Yeah, I'm updating...much sooner than I thought I would, and the same probably goes for you. I'm a little...well a lot...high (sugar! just sugar I swear!) cuz I just got back from this insane class party...absolutely insane. I usually don't go to those kind of things...I'm a bit antisocial (I prefer to sit in my room scribbling away in my lovely blue notebook) but this was actually pretty fun. A violent game of foose (how in heck do you spell that?) ball, which I won of course, brought my spirits up nicely. Ok, now that I've rambled on and on about my boring life... Robin: And the world's smallest violin plays! Dusty: I like violins:)

alena-chan: Yeah...this fic was mostly just a chance for me to delve into his character and really show what he's all about...at least in my opinion. Robin: You did a pretty good job...possibly because I helped you write it? Dusty: Shh! I'm talking to my reviewer! Thanks so much, I've really enjoyed hearing from you. I try to be careful with song choice cuz it can really make or break the story. Oh, and To Please Her was soo funny! ...But you already know that. No problem, as long as I can read it, I'm good.

Water81: Nah, I don't hate you, and no I don't mind. Contructive criticism is always good, I just thought it was a point worth mentioning. I think I understand what you mean. Thanks!

Chibi-Ra-Chan: O.O SHE LIVES! Lol I was beginning to think you were gone forever. No kidding! That would rock...Yeah I'm really hoping that too. Thanks! And BB, it takes one to know one. (not really true, but hey)

YoukaiTenshi: LOL good, I cheered someone up. Always nice. Here I am, updating soon.

fallendreamz: Hmm...I think you are about to get your wish.

Al the Pirate: Oh ye of little faith.

mysti-eyed: Thanks! Yeah it was sad...but sadness has it's own beauty, too.

Aeris-Raven: Me too...Yellowcard rocks! LOL yeah, I seem to be able to get inside his head fairly easily. (Robin: -pouts-) You most certainly do not suck at writing, so don't say that or I'll give you a virtual black eye! Really scared now, aren't ya? LOL glad you like it.

Tony Dimera: Yeah, just a smidge. Hmm... LOL same here, pain and agony all around. Thanks:)

raggedywings: He does see...but because of the whole Starfire thing he assumes that it's his fault in some way, that she just doesn't think he's good enough, etc. etc. and so forth. Don't worry, he will wise up.

otakualways: Very, very easily.

rubianca: LOL so it would seem. -bows- I seem to be able to understand him fairly well. We're similar in many ways, so it's not too hard really. Glad you liked it!

Mina: Yeah, when I thought about it (and I actually did), this was what made most sense. He doesn't know how to handle pain, he doesn't know how to deal with sadness...so he will do just about anything to ignore it and pretend it isn't there, and that was the point of the gang and whatnot (yes, there was a point!). No, being the amazingly insecure person he is, he immediately assumes that there's something wrong with him. LOL so it is! You will see alot more of that in this chapter...I actually enjoy writing the big brother relationship between them. True, Cyborg isn't my favorite character but that doesn't mean I hate him. Yeah, it's not bad, considering I was extremely close to being named Chelsea. Hate the name...-shiver- so unoriginal and girly, but that's just me. LOL no prob. GOOD! Get to work, missy! I want to read more...chapter eleven was so good. Yeah, you should! Hmm...only songs that come to mind at the moment are You and Me, by Lifehouse and Meet You There, by Simple Plan. Maybe if you listened to those an idea would spark. LOL glad you liked it!

jambey: Yeah, I was a bit curious as to where you were. No prob or anything, just wondering. :( Yeah...looks like I can't fight my nature. But like I said at the end of chapter 6, there was a point to it. I wanted to show that without Raven, he reverts back to his old ways, because being with her gave him something else to live for (other than beating the crud out of the bad guys). Ooh, blockhead. Harsh. Something like that. Sounds fun. Slade foots the bill for mine, so no worries there. I mean, if he's gonna hang around, he might as well be useful. I think so too, I was wondering if you had died of too much homework or something of the like. Gah, I know how that story ends! I know exactly what happens, up to the epilogue...but it just won't come out! Grr...oh and I can't really preceed until I decide if I'm doing a sequel or not...that will alter the way I write it. So yeah, I've been working on it...sorry for the horrendous wait and I'll try to get my sh...stuff together.

superman35405: Thanks! Glad to hear from you. My crystal ball is telling me that things will be looking up very very soon...

