Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans, etc, etc, it all belongs to the many geniuses at DC, etc. You know the deal.

Pre-read by KrabKakes

Homecoming

Chapter Six

A sharp intake of breath followed by the powerful thud of fist striking wood and the guttural cry of a warrior. That was all Raven could hear as she approached the training room of Titans Tower. The occupant of the room was not a mystery to her, and for many reasons. One: No one trained at this early hour in the morning except him. Two: she could feel him through her empathic abilities, or more specifically, couldn't feel him. It could only be one person, and that was the sole reason she was heading towards the gym in the first place.

As she well knew Dick Grayson was indeed in the middle of practising a few moves on a stick of wood located in the corner of the room, pivoting around the object and striking its many appendages as he performed his routine. Raven almost found herself blushing when she entered the room, but caught herself before she could and managed to calm herself down. Currently, Dick was wearing nothing more than a pair of sweatpants. Sweat glistened over his powerful frame, making him almost glow.

The fact that Dick was wearing so little and the fact that he did not have his ever present mask on told her he was not expecting visitors. Sure, she knew whom he was and had seen him without the mask many times but that didn't stop him from wearing the thin black covering almost all day, everyday. Raven thought it was a way to distance him from his teammates, being more of a symbolic thing than anything else.

Dick looked up at her as she entered and Raven wasn't surprised. He probably heard her coming before she even decided to come. He was annoying like that. He smiled at her as she entered whilst walking over to a nearby bench and grabbing a white towel, slinging it over his shoulder.

"Hey Raven," he greeted, walking towards her. She reached up and pulled down her hood before responding:

"Hi." She raised an eyebrow. "Usual five in the morning work out?"

Dick laughed. "Something like that." He continued past her and opened a cooler resting against the wall, pulling out a bottle of cold water. He gave her a look and she shook her head, making him close the lid and hop onto the top of the cold surface. "You?"

"Couldn't sleep." She replied, joining him on the cooler. "Trouble with Kory?"

"Nah." Dick took a sip of his water with one hand, towelling himself with the other. "What makes you say that?"

"Nothing." Raven almost blushed again. Stupid girl! She chastised. Get a hold of yourself!

"Okay." He wasn't convinced. A comfortable silence descended on them as both just sat and thought. Finally, Dick broke the silence. "So why couldn't you sleep?"

"A lot on my mind." Raven said, monotone.

"Tara." This wasn't a question. Raven glanced sideways at him to find him giving her a 'you can't lie to me' look. She nodded almost imperceptibly. Dick saw it though. "You don't want her back right."

"I don't know." Raven replied. "I don't trust her. I won't ever trust her again."

"No surprise." Dick joked. Raven scowled at him but he just smiled at her, eventually making her soften her features. She knew he wasn't making fun of her. She nodded again.

"I don't see how any of you can."

"I don't." Dick admitted. "But she's an asset to the team. Well, in a way, I guess I do trust her, but I'll never take my eyes of her. It's a fragile trust. I've told her she's on permanent probation."

"Good." Raven murmured. "I can live with that."

More silence. Then, once again, Dick broke it: "That's not all that's bothering you. You've been more distant than usual. Did you think I wouldn't notice?"

"No." Raven said. "I just thought you'd respect my privacy."

"I did." Dick said slyly. "You came to me Raven."

Raven sighed. He was right, as always. "Bastard." She said softly, light-heartedly. Dick laughed.

"Learnt from the best." He was openly grinning at her, which made her feel a lot better. Then he had to ruin it. "So what is it?"

"I can't say." She said, looking away from him. "It's complicated."

"Raven," Dick laid a hand softly on her shoulder, trying to help. For once he wasn't. "You came here to talk to me. I'm not going to force you though, but know that I'm here for you and I always will. We all will."

"I know." Raven continued to stare at her feet. Dick removed his hand and hopped of the cooler, starting to walk away, but then Raven spoke. "I love you."

Dick froze, silence falling all around them, suffocating them. Raven couldn't look up. Dick couldn't move. They stayed perfectly still for an incomprehensible amount of time. Finally, not having the nerve to stay any longer Raven quickly hopped down from the cooler and – still not looking up – made to rush out of the room. Dick's voice stopped her.

"What did you say?"

She froze, much like he had, staring at her feet. She still couldn't face him. Stupid girl! She berated herself again. What were you thinking? Telling him you love him! Idiot.

"I said what did you say?" Dick repeated.

"I'm sorry." Raven whispered. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean…I – sorry!"

She went to flee the room when his arm wrapped tightly around her own and he pulled her back and around to face him. She didn't look up. He gently raised her chin and forced her to look at him. Her eyes were filling with tears.

Great! She continued to beat herself up. Now you're bawling like a stupid schoolgirl who just realised the pop idol of her dreams would never even look at her twice. How wonderful. What a great time for an emotional break down. I thought you were supposed to be good at suppressing emotions.

"Raven." Spoken so softly she couldn't stop herself.

"I love you." She whispered back. "I love you okay."

"You love me?" Dick repeated, questioningly. "Raven. I…you know I'm with Kory."

