Hi people thanks for the review. So anyway here's the newest chapter.

Disclaimer: Still don't own them.

On with the show...

Thoughts of Love
Torment

March 18th, 2003


It was in the papers for days. The name Slade had been written on a wall in a dark alley. The words had been spelled out in blood. Robin hasn't come out of his room since. He's locked himself in his room, trying to find that maniac. Starfire has tried many times and so has Cyborg and Beast Boy to talk him out of there. I guess that leaves me, but I don't think I can. I think that if I try I might end up spilling out my heart to him. And that can only lead to a disaster. What am I thinking? I have to try. He means so much to me, and he could be in a lot of pain. I have to try and reach out to him in any way I can.

FLASHBACK
Raven's door swished behind her as she walked across the hall to Robin's room. She took a deep breath. This could be the team's last hope to bring out their leader; she had to make this one count. Her knock resounded throughout Robin's room. There was a pause, and just as Raven turned to leave she heard a rustling from the other side.

"What?" Robin's voice was harsh, reflecting his exhaustion. He was so sick of Starfire trying to talk to him. How could she possibly know how he felt when she only looked at the happy side of life?

"Robin, it's Raven," she started.

Robin's gazed shifted from his ceiling to the door. "What do you want? Don't tell me you want me to come out too," his voice softening.

"No, I just want to talk. Please Robin just let me in," Raven answered her voice pleading with him. Nothing happened for a minute, but the door slid open just as she was about to give up. Robin stood in the doorway, looking miserable. He held out his hand signaling her to come in.

His room was surpassingly dark. Books and Newspapers were scattered everywhere along with miscellaneous clothing items. "Sit," Robin ordered.

"Thanks," she said a hint of sarcasm in her voice as she pushed aside the litter on his bed. She looked at him next to her on the bed, studying his mood. After a moment of silence she began once more, "Are you okay, Robin?"

"My worst enemy has all of sudden popped up out of nowhere, and the city is once again thrown into a desperate situation. What do you think?" Robin returned, a bite in his tone.

"I don't know what I think," Raven answered honestly as she laid back on Robin's bed, "but I know everyone's worried about you, and everyone misses you."

"Even you, the dark loner of the team?" Robin questioned as he laid beside her.

"Certain events have made it impossible for me to be as dark as I once was." Raven answered, choosing her words carefully, "Know that I have a reason for caring about you Robin...Star is-"

"I'm so sick of Starfire being hysterical over me," Robin interrupted as he jumped to his feet.

"Well, what do you expect? She's your girlfriend," Raven said, keeping the bitterness out of her voice.

His face soften again, shame etching in his features, "Yeah I know," he answered, his voice full of resentment, "But now that Slade is back I don't really have time for a girlfriend."

A silence arose between the two Titans. "Maybe I was never actually dark," Raven began as if she never heard Robin. Robin turned back to face the girl still sitting on his bed, "Maybe the loner that you and the rest of the team knew was just a facade. Just a mask, like the one you wear. And maybe for once in my life I've finally taken mine off, or at least I'm beginning to," Raven said, stepping towards the doorway. She turned to Robin and gave him one of her rare smile; once again the image of the glowing Raven from weeks ago swarmed in Robin's mind. Even after Raven had left the room, the image still lingered with him. And For the first time in what seemed like months, Robin slept peacefully.

END FLASHBACK

March 31st, 2003

Robin, why do you torment me like you do? Every day you manage to make my life just a little more complicated. On the rare occasions that you leave your room, the only one you ever pay attention to is me. You totally ignore everyone else. You haven't talked to Starfire in weeks, not even one word. I know because she told me. It was late, she came to my room crying; that was a painful discussion. Almost as painful as when she asked me to explain the mating rituals of Earthlings. It was hard for me to look her in eye, knowing that you only looked to me for comfort. She said she felt like she was losing you. I feel so horrible, like I betrayed her. I guess I am a worse friend than I thought. She would hate me if I told her how I felt about Robin. I think she is losing him. And I think she knows it too. It's ironic. For weeks I've wanted them to break up, but now that it's happening I wish I could help them stay together. I'm still worried about him. Even though he comes out of his room every once in a while he still locks himself away for days at a time. I haven't really spoken to him since that night. I have a feeling him and Star are going to have a fight. Now the question in my mind is: Should I be happy about it or not?

