Author's note: It's good to be back! OK now that was an extremely long break... My internet service at home's messed up and school kinda got hectic. plus I have a tournament to train for in October but now... back to the fic! Kinda got inspired by an episode I recently saw...

Chapter 10: Seven

They'd been at it for 10 minutes... And yet she knew how much strain this must've been for him to control himself. She sure as hell was finding it hard... I mean, sure she's 18... but this was something she just wasn't going to pounce on. No... this can wait. Preferably because that familiar pain was returning...

She broke their kiss and placed a her palm on the side of her head...

"... you OK?... Did I do something-"

"No... it's fine... I guess I just need to..."

-Pain-

"...lie down for a bit."

"Are you sure...?"

"Yes... I'll be fine... "

... not a very convincing one is she?

Raven slowly got on her feet and made her way to her bed. Robin started to leave... She reached out for his hand.

"... you can stay... if you want to." She barely managed...

His amber eyes warmed at that invitation. She saw something different in him at that moment... a kind of resolved look...

"... Richard."

"...what?" -Bewildered look inserted here-

"My name... it's Richard."

And there it was... a slight exchange of trust. For a brief moment it felt as if some part of her wanted reveal all she was to him. Everything inside... but that would mean more broken furniture and a large bill from the hospital...

"Richard... hmm... doesn't quite sound..."

"I know... just... drop it..."

If regret had been written on his face... she reckoned it would be in bold letters with lights...

"... Why it's not that bad?... How about a nickname?" She teased.

"... Dick." He muttered.

-insert picture of grinning Raven here-

"... I think I'll stick with Robin... I don't want to sound like an idiot calling out-"

"Exactly. So just drop it...please...."

Even if it was an awkward moment... she felt a sort of high knowing he entrusted her with that...But she still wanted to burst out laughing at the face he was making...

-Pain-

She staggered for a moment and hoped he did not see that... She resumed her journey to the comfort of her bed and let herself fall on it. She lay on her belly with her left cheek on one of her pillows and her face was turned to her right side. He lay on the other side facing her.

"Night."

"It's still morning..."

"Just shut up and go to sleep..."

"I'll try."

"mm...."

Her eyes began to drift shut and she slept... and he watched her. How placid her face was. Like nothing could ever bother her. How her hair fell about and her wings would twitch at a hint of a dream or so...That image would be forever etched in his mind.He started to get a little sleepy and his eyes felt heavy... Until he heard her whimper slightly and her brows furrowed ... He placed a hand on her shoulder in an effort to try and comfort her...

"Not working is it?"

Robin flipped himself of the bed and looked in the direction of the voice.

"Woah there... no need to get all jumpy on me..."

A figure emerged from the shadows with hands in the air as to give a mocking gesture of submission.

"Who are you..."

The figure lifted the hood that was covering it's face.

He looked at the figure in shock. He checked on Raven on the bed... She was still there... That figure looked exactly like Raven.

"... I know... you see a resemblance." She smirked.

"You didn't answer me..."

"Getting to that, dear... my my aren't we the impatient one? But I guess that's what we like about you isn't it?"

"We?"

"The 'dark princess's thoughts slash emotions slash personalities slash... well you get the picture."

"... and you would be?"

"Love? You wish... Fear? You've seen that... I'm more of...her... Judge-like type of personality."

"And that supposed to mean what?"

" I'm that thought in her head that makes her think bad things about people... for whatever reason she wants to think them for... and gives her confidence."

"I don't understand."

"For a 'detective' you sure aren't too keen..."

This is one bitch...

-sigh- "OK.. it's like this... her powers are emotion based so she has to lock us up somewhere... but for some reason... I was able to get out."

He was starting to see the picture.

"More like booted out."

"Exactly."

"But that would mean..."

"It won't be long till others start showing up around here... all thanks to you."

"Me?"

"Sort of... she's entering a different phase right now... the whole metamorphosis mumbo jumbo... into what? Yes I knew you would ask that... but I ain't telling."

"Talk." He clenched his fists.

"All I'll say is this... once the 7 are out... something's gonna happen." While holdng up a 'peace' sign.

"Seven?"

"Think of us as like her inner evils only we're not like Lust, Gluttony, Sloth etc... just 7 aspects of her that are necessary for the transformation... But if I could be either... I would be Pride."

"... Pride."

"Yes.. I'm the one that keeps our little missy feelinglike she can do anything... but I'm finding it hard to believe she could feel that from you."

Robin was getting fumed at this... 'Pride'... But he needed to take this slow.

"But don't worry about me... all I do is talk really... you have to worry about the others... particularly Rage..."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because it's fun."

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Phew... OK I've got a long way to go with this plot... I hope you'll enjoy the rest of this when I get it into writing... I had a lot of fun thinking about the possibilities... I just wanted to kind of add more people into the picture to complicate things... and Raven's Transformation?... I'll let you read on for that...