A/N: Things won't go that well, since I'm quite frustrated now, and strangely inspired to write. Weird combination to feel, eh? Sue me.

Then again, you probably would, if I didn't write my disclaimer. I don't own Teen Titans. There you go.

Bear with me, as this is about to come to an end, on my numerous clichés. They're inevitable when Rave is concerned XD

BTW, the chappie's title came from Linkin Park's new album. Yay, they all meet up now! XD

Chapter Seven—Collision Course

"W-Where are we?" Beastboy asked as he rubbed his swollen head. He carefully shifted in a sitting position, against a wall.

Starfire, who was awake moments before, answered. "I do not specifically know. But I suspect we are in an uninhabited ancient room, considering," She pointed to the dust that hang around pretty much everything.

At close examination, B.B realized that she spoke true. It looked like a really old bedroom, with a bed that was stripped of its mattress and now lay with cobwebs. There wasn't much furniture around either. There was only that and a wooden closet not five feet from him, and there was a window shielded with hard metal bars on the left, where Cyborg gazed outside.

"Ack—my head hurts horribly." And it was true, his head was throbbing painfully. "Where in the world are we?"

"According to my observations, we should be along the south, near Titan Tower, seeing as it's snowing. No wonder, either. It's Yuletide season. Not even New Year yet. And considering," he pointed at a clock, that was miraculously still working at the top of a wall, "It's 1:00 p.m. here, and at my watch, it's only noon, we must be around an hour away."

"Well, yeah, but why are we here?"

"That remains oblivious to us. All I remember are black-clad men, who" Star shuddered at the word, "attacked."

Cy's memory went further, and was more vivid. He remembered many, so many of them. They immediately tacked him to the floor. But he remembered…what was said. They were talking about him… "Robin."

"Huh?"

Cyborg's tone was flat. "They were looking for Robin."

Starfire blinked. "But Robin is not among us."

Cyborg sighed. "They probably didn't know he left…but why would are they looking for him?"

"Maybe he's in some kind of mess." Beastboy replied. " I think he went looking for Rave…"

"You think." Cyborg said curtly.

Starfire sighed. "Either way, somehow, we are doomed here. The door is jammed. "

"Either its stuck, or it opens from the outside."

The trio sat in silence.

Then, a heavy rattling caught their attention. The heavy-metal-resistent-to-their-powers shook loudly, as if someone was forcing it open…

"Dammit!" Beastboy's eyes widened as an unfamiliar voice swear from behind the door. He charged to the door and yelled.

"Is someone there!"

The rattling stopped. "W-Who's that!"

Beastboy's face broke into their grin. Wheover kidnapped them was certainly not the one behind the door, seeing as he didn't know them.

"Beastboy here. Some guy kidnapped us from our home."

"Wait a moment…Okay, are there other people inside there?"

"Yes, my friends, Cyborg and Starfire."

"Alright. Pull the door while I push, okay?"

"OK."

"1…2…3…pull!" The voice from the ther side yelled, and Beastboy pulled as hard as he could.

Starfire and Cyborg joined him and pulled. With the force of everything they got, the door gave in, the metal bent and Cyborg threw it beside.

They were greeted by a beaming face, a man in a police-like uniform.

"Ahluind Special Emergency Squad" He introduced himself. He glanced at the changeling. "You must be Beastboy."

The changeling grinned. "Yep…"

"Then, the three of you, follow us. We will bring you to the emergency guest rooms at the palace. You may rest there until further questioning." He nodded. "Do any of you know who the kidnappers were?"

Cyborg blinked. Castle…?

"Nah, we didn't see anything but men in all black."

The man nodded. "OK. Follow me." And they moved out, heading to where the rest of the Teen Titans were.

OOO

Raven finished the lasts of her chocolate pudding dessert. For the second time on the length of her lunch, the double doors burst open and a messenger came in.

"Princess, the Squad has come, recovering three hostages. Unfortunately, any members of Exe were absent and had left before for an anonymous time." He announced, his voice filling 'til the edges of the room.

As always, Nairu spoke for her. "Bring them in as soon as Her Majesty finishes her meal, or," She glanced at Raven's empty plate to hers, where few bits of food remained. "Until I finish mine. Otherwise, we'll call you."

The messenger bowed and left.

Nairu glanced at Raven. "Three hostages, huh?"

Raven's face was masked, unreadable. "Maybe they have a clue…or not…"

But before Nairu could reply, the doors opened, again, and let in another presence. The same messenger a while ago bowed and started his speech.

"Princess Raven. Not ten minutes ago, an anonymous figure faxed us a message. Unfortunately, we cannot detect him since he uses the email-fax system, and he erased his tracks. I think you should read this." He walked on, letting out a hand where a rolled fax paper was clutched.

Nairu took it. "You may leave."

The messenger nodded as Nairu unrolled the paper.

Her eyes narrowed and she showed it to Raven.

Raven didn't show a hint of anything in her face, but her voice was low and dangerous. "Looks like they're coming out of the dark. Traitor…"

"I should've known…he was always suspiscious! And not to mention he actually headed the guard in search of Exe. No wonder we were always led to dead ends!"

There it said: Ah, Your Highness, is it? Meet Exe at the city square, midnight. I think we have something you may want. –Seki"

Raven scoffed. "Maybe it's a bluff…"

OOO

Robin sighed. He missed them all.