During that time, before Raven talked to him, was the darkest he had ever felt. He was helpless and alone. Raven brought him back to reality. Ironically, she was his release to the darkness, but he still drowned himself in work. Leaving no time for anyone else. He had known Star was there, waiting for him, but he hadn't cared. He'd no longer wished to be her boyfriend, but he hadn't had the guts to tell her for the longest time.

April 15th, 2003

It happened. Everyone thought they would be together forever, but everyone was wrong. They broke up. Starfire's grief over Robin's seclusion turned into anger, and they had a big fight. I know because they had it in Robin's room, across from mine. I could hear Starfire yelling through half of the night. It was horrible, and now I'm at a loss. I still don't know what to do. Finally Robin has decided to lighten up on the Slade search, but now that he and Star have broken up he has no one to turn to. Would it be wrong of me to reach out to him, just a couple of days after they broke up? The team is suffering for their break up; we've have become divided. Starfire is always clinging to Beast Boy and Cyborg. So Robin's two best friends are never there for him, and he looks so miserable and alone. Maybe I should talk to him. It wasn't so bad last time, right?

FLASHBACK

Robin sat on the couch staring mindlessly at the TV, not really aware of the cartoon monkey swinging from branch to branch. The others had left for the mall hours ago, but he didn't care. He was alone, and he could except that. Hanging his head in self denial, he fell into a small hole of self pity. Things would never be the same between Starfire and him, and he knew that. Their friendship would never go back to the way it was, and he didn't care at the moment.

Raven walked into the living room reading a book pressed to her nose as usual. Robin tried to resist, but his eye were drawn to the her like a magnet. Her beautiful violet eyes were delicately scanning the contents of the page.

Her book snapped shut, and she glared at Robin. He immediately averted his eyes, but it was obvious that he had been caught. Robin braced himself to be hit or told off or something. "Once," Raven began, "you told me that if I ever needed to I could talk to you.

"Yeah I remember that," Robin said, his first hint of a smile in days flashing across his face.

"Well, I just want to let you know that the same is true for you. If you ever need to talk, you know where my room is," Raven said as she left the room.

Robin sat there stunned for a brief moment before a small smile slowly crossed his lips. He stood and made his way to Raven's room very slowly. He knocked softly and said, "Hey Raven can we talked?"

"Sure, the door's open," he heard from inside the room. He stepped in as Raven stepped out of her closet. She sat on her bed and gestured for him to join her. "So what did you want to talk about?"

"I don't know. I guess everything," Robin answered and Raven rolled her eyes.

"Have you spoken to Starfire since you broke up?" Raven started hesitantly.

"No, not really, but I never expected things to be just go back to normal between us soon anyway. I mean we didn't have the best break up," Robin responded.

"Why did you guys break up anyway?" Raven asked.

Robin paused for a moment, thinking over his words carefully before answering, "She said that I wasn't paying much attention to her, that I cared about my work more than her and the team."

"And what about you? Why did you end it? Why didn't you fight for her?" Raven questioned further. She wanted him to open up to her, while he still felt able.

"Honestly I don't think I ever really felt anything other than affection for Star. There's been no love in our words in the last few weeks. Lately I just couldn't feel anything for her, even when I tried. I mean our first kiss was amazing, it was after all my first kiss, but after that I don't. The magic just faded," he was getting frustrated with himself again.

"Starfire was the first girl you kiss?" Raven questioned trying to hide a smile.

"Yeah, but that's not the point. Why are you smiling? No wait you're laughing. What