "I guess things will be slow between us, though... That's not so bad. At least we can figure out how to break it to the others."
Raven tensed slightly, and it did not escape his notice. "Actually, Cyborg and Beast Boy have both known how I felt about you for a while. And they know that you turned me down." She didn't lift her head up. "I'm sure they were going to spend the next month watching every interaction we have to try and look out for me."
"Ah well. There were cameras in the cave that I'd forgotten about, so Alfred knows too."
It was his turn to tense up.
"I guess we just have to tell Starfire and Bruce."
At the mention of the alien girls name, Raven leaned further into the hug, clutching tighter at his back. "She'll just have to deal with it. You're mine, not hers, and it was never right of her to try and stake a claim to you like that anyways." She let go and leaned back. "What do you feel for her?" She asked, looking him the eye curiously.
Robin let his shoulders drop. He knew better than to try and lie right now. "I mean, she is beautiful. And when we first came together as a team, she was much more open than you were. I used to have a crush on her after spending all that time with her." He admitted. "But I haven't felt that way in a long time. She's only ever going to be my friend." He sighed and glanced away. "Honestly, the way she was clinging to me all afternoon was kind of annoying."
"Hmph. Well, there's only one solution to that."
He nodded, and she once again smiled and hugged him. "We can tell her when we get back. If you really want, we can tell Bruce before we go. I'm not keen on it, but I figure he should know eventually now that we're back on speaking terms. We might as well tell the other three tomorrow."
Raven whispered her agreement, and closed her eyes.
The world fell away for both of them; though they still needed to hunt the villains and adjust to their new relationship, the moon shining down was a silent guardian that kept the troubles of the world away for the moment, and the stars above were witness to the love finally connecting the two after being hidden for so long.