Speedy, Hotspot, Red X and Nightwing were heading out for the night. All four of the young warriors felt satisfied with their duels with Robin. Besides, a defeat can be far more educational than a victory.
"Take care, Robin," Speedy said.
"Good luck with the sorceress," Hotspot said.
"Next time we meet, I'm gonna kick your ass for real!" Red X said.
"Thanks, you guys. You were all a real big help," Robin responded.
"Anytime," Red X, Hotspot and Speedy said. Seconds later, the three boys were gone. Nightwing was the last to leave Titans Tower. Just before he was about to head back to Gotham, he turned his attention to Robin.
"Tim, just remember. You gotta be a gentleman to her, okay? Just go with the flow, take it easy and be a good listener as well as a good talker."
"No prob, Dick. I got it all in the bag."
"Good. I'll say 'hi' to Bruce for you when he gets back to Gotham."
"Okay, Dick. Take care. And thanks for the tickets."
"No problem, little bro. Have a good time tomorrow."
After ruffling up Robin's hair, Nightwing left. It was past midnight, but some of the lights were still dimly lit throughout the tower. Robin felt a huge sense of excitement when he held a pair of tickets in his very hands.
"Oh man. I really hope I'm doing the right thing. What if Raven doesn't dig where I'm gonna take her? Damnit. I gotta stop thinking like this." Robin said to himself. Robin headed down the hallway and was about to head back to his room. Just as he was meters away from his room, Robin stopped at his tracks.
"Aw, hell. Why wait for tomorrow morning when I can ask her right now?" Robin passed right by his room and took the elevator to Raven's bedroom.
Minutes later, Robin stood right in front of Raven's room. Robin let out a breath and cracked his neck to loosen up. Robin knocked on her door.
"Uh, Raven? Raven, can I talk to you?"
No answer.
Robin knocked on her door again.
"Hey, Raven? There's something I really need to ask you."
Still, there was no answer. Robin found this to be quite strange because Raven was known to stay up later than any other Titan. Robin's heart began to pound with worry.
"Computer. Locate Raven."
"/Raven is located in her quarters./"
In a split second, Robin pressed a few buttons to Raven's door.
"Manual override. Alpha niner crimson."
"/Password, please?/"
"Always outnumbered, never outgunned."
"/Password accepted. Please enter./"
The door to Raven's room slowly opened. At first, Robin felt he was looking into a pathway to the House of Terror when the moonlight shined through the room. The room was so darkly designed that any normal person would feel his blood run cold at first impression. However, he didn't let that bother him at all; Raven may need his help, no matter what!
When Robin stepped foot into Raven's bedroom, he nearly tripped on something that easily toppled over. When he looked down, he realized that he knocked over a bunch of books. He then saw more than 60 percent of her floor was covered with more books! Books on sorcery, the human anatomy, telepathy, even romance novels from Azarath. Robin carefully stepped over the books, hoping none of them would get damaged.
(I know how she likes to read, but to the point of going THIS far?)
Robin noticed only one light lit. It was the light on her desk, shining over Raven's head as she slept on a huge hard-case book.
(Son of a gun. She must have been doing some serious research for hours. Whatever she was researching on, it must be pretty major. Since she's all right, I'll just leave her right at her desk. Don't want to disturb sleeping beauty.) Robin thought to himself. Just when he was about to make a 180, he heard Raven mumbling to herself in her sleep. Feeling curiosity sink its fangs into him, Robin stepped closer to hear Raven, close enough to be three feet away from her.
"…Robin. You're… so far away. I… I can't reach you. Don't leave me…" Still in her dream state, Raven began to sob. A tear dripped down her face and got absorbed by the Book of Azar she was sleeping on. Robin couldn't help feeling his heart grow heavy.
"Why, Robin? Why Starfire? Why did you choose her over me? If only…" Raven began to cry in her sleep.
"… If only I told you how much I… how much I…" Robin's heart grew heavier, heavier than lead. Deeply moved, Robin gently put his arms underneath her legs and on her back and lifted her off her seat. With Raven cradled in his arms, Robin carefully and slowly walked to her bed, lifted off the covers with his foot and softly placed her in bed. Robin knew she was having a dream, but hearing such a dream was starting to make his eyes water. Robin placed the covers on her.
"Raven… I had no idea…" Robin wiped Raven's tears away with a finger and kissed her on the cheek.
"I'll ask you tomorrow," Robin whispered. Robin left her room and had the door close behind him. However, the heaviness in his heart was still there.
"I had no idea she felt that way about me. No idea at all…"
Raven slowly opened her eyes and let out a yawn. To her surprise, she found herself sleeping in her own bed.
"Whoa. Maybe I do have the case of sleepwalking," Raven said to herself. After showering up and fixing herself up, Raven headed to the main lounge.