A Titans fan: Thanks! Yeah, he's kinda like my specialty lol. I don't want it to be...but if the NICE NICE fanfiction people decide to take it off for the song lyrics, I won't really have a choice. I'm really hoping they won't though...

Ok, this basically happens right after the last chapter. Oh, and I decided to dedicate this chapter almost completely to Raven. Yeah, it's a Robin fic, but she deserves at least 1 out of 7. Hopefully I can portray her emotions as well as Robin's. I DO NOT OWN THE SONG TAKE ME AWAY, BY AVRIL LAVIGNE!

"No!" Raven's heart froze as Robin's halting steps ceased, and he crumbled to the pavement like an abandoned rag doll. Her legs were running before she could tell them to, bringing her to Robin's side before her mind could catch up. Fear beyond anything she had ever felt pulsed in her veins, as cold as ice, squeezing, constricting...

Raven was slightly surprised to find her hands shaking as they inched towards his back, stomach churning as her eyes fell upon deep, bleeding gashes, his uniform in nothing short of tatters. She gasped, her throat seeming to close over as her stomach lurched again, and all the while, something ominous loomed over her head, like a knife in the dark, threatening to pierce her heart.

I cannot find a way to describe it
It's there inside
All I do is hide

Raven swallowed, fighting down the familiar feeling and strengthening her resolve. The stupidest thing she could possibly do at this point was hesitate; he undoubtedly needed help right now. A thought broke through her defenses, creeping through the cracks like a whisp of smoke drifting away from the raging inferno..."If it weren't for you, he would be fine right now." Raven squeezed her eyes shut, desperate to push away the cold, hard truth, but to no avail.

"If he dies, it's your fault."

I wish that it would just go away

"Stop it!" Raven opened her eyes, dizzy from lack of oxygen as she reached out and gently turned him over. What little air left in her lungs vanished as she saw his face: cold, pale, bruises and blood contrasting painfully with his white skin. But that wasn't what killed her heart. Tiny little trails of skin were drawn in the dirt and blood, spidering down from his eyes to his chin: tears. He was crying, crying because of her. The feeling was growing stronger, harder to bear...harder to control. Guilt...and something else... No! She didn't...she couldn't... "Why, Robin? Why did you pick someone like me? Why did you do this to yourself!"

Tears were not the only painful traces of his agony. Raven could feel it, hovering in a suffocating mass all around him, pulsing in unbearable waves within her own being; nothing short of misery. Beyond that, undertones of anger, jealousy, self-loathing, recklessness...all of Robin's harmful qualities.

Raven blinked furiously and carefully laid her hand on his chest, directly over one of the more severe wounds...had to focus...had to clear her mind...

She let out a yell of frustration as her concentration shattered like a crystal goblet dropped from a ten-story window. She couldn't shake that feeling...the one that she shouldn't have felt in the first place.

What would you do
You do if you knew
What would you do

"You did this to him. All he did was care about you, and what did you do? Threw him into a wall, then yelled at him for his efforts. This wouldn't have happened...if he dies, it's your fault. If he dies, you killed him."

A lone tear escaped her tortured eyes, spiraling down through the air to fall soundlessly on his still face. If only this was one of those stupid, sappy fairy tales, where a tear, a kiss, or a heartfelt word could conquer death, where simply loving a person was enough to keep their heart beating.

...But she didn't love Robin! Cared for him deeply, yes. Wanted to spend time with him, yes. Yeah, she thought he was...sweet, even gentle, when he wanted to be. There were things inside him that constantly dragged him down, but when Robin smiled, the world seemed that much brighter...and his eyes...why did he hide such beautiful eyes?

"So...you don't love him, huh?" mocked Sarcasm.

Whether I do or don't," retorted Raven, "I can't. You saw what happened! Rage...Rage could kill him in the blink of an eye." She shivered at the thought, keeping her mouth firmly closed in case her stomach decided to rebell.

"Right...it would be much better to save him from a possible death and condemn him to suicide. I see your logic there."

Frustrated with Sarcasm, partly because she was right, it took Raven a few moments to realize that Robin was stirring.

