Disclaimer: I don't own Robin, Raven, or any other Teen Titans, nor do I own the show.

Summery: Um Kay- Sorry For the delay. I have all the chapters for this story already written out you know, I'm just stalling in order to get more reviews. :evilly snickers: Hopefully, if you know what's good for you, You'll review.

Oh- Ultra Ultra special Note to Kali Donovan; Well perhaps my friend I can offer you this- :takes out box of Cheez Its, along with two erasers and a cup of hot steaming tea: for you soul. (Or who ever has it in this case), thus allowing for you to visit the ninth level of hell. Some say it's hot here, but Dante and I both agree, two icicles to one, that it's nice and cool. Circle 9 rules man, it just rules.

Right now I'm trying desperately to decide which version of chapter 5 I want to post next time, I have two. But until then, here's chapter 4, I really have to quite stalling;

((Chapter 4))
"To Pluck the Fruit"

"I adore the despair
In your eyes.
I worship your lips-
Once red as wine.
And I crave for your scent,
Sending shivers down my spine.
And I just love the way you're running out of life."
--
H.I.M
"Gone With the Sin"

I wept alone that night, though now it seems like it was such a foolish and childish thing to do. But I couldn't hold in the tears that day, I had kept them hidden and locked up inside for so long. With my parents deaths I kept my emotions contained, with every injury I took I held it all in. But I couldn't anymore. I couldn't stand to be the cold and unemotional person I was any longer.

I tried to stop, but the tears just kept coming, wetting my face, and eventually my soul. My body trembled and shook, as I buried my face into my hands once more. Who was I, to hurt StarFire so? Who was I, to open the wound of Raven's heart? I found myself asking such deep questions, but never coming up with any answers. Who was I? The answer only became clear when I looked up at the lonesome moon; I was nothing.

To so many, I realized, I was the fearless leader of the Teen Titans; a light, and a source of good. My job was to carry out justice for our city, but how could I do this any longer, when I myself felt so evil? The image of who I was began to blur in front of my own eyes.

I finally sat up from the ledge of the Tower much later on, when my eyes at last could no longer produce tears. But with this inability, my misery did not end. I became even more unstable when my mind turned once more to my own source of heartache; Raven. Again, unfortunately, all I could see was her image with the Czars, her body melting in his touch.

I couldn't turn anywhere in my own mind where I wasn't tormented by what I saw. Raven was at the heart of it all, laughing and giggling in the darkness as the Czar held her. But the thing was, as I watched my own mind project these images, all I could see was Raven; laughing at me.

Why? Why did she love that shell of a man? What did he posses that I had none of?

I couldn't take anymore- I had to have answers. Suddenly, I turned from the sky line back to the stairs I knew led back to the inner Tower, and before I knew what I was doing I found myself running down them. I had to know. I had to discern the lies from the truths, and I had to know if what the Czar had said was true.

I punched in the code to the dark slate colored door I knew I should not have touched, and proceeded to go inside. My presence there was not welcome, I knew this, but I continued on to her bed where I she slept silently. Before I could stop myself, I shook her awake, violently and with urgency.

"Raven….Oh God Raven…." I practically shouted. My hands clutched her shoulders tightly; as I watched her eyelids flutter open.

"Robin…? Robin what in Azarath's name are you doing here!" she demanded sitting up.

"I have to know Raven, I need to know!" I said, my voice trembling. I knew I looked like a wreck, my hair a mess, my costume wrinkled and in such disarray. I must have sounded so unstable as I clutched her, a crazed shell of what I used to be.

"Know what?" she asked confused.

"You slept with him didn't you? You loved him!" I choked out as I tried to suppress a cry. "Oh God Raven tell me the truth. Tell me you didn't really do it."

"What do you wish to hear Robin? The truth- or what you know will be the most comforting; lies."

"I want to know the truth Raven. The Czar told me everything- but I can't believe it all until I hear it from your lips. Please tell me you didn't do it Raven." I pleaded.

"I shall tell you the truth Robin; I did. What he said was true." She said coldly looking away. She said exactly what I didn't want to hear. I told her I wanted the truth, when really on the inside all I wanted to listen to was what I wanted to really hear from her.

All of a sudden, I wanted the ignorance I had once had, where I knew nothing of Raven and nothing of her darkness. I knew then exactly why she kept us all away.

"How can you say it like that, how can you be that way about it all? How can you be so cold Raven?" I insisted to know as I finally let go of her and turned away. "I've tried so hard to be like you, to pretend that nothing's wrong, but I can't anymore." With that, I walked away from her bed and out of her room, my body slouched, and my once proud stature broken.

Outside of my room, I leaned against the wall, but found my body slumping to the ground. I sat there for countless minutes, my mind a mess. A jumble of chaos and disorder, spun from the new knowledge I had just confirmed was the truth. God why? Why did I have to know? I wished then that I could forget, forget it all.

But I couldn't, nothing could take away the knowledge I had learned, and nothing could stop the ever-present pain and despair I felt at that moment. My body broken, I slumped there on the floor gasping for air. I would never cry again, never again, I promised myself as I sat there.

Before long, the night itself escaped me, and passed me by, yet not once did I shut or close my eyes. I went without sleep that night, and watched as the light of dawn lit the hallway I sat in.

I couldn't help but think to myself that the sun would burn my skin, because the darkness within me. It didn't however, and I only sat in misery as its beams shown down upon me.

I had been foolish, to think that I could have heard anything like resounding emotion of pity from Raven, I had been foolish to think she would even tell me what was not true. To her honesty was important, as it was with me. But I had wanted so badly for her to lie to me.

I struggled to get up from the floor, my limbs weak and tired. Only when I closed my eyes finally was I able to muster the strength I needed to get up, open my door and go inside my room. There I changed into a different costume, washed, fixed my messed up hair, and tried to paint the illusion that I was perfectly fine. I carefully wove myself a Facade of my old self, and wore it to no fault.

I thought that if I pretended to act like I had once been, then everything would be fine. Perhaps If I painted the illusion and impression I was exactly the way I used to be, then I myself would go back to who I used to be. Perhaps I could even forget the knowledge I had learned….

But what could make a man forget what had scarred his eyes? What could make a man forget what had made him sick inside? The sun may make the daylight sky bright and cheery, but the sky never forgets the darkness it once was when it was void of the sun. And just as this also was true, I knew that I could never forget what I had learned. I could never cease to remember all of what I had been told.

And somehow, amongst all of this, my mind stopped, and I remembered the story Alfred had used to tell me about- That of Adam and Eve. With a startling realization, I grasped the fact that what had happened over those past weeks was exactly like what had happened to Adam. Such a similarity scared me, but I let my mind explore the idea more.

Was I really Adam- the man who had disobeyed God? Had I plucked from the tree of knowledge something I could have done without, an apple that awoke me to what I really felt inside? The snake the Czar tempted me, and I plucked from the tree, ignorant and naive of what I would soon learn. My declaration to Starfire that I didn't love her anymore was like that of when Adam realized he was naked in the garden of Eden- the realization resounding. But yet, StarFire was Eden- and I was cast out like Adam. Adam was once happy there, as I was once happy with Starfire.

Soon I understood that I was once pure like Adam, yet was no longer because of the knowledge I learned. Just like Adam, I was no longer sinless.

Shaking off my thoughts, I turned and left my room, trying to leave the truth there as well. My footsteps echoed throughout the hallway, as I made my way to the Titans main living room, and from there to the Kitchen. Beast boy and Cyborg were both playing video games as usual, while Raven sat on the far end of the couch reading a dark covered horror novel. 'Almost as if nothing had happened…' I thought to myself angrily as I reached into the fridge and took out the orange juice. I poured myself a glass and gulped the whole thing down quickly.

StarFire seemed to be missing from the room, which was odd considering the fact she was always usually the one up first. But then again, she probably was in her room still, crushed by our break up. It was sad to think I, of all the Titans had broken her heart. I shot a glance over at Raven, livid in nature and annoyed. She acted like all that had happened was nothing, which infuriated me even more. 'So nothing's happened eh? Well two can play that game…' I promised myself as I turned away and walked off towards my room. I thought then and there I could pretend nothing had occurred at all, but I knew on the inside I couldn't really stop the way I myself, had changed.

In my room, I looked upon my own reflection in the mirror, and was disgusted at what I saw; a hieratic, and a liar. So confident in his own skin, my reflection smirked, smug and arrogant. My costume, so outdated, was a mess of all colors, red, yellow, green, and black. What had I been thinking? I wondered, as I dove into my closet. I pulled out an extra costume, and sat it on my table next to other extra pieces of fabric.

Hours passed by as I brooded in my room, drawing sketches and sketches on paper of something I knew all too well I shouldn't have created. But when the final touches where done, and I started to bring my sketch from paper to real life, I couldn't stop myself from finishing it. Finally, it was done.

I picked up my new costume, black and red, like that of a real robin. The suit wore the same, close fitting, but was made of black leather pants with red accents, and a red belt like my original. The shirt was black as well, but had triangular red shapes across the chest, and was connected to a red and black cape. When I at last put it on, the costume fit perfectly. Unlike my dull original, it wasn't the unnatural colors I had used to wear, and it fit my body, unlike my other, which had seemed so loose and oddly shaped. I kept my original mask with it, and turned from my mirror.

The new costume I wore seemed more like me, dark yet a portion of light trying to break free. It wasn't the hieratic trying to be what he wasn't; it finally showed who I really was and whom I had hid from the world for so long. I could do good, I could fight crime, but without the shame I had become accustomed to. I fought now against things that mirrored me, yet at the same time did not. They were made of all darkness, while I still fought inwardly against my own. By fighting now, hopefully I could win my battle and be at peace with myself.

Walking slowly to my window, I opened it and jumped out, using my graffling

hook to anchor myself to a building far away. I would fight like this during the night for days before I finally stopped, though then it seemed like I would forever. My resolve at that time was to do the unthinkable, cleanse my soul….

In the underground sewer system of the city, most of the crime bosses had unique out coves, which I had discovered with my frequent nights out in the city alone. I found surprisingly, that being alone in the city wasn't as bad as I had thought it once could have been; in fact it was somewhat enjoyable. Being unknown in my new suit, the crooks and the villains didn't expect anything from me, yet didn't laugh when they saw my ominous shape.

Soon a name was made for me; NightWing. But unlike what Star had described me as when she had gone into the future, I wore a creation of reds and blacks, like my former name had described. Just like the Robin of present day.

The other Titans never suspected anything, because during the day I was the same old Robin, clad in my 'oh so familiar' green red and yellow suit. I was only my true self during the nights, when I fought for my own soul, and for justice for others.

One night however, just as I was finishing up with yet another robbery in the forth sector, this new reality I had created was shattered. But, not in the way some might have expected. No, it was crushed by an event even I could not have foreseen.

That Night, the air was damp and heavy, the summer breeze almost non-existent. The City buzzed with its usual nighttime activity, clubs filled to the brim with partygoers, and the bars in full swing. And as the hour struck midnight, I looked up from the crook I had just beaten to a pulp, to the crescent moon; bright and shining, That Night to me, it seemed unusually bright.

Dropping the unconscious burglar outside the police station, I walked slowly home, an air of unease present within me. Consciously, I counted the sectors of the city I had covered, and decided it was time to turn in for the night. But was I missing something? Had I forgotten something? My mind searched for answers, yet I had none explaining my restlessness.

Finally when I got back to the Tower, I relaxed. Walking through the living room I realized that there was nothing to worry about. I took cold pizza out of the fridge and bit into it, my stomach grumbling. No matter how I had changed, pizza still comforted me.

"Where have you been Robin," I heard a voice behind me demand. I cringed as I recognized it, my body shivering. She still brought shivers down my spine.

"It's none of your concern." I spat out, emotionless, as I turned to see her shape in the darkness. The light emitting from the kitchen only gave me a clue as to who she was; Raven. Yet somehow it lit only her most stunning features; her eyes, her face, her lips, and some of the beautiful curves to her body. Inwardly I was drowning in lust; outwardly I was firmly ignoring her.

"It is my concern when you go out every night at eight and don't come home until four in the morning." She said angrily.

"Well then- I'm home early today. It's midnight. Happy mom?" I said narrowing my eyes. Even with the lust and love I felt for her, I became angry at the fact she was pretending she cared. "Why do you even care?" Silence was my answer.

"What's with the costume?" She asked finally after a minute.

Suddenly, I raised an eyebrow. She changed the subject. That never happened before in the history of Raven. Did she feel uncomfortable that I pointed out she cared? Was that fact alone enough for her to change the subject? Still Mystified, I walked towards her. "It's really none of your business." I said in her face, pretending to still be angry. My fascination at her concern drowned out my anger.

"I think it is." She said taking a step even closer to me. Rapidly, I came to the realization we were but only two feet away from each other; almost too close for my own comfort. I felt her breath brush my face.

"Well I don't." I said trying to recover my composure. Desire and Lust almost drowned out my logic, as I looked down at Ravens legs and curved and toned body. Her skintight leotard only increased my thoughts.

"How is it that you think no one knows what you're doing at Night Robin? I know you too well." Raven argued intensely. Suddenly I felt a heat rise up in me.

"No Raven." I said stopping her. "You don't know me well at all. You don't even know me." I said walking away from her to my room. Inwardly, my emotions were surging, and my body was going out of control. So badly I had wanted to just take her then and kiss her, touch her, taste her, but I couldn't. That time I had fought off temptation, but who was to say I could fight off my urges again?

Raven had discovered my secret, yet at that time that fact didn't even bother me. All I could think about was how close I had been to plucking the apple from the tree of desire, and tasting what I knew to be forbidden. Her body, and her image filled my mind that night, as I fought the irresistible urge I felt to go back, find her and taste what my body demanded.

I wanted what I could not have. I wanted the fruit of desire that grew on the tree in the far end of the garden, strictly off limits. It's red outside, so glossy and gleaming, glinted in the dark from the light of the moon. Its luscious inside, I imagined, would taste so fine. Sweet and sugary, sickly and engaging. It was just the thought of what I could not have, that made me want it so. It was just the thought of what I could not have, that made me ache to taste it.

I wanted Raven; I needed her, yet I fought my urge to take a simple taste.

Only the Lord knew how long it would be until I could resist no longer, and would have to give in to the urge to pluck the fruit of desire….

Author's Note:

Chapter 4 is finally up, no thanks to the evil thunderstorms that passed through my neighborhood only an hour ago. :shakes fist at the sky: Usually I love the rain, but when it prohibits me from posting chapters I get a tad irked. Hopefully, I can get Chapter 5 up in a couple of days after extreme changes are made and proof reading is done.

The Following is three responses to some interesting reviews I received:

AinoMinako; Really my friend you weren't supposed to actually GO streaking. :sighs: Your poor neighbors. Please send my apologizes to all of them.

blaze-firestorm; Robin may seem out of character when he yells at the Czar, because you have to take into account how truly sick the man is. I mean really, am I the only one who wants to kill that guy:shocked: Wow, that's really deep considering the fact he's my own made up character. Again with Robin, you also have to take into account the weeks and months he has endured with his sick Raven dreams. The guy's on the edge.

StrawBerryGashes/(Kat); Thanks for the reviews; I'm glad to hear from you! I haven't talked to you in so long, it took me awhile to recover from the shock. How are things going girl? E-mail me some time so we can talk, I lymtc.

Special Note: (It's sad, but I laughed out loud again today when I typed in "Special" and the computer entered in "Special Delivery". I really get laughs out of the most juvenile things.) The next chapter is called "To Taste It's Luscious Inside". Reviews are still very welcomed, and questions can be answered if you desire.

Ultra Special Note: I'm currently obsessed with "Age Of Empire's II", and "Conquers Expansion", to the point that last night I woke up at like 2:00 A.M. and played for an hour. :Looks around suspiciously: Don't become like me! Never play that game! It's evil and additive, like chocolate. Speaking of Chocolate, go eat some. It's good for the soul.

A now a word from our sponsors, "Monty Python and The Quest for The Holly Grail";

"Sir Bedevere: ...and that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana shaped.
King Arthur: This new learning amazes me, Sir Bedevere. Explain again how sheep's bladders may be employed to prevent earthquakes. "

REVIEW!

:Now Stopping myself from stalling any longer with my pathetic special notes:
I'll see you in the Ninth Level of Hell,
-BitterSweetArtist14-