Raven felt like she'd been slapped but she wouldn't allow herself to collapse anymore, pulling her emotions tightly back into their shells and drawing away from him, turning her back to him and raising her hood to cover her tear streaked and blotchy face.

"I know." She replied. "I wouldn't dream of coming between you two. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say it. It just…came out."

"Raven," Dick was approaching her again. He came to rest a hand on her shoulder, a little hesitantly. "What makes you think you love me?"

"Everything." Raven turned to face him again. "I like being around you. Just sitting with you. It's like I'm back home, in Azarath. I like the way you always know what I'm thinking. I respect you for who you are. You're strong, courageous and a great leader. You're perfect Dick. I love everything about you."

"Raven," Dick pulled her hood down, exposing her face to him again. "I respect you as well. You know that. I enjoy spending time with you. We are very much alike and that'll always make us special to each other, but that's not all you need for a relationship."

"What do you mean?" Raven asked, confused.

"Look at me and Kory." Dick said, smiling as he thought of his beautiful alien girlfriend. "We're not all that alike are we? She's emotional, naïve, and very playful. I'm probably one of the most emotionless guys on the planet. I'm serious, quite arrogant, not to blow my own horn but I'm also intelligent. We have many differences, and that's what makes us such a great couple. We're a great team, in whatever we do, because we complete each other."

"I see." Raven had to admit he had a point.

"Don't you think it would be boring if we had a relationship Raven?" Dick asked.

"I guess." Raven lowered her head, feeling embarrassed and ashamed of herself.

"I love you Raven." Dick raised her head back to face his own once again. "I love you and respect you as a friend and a colleague."

"I'm sorry." Raven drew back from Dick again. "I've just made a fool out of myself haven't I? Oh Azar I'm so stupid. I'm really sorry."

"Hey," Dick smiled at her reassuringly. "It's okay Raven. We all make mistakes. You haven't lost any of my respect. And you're not stupid, okay? You're incredibly smart. Just remember what I said, okay Raven?"

Raven nodded her answer. With that Dick gave her one last smile, a squeeze on the shoulder and then left the room. Raven couldn't remember how long she stayed there, standing still, frozen in place, thinking. Eventually, she turned and left the room after him.

(----)

Later, in her room, Raven was once again floating above her bed and meditating on Dick's words. What he had said did make sense. Raven couldn't deny that. She was beginning to think that her 'love' for Dick had been misinterpreted after all. He said he loved her, but that did not mean he was in love with her. Maybe that was what she had felt in return. She wasn't in love with Dick. She just loved him.

That simplified matters greatly. She didn't have to worry over her feelings for the Titans leader and she didn't have to worry about upsetting her best friend. That being said, another thought was beginning to plague her mind.

Dick had said he was in love with Kory because she was different, because she completed him. Raven couldn't stop thinking about that. She was beginning to re-evaluate her relationship with her other two male friends.

Vic had many differences when it came to her. He was full of emotion whereas she somewhat lacked in it. He was boisterous whereas she was calm. He had a heart of gold whereas hers was weighed down by darkness and anger. They had many differences. Did that mean they would make a good couple?

Garfield and herself had a lot of differences. He was even more boisterous than Vic. He was loud and always happy, where as she was quiet and seemingly depressed, less so recently with the removal of the Trigon Seed. He loved to play noisy videogames where as she preferred a nice quiet good book. Oh yeah, Raven was sure Garfield was the exact opposite of her. But again, did that mean they would make a good couple?

Raven didn't know. Somehow she couldn't see herself with either of the two. Vic was like a brother to her, and she felt it a bit disturbing to think of him any other way. Garfield just annoyed her more than anything. She had a hard time seeing him and herself together.

Before any further thoughts could enter her head the Titans alarm began to blur, much like it had two weeks earlier on that fateful day Terra had returned. Raven dropped down to her feet as Dick's voice blared once again over the intercom.

"Titans! Trouble!"

Raven was already on her way down to the common room. When she arrived she found Dick, Kory, Vic, Garfield and Terra waiting for her. She quickly crossed to their position.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Someone is calling us out." Dick said.

"Who?" Vic asked. "Please tell me it's not the H.I.V.E. again."

"Not the H.I.V.E.," Dick replied, pressing a few buttons on his laptop and bringing up a live feed on the Titans T.V. screen.

"He's new." Garfield said with a grin. "Who is he? Mr. Cyclops? One Eye Willy?"

On the screen was a man, small in stature, with long dark hair tied back in a ponytail. He was dressed in golden armour that had the symbol of an eye printed on its chest plate. He was just standing on the top of one of Jump cities low-rise buildings, waiting.

"Don't know his name." Dick said. "But I received a message on my laptop not long ago. I don't know how he hacked into our system but he did. He wants to meet us. He said he had some interesting news."

"Well what are we waiting for?" Gar asked, hopping to his feet and flexing his muscles. "Let's see what he wants."

"Right," Dick stood as well. "Titans, go!"

Raven followed after everyone as they piled out of the tower. She didn't know why, but she had a bad feeling about this guy - a very bad feeling. She just hoped she was wrong.

(----)

Review and tell me what you think.

Piccolo999