"Man. I haven't realized until now how quiet it is around here. Well, that shouldn't be a complaint, remembering how Beast Boy would keep pestering me," Raven said to herself. Just as she was about to enter the lounge, she took in a succulent scent coming from the kitchen within the lounge.
"Holy DAMN! That smells great!" Raven entered the lounge to see what's cookin'. She saw Robin wearing the "Kiss the Chef" apron and a chef's hat, cooking one of his favorite delicacies. Hearing the door open, Robin turned his attention to Raven.
"Good mornin', Raven!" Robin said with enthusiasm. Raven was taken aback from Robin's behavior, knowing how at times he can be the most serious of the Teen Titans. After finishing up his cooking, Robin quickly removed his cooking attire and walked to Raven. She was taken more aback when he presented his arm to her, looking like he wanted her to slip her arm around his.
"May I walk you to your table, madam?" Robin asked in such a gentlemanly way. Raven couldn't help but smile and ring their arms together, looking like they were married.
"By all means," Raven responded softly, feeling her cheeks heat up. Robin brought her to a lovely table for two and pulled a chair for her. Raven kindly sat into that very chair, pulled herself closer to the table and crossed her legs. The rising sun brought more life to the Titans.
"What's the occasion, Robin? You seem to be in such a good mood," Raven said.
"In a moment, Rave. I have something special for you…" Robin left the table and headed back to the kitchen. Now dressed up as a waiter, Robin brought her a saucer with plates of specials and nicely placed it on the table.
"Just for us, Raven. Fried rice with sliced German sausages, crunchy bacon, and scrambled eggs. Bon apetit…" Raven was awed from the delicacy and put a decent amount of her choices on her plate. Smiling to himself, Robin took his seat and took in his share of the food he prepared.
Robin and Raven were really enjoying their breakfast. Raven was nibbling on her food little by little, looking very ladylike. Robin was eating with manners as well.
"Robin, you still haven't told me why you're in such a good mood. What's going on?" Raven asked herself. Robin stopped eating and placed his fork and spoon on the table next to his plate.
(Okay, it's now or never…)
"Well, uh… I really feel that this could be a real special day for the both of us. I know how at times we would do our usual maintenance check on the tower and go through numerous training to hone our powers. But I want to do something different for once. So…" Robin nervously reached into his pocket and drew out a pair of tickets to Raven. Raven's eyes widen.
"Would you like to come with me later this evening to... Medieval Times? I think you've heard of it before."
"… Yeah… I've heard of it…"
"So how about it? It'll be great! Good meals, awesome entertainment, knights jousting, a dance in the ball-"
"Is this… a date?" Raven asked. Robin's cheeks blushed big time as he slightly turned away from her beautiful eyes.
"… Yeah, you could say that…" Robin whispered. Raven placed her fork down and took Robin's hand. As she felt her hand touch his, the nightmare of Robin choosing Starfire over her began to fade away.
"I'd be more than honored to." Robin knew she usually talked in a monotone way, but hearing that response from her sounded very lovely to him.
(His skin is so soft…) Raven reluctantly released his hand and got out of her seat. Robin was still in his seat, speechless from Raven's behavior.
"I really enjoyed the meal, Robin. Someday, I'll give you something in return. While I do my errands, why not get ready for tonight? I really hope this will be a night neither of us will forget…"
"That goes… ditto for me, Raven."
"Okay. Seeya in the evening." With a light smile on her face Raven left the main lounge. Robin was still in his seat, feeling the very hand that Raven caressed. A smile crept onto his face.
"Don't worry, Rave. This is one night you'll never... ever forget..."
Meanwhile, Raven was heading back to her room, preparing for perhaps the most important research of her lifetime.
"Could he be… could he be the one for me? I have to make sure it's him. If what my mother said is true, then…" Raven couldn't keep the excitement contained any longer.
"THEN ROBIN WILL BE MINE!! MOVE OVER, STARFIRE! RAVEN IS GONNA MAKE ROBIN THE HAPPIEST MAN ON THE PLANET!"
Raven began to dance the Cabbage Patch.
"GO RAVEN! GO RAVEN! IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY! IT'S YOUR-"
A nanosecond later, the hallway blew up from her black powers! The dust from the explosion slowly faded out, leaving the blown-up Raven with very little balance and feeling stars spinning around her head. Raven lost so much control over her powers that she looked as though a fat-ass dynamite blew up right in front of her face. Raven eventually shook off the explosion and dusted herself from all the black mess on her whole body.
"Whoa. Gotta calm down. I can't afford to make any assumptions. I must do more research. I MUST!" Feeling her mind clear for the first time, Raven teleported immediately back to her room and continued the research.
… to be continued.