All the pain
I thought I knew
All the thoughts lead back to you

Raven jumped, her eyes flying open as a gloved hand touched her own. Though it was hard to tell behind the mask, Raven was fairly certain that his eyes were open. She froze beneath his gaze, heart beating uncomfortably fast; what on Earth could she say to him? "Robin..."

"Hi." Raven assumed the pained grimace had been intended as a smile. He wrapped his fingers around her hand, though the grip was weak. A hoarse noise, somewhere between a cough and a laugh whispered from his split and bloody lips. "You should see the other guy."

Raven bit her lip as unexpected tears swam in her violet eyes. "You scared the heck out of me," she whispered, her hand automatically tightening around his as one tear, then another, rolled down her cheek to fall gently on him like soft rain.

The "smile" slid off his face, to be replaced with a deep frown. "I...I didn't mean...I'm sorry, Raven...so sorry." Even such few words seemed to exhaust him, as he was silent for several minutes, chest rising and falling weakly beneath her hand. His wrasping breaths echoed in her ears, and the tears fell from her aching heart.

Back to what
Was never said
Back and forth
Inside my head

"Don't cry, Raven...I'm ok," he whispered, wincing slightly.

"Liar," Raven choked, barely able to breathe past the lump of guilt in her throat. She tried, but the tears would not stop, and holding them in was more than she could bear. The mask hid too much...why couldn't it just disappear? She needed to see those eyes...maybe something there would reassure her, ease this horrible aching in her chest. She wanted...him...no...something!

I can't handle this confusion
I'm unable come and take me away

"Raven, I--Uh!" Robin's face contorted with pain, his grip on her hand tightening as his back arched off the pavement.

"Robin! What? What's wrong?" Panic surged through her, ringing in her ears and buzzing in her mind as he cried out again, squeezing her hand so hard she could no longer feel her fingers. Help...had to get help...focus...heal! It was useless, her emotions were far too chaotic to allow for the peace and concentration needed for healing. What to do? "Cyborg!" Raven moved to stand, but found Robin's grip on her hand holding her back.

"No..." he grunted through clenched teeth. "Don't...leave me...stay...please stay, Rae..."

She froze, uncertainty lingering for a moment...but the look on his face decided for her. Her eyes still fixed on Robin, Raven sank back to the concrete beside him, wanting nothing more than to gather him up in her arms and hold him close, but something would not allow it. She couldn't give him false hope, couldn't lead him on towards something that would never be. She couldn't cause herself...him, that pain.

I feel like I am all alone
All by myself I need to get around this

Robin shivered violently, as though his blood had been replaced with ice. With a shuddering breath, he gasped, in a tone of urgency, "Raven, I...I have to tell you--"

"Don't, Robin." Her voice had become harsh, blunt. She knew exactly what was coming, and she couldn't hear it! No!

My words are cold
I don't want them to hurt you

The pain on his face brought a fresh wave of guilt crashing over her head and filling her lungs with its taint. This was for the best...she was doing him a favor. No one deserved to get stuck with a half-demon lover, especially not Robin. She wanted better for him.

"Raven, I--"

"Don't say things you don't mean, Robin! Don't say something you'll regret later!" Tears burning with anger and regret coursed down her cheeks as her heart raced, a cacaphony of emotions yelling in her ears until she could no longer think straight. She jumped, fear twisting her stomach into knots as a defenseless thug flew ten feet in the air and fell back to Earth with a sickening thud. That could have been Robin...how could she make him understand?

If I show you
I don't think you'd understand
'Cause no one understands

Robin let out a weak groan of frustration. "Would you...listen? I love you...never thought I'd say it, but...I love you...Raven. I just...just wish you felt the same..." Robin's grip had been slowly weakening, his words becoming more spaced and quieter...unconsciousness reclaimed its prisoner, so recently escaped from its cold empty clutches. His silence brought back the icy waves of panic, momentarily dispelled by his words...

His words. So, it was true. Robin said it, and there was no more room for uncertainty. He...he really did...no! Why did he have to go and say it? How was she supposed to hold firm now? How could she possibly stare him in the face and lie, now that she knew...it wasn't temporary insanity, it wasn't pity, it wasn't mindless teenage-boy hormones...he loved her. Her suspicions were confirmed, the clues were in place, the mystery, solved. Great! Now what?