Beastboy and his glee and easy laughter, Cyborg with his fights with B.B and the noise that seemed missing, Starfire and her naïve ways. And most of all, Raven and he quiet, yet dark aura.

He always believed there was more to Raven than she let on. And now, he found, of all the things, he missed her the most.

Life seemed depressing, and no one was there—well, maybe except Ralph, but he had only known the guy for a couple of hours. He wished Raven was here…then maybe, he could find answers to all the questions he wanted to ask.

Like why did she leave? And maybe to settle the tight knots than formed in his stomach and the confusing emotions he felt whenever he worried about her.

A knock broke into his thoughts. Ralph's voice came through.

"Yo, Robin! You finished?"

He glanced at his luggage bag, which lay open and empty, the contents now filled in the closet. Well actually, it didn't even fill the whole closet, much less three of them. He suddenly felt extravagance-conscious, but this feeling disappeared as soon as it had come.

"Yes."

"Then, come on! I'm so hungry I could devour a whole pig!"

Robin's stomach grumbled. He flushed. Guess he was hungry as well. "Alright, alright."

He opened the door and together with Ralph, descended to the first floor where Raven and Nairu ate.

OOO

"Maybe."

"But no…he couldn't possibly be…he heads the team which was supposed to find Exe. They must be faking it."

It all dawned to Nairu now. No wonder things have been going strangely… "But all those misleadings! Don't you get it Rave!"

"NO! He wouldn't…" Raven whispered defensively, her voice weak.

"Don't be stupid. It all fits the puzzle…that's why he left…but…"

"traitor…" Raven glared. No matter, Seki wasn't really close to her.

"Why? Why'd he leave now? What good would it be to him?"

Raven blinked a second before crying out, "Robin!"

At the same moment, the call of his name brought the Titans Leader faster down the stairs, and the doors opened.

Robin came in, surprised to hear his name. But even more surprised when he saw who was sitting at the head of the table. The pale eyes scanned him before turning away, sharply, to Ralph.

"Wha…?" Nairu looked at him, confused. "Robin? Is that you?"

Robin flushed. "Well…yeah…"

He warmed as a hand slipped around his shoulder and Ralph went to one of his speeches. "Yo, Nairu! Guess who I met at the train? Him! Robin! Si't okay if he stays here for a while? At excess bedroom upstairs."

"R-Robin." Raven called. "What are you doing here?"

Thankfully, Ralph answered for the speechless Robin. "To find someone, I think. Isn't that right?"

Robin snapped out of his shock and carefully walked away from Ralph to Raven. "T-To find you! But what are you doing in the palace?"

Ralph quickly intervened, seeing the princess at some kind of distress, walked over and sat opposite of Nairu. "Ah, I see that you two know each other. I was looking forward to introducing you to the princess, but oh well…"

Raven quickly bowed her head quickly, hiding the blood that rushed to her face. "Well…I…I was going to tell you guys sometime…"

Robin narrowed his eyes. "Oh, is that right? I bet you weren't even planning to come back!"

"That isn't true!" Raven shot at him.

"I suppose you just got sick of us, right? That must be all there is to it. And you ran away."

"No, no! I…I…" Raven whispered, "…missed you…"

Robin warmed at the voice, but the anger was still there. "But why!"

I just didn't want to put any of you in harm's way!"

Nairu rolled her eyes. "Isn't that a little late already? You already gave it to him."

Robin blinked, confusion overwhelming him. "Gave what?"

"What else? Her life."

Robin could almost choke. "H-Her life? What?"

Ralph seemed bewildered as well. "The princess' life? How…"

Nairu soon realized how strange that sounded and added, "Well, at least part of her soul. In the pendant."

Ralph's eyes widened and darted to Raven. "You gave it to him?"

A small nod confirmed the statement. Robin blinked again. A pendant…His hand reached around his neck, at the silver chain that hung around there and the crescent moon underneath his shirt. Soul…? "What life?"

Nairu shook her head. "Long story. To cut it short, Raven's half-soul is sealed inside that pendant, called Ethrium, that she entrusted to you. Some guys are after it."

Instead of a gratitude, Robin glared at Raven. "You gave me your soul! Why did you! Especially since I didn't even know about it! What would've happened if I lost it? Or crush it! Then you could've died—"

"It's nothing, really." Raven interrupted coolly.

"Nothing? Nothing? That's what it meant to you? Your life mean nothing?"

"No, I don't mean that. I meant that…I don't mind…" Raven paused.

Huh, Robin thought.

"…I don't mind entrusting my life to you."

Authoress' notes: Ultra short chapter! And a cliffie! Author/ess loves cliffies! Readers don't… but anyways, isn't Robin so…dense at the last part! Some fluff, finally!

I haven't done personal author responses for the while, but I want this up as soon as possible, so maybe next chapter. Don't depend on it, though. But many quick thanks to:

Strixvaria, Raven of The night 676, fallen-dreamz, Elven Ones and The Wings of a Raven.

I really appreciate your reviews, and they help me live by! You have no idea how much they mean to me!

Quick update, eh? Aside from being short, I also had this chapter up because I don't think I can update until after next week, because my final exams are coming, and so is—lo and behold—my graduation day! Please review!