All the pain
I thought I knew
All the thoughts lead back to you

"Raven!" Cyborg ran toward her, Starfire following slowly with an unconscious Beast Boy in her arms. "Is he awake yet? Did you heal him?" He froze in his tracks when Raven finally lifted her gaze. She knew he could see the tears, but somehow she didn't care anymore.

"Cyborg...I can't...my emotions..." She swallowed hard, trying to find enough air to satisfy her starved lungs. "I'm sorry. I can't help him."

The half-robot stared in complete shock. "You mean...he's not...!" He rushed to her side, falling to his knees beside the Boy Wonder and placing a thumb on the side of his neck. A sigh of relief whistled through his clenched teeth as he found the pulse, but it was soon drowned out by fear. With more tenderness than Raven believed possible from him, Cyborg gently wiped the blood from his best friend's face, pushing his limp wet hair out of his eyes. "Don't ever scare me like that again," he whispered, voice low and trembling slightly. In the next moment, he had snapped into action. "Raven, are you sure you can't help him at all? Maybe if you tried again..." It was clear that the hybrid was doing his best to avoid taking Robin to the hospital: something Boy Wonder had told them never to do.

"I tried..." Her voice trailed off into nothing as she stared down at her hand, now covered in Robin's blood. All she wanted was for those eyes to open again, even if only for a moment...she needed to talk to him.

Back to what
Was never said
Back and forth
Inside my head

"Please, Raven?" Cyborg's eye bored into her, layers upon layers of sadness and fear swirling in the shades of gray. He couldn't lose Robin...he was his little brother, his buddy, his friend.

Raven bit her lip harder, taking one last look at Robin's pale face and the small pool of blood that had gathered around him, soaking the hem of her cloak. "I can't promise anything, but...I'll do my best." With that, she shimmered black and sank into the pavement, leaving a slightly stunned Cyborg kneeling beside their injured leader...he would just have to trust her. Even is she and Robin did have a fight, he knew she loved him. Raven would do everything in her power to keep him alive.

If only Raven was as certain as he.

I can't handle this confusion
I'm unable come and take me away

It was so much easier to breathe up on the roof, the cool wind whipping in her face and soothing her burning cheeks with its touch. Raven stood absolutely still for several minutes, breathing in and out with a steady rhythm that eventually began to calm her racing heart. She couldn't think about anything but the air moving in and out of her lungs, calm, steady...was Robin still breathing?

The void shattered into a thousand pieces, and Raven hit the roof with a dull thud, groaning in frustration. Had to focus...Robin's life depended on it. She couldn't afford to screw this up...

Robin was smiling warmly at her, his face as unreadable as always. "I would never laugh at you, Raven."

"You belong here, Raven." His voice trembled slightly, but this did not detract from the power of his words. "You belong here."

Focus? Concentrate? It was impossible.

I'm going nowhere on and on and off and on and off and on

"Why can't you just admit it, Raven? Just say it! What harm can it do?"

Raven's hands twisted wildly, her lip bleeding slightly from the continuous biting. "What harm? If I admit it, I won't be able to fight it, and if I can't fight it...all it would take is just one time, one time when I let my guard down. I could kill him! Do you think I want him to die at my hands? Better miserable than six feet under!"

"A life without love is no life at all."

The tears were back, tears of pain and frustration. What was she supposed to do? She hated both options!

"You know, Raven. Don't do this to him...don't do this to us. You will find a way." The voice faded into silence...

"No! Wait, I still don't..." Raven's thought trailed off as she stepped up to the edge of the roof, gazing down on the street below...gazing down on Robin. She knew who that emotion was...and that could only mean...

All the pain
I thought I knew
All the thoughts lead back to you

"Robin..." She had to tell him, had to fix the mess she had made. Urgency spurred her on, the wind beneath her wings as she raced for the ground, touching down with less grace than usual and fighting for breath. There was still a hint of fear, a taste of panic, but something told her that everything would be alright. No, the prominent emotion was...excitement? Relief? ...Love. It was a strange and wonderful feeling, almost completely alien to her. Raven's had not been a happy life. Love was rarely offered her and even more rarely returned as the years dragged by, each one adding an extra layer to her shell of protection. Nothing could break through that wall...until Robin.

Back to what
Was never said
Back and forth
Inside my head

Cyborg and Starfire backed away as she approached, staring at her with pleading eyes, a small spark of hope burning there. They believed in her...now she just had to believe in herself.

Raven closed her eyes, softly chanting her trademark mantra. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos." Healing blue light shimmered around her hands, glowing and shifting with a life all its own. Healing, in its true form, was a projection of feelings and emotions within the person wielding it. There had to be a reason for the injured one to live before the power would obey.

With an expression something like a smile, Raven laid her hands on each side of Robin's chest and let the emotion pour out of her in a way that she had never before allowed. She watched with relief as the gash glowed blue, then began to close over, skin fusing seemlessly with skin as the bleeding ceased. When the light was finished, there was not so much as a scar to hint of the pain chased away. Raven was giving herself to him.

Take me away

Steam rose from his body as cut after cut closed over, bruise after bruise vanishing without a trace. The energy flowed faster, stronger, fueled rather than inhibited by the images.

Robin's smile...

Blue energy sparked up and down his body as a bright white light began to pulse around him.

His eyes...

Raven's head jerked back with the force of it, but she pushed harder, her jaw clenched and beads of sweat rolling down her face. Almost...

"I love you...never thought I'd say it, but...I love you...Raven. I just...just wish you felt the same..."

With a yell of determination, Raven's eerie white eyes snapped open as she pressed her hands firmly into his chest. The light gathered in front of her, condensing into a burning ball of white fire; spinning, twisting, writhing...With the last of her strength, Raven pushed it into him.

Break me away

Robin literally glowed, every inch of him infused with that light, that energy, that emotion, until his skin appeared glassy, his body drifting a few inches off the ground as the magic worked its final spell...With a gentle sigh, the light dissipated, leaving Robin once again lying on the cold pavement...but he was not the same. Every bruise, every scrape, every injury was healed; his cheeks glowed a soft, healthy pink; the dark circles were gone from his eyes; and his breathing was deep and steady. Raven smiled weakly, shoulders slumping with intense exhaustion. She did it.

Robin woke slowly, a finger twitching here, his head shifting there...His eyes opened behind the mask, blinking once or twice to focus. "Raven?"

A sob of fatigue, relief, happiness...too much to name, escaped her, tears running down her cheeks as the death grip on her throat released and the weight left her chest. She had to tell him... "Robin, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me...I never meant--"

He sat up slowly, never taking his eyes off her. "No, Raven. I'm the one who's sorry." He suddenly looked down, his cheeks growing a little pinker. "Listen, about...last night. I shouldn't have...I had no right to...I wouldn't blame you if you hate me."

"Robin," she said patiently, not wanting to interrupt him during such a heartfelt apology.

"I just...I don't know what got into me! I couldn't think straight, I looked into your eyes and it just...it just happened."

"Robin." Raven's voice was a little louder this time, but he continued to stutter, almost hysterically.

"I know you're mad, Rae...and I would understand it you...if you don't want to talk to me again...but...Please know that I--"

"Robin!"

He froze in mid-sentense, eyes wide as he stared at her.

"I love you." A deep blush crept into her pale cheeks as his eyes grew even wider. When the silence became too much, she grumbled, "There, I said it. Happy now? Oh, and one more thing."

Robin paled slightly, wondering if this was all a cruel joke...

"If you ever scare me like that again, I'll kill you." A tiny smile lit up her face as she looked up at him, a feeling...happiness, welling up in her chest and filling her with nothing short of joy.

Robin swallowed hard, blinking furiously behind the mask. No, you idiot! Anything but that! "I...That...that's good." (The loving, not the killing.) He mentally slapped himself, but it was the best he could do. Something was wrong with his tongue.

"Yeah." Raven's smile grew wider. "It's very good."

Take me away

MUAHAHAHAHA! There you go, the happy twist you've all been waiting for. Hope it was good...hope it wasn't corny...hope I portrayed Raven's emotions well. This will probably be ending in the next chapter, but don't let that stop you from reviewing! There's still time to cuss me out, you know... -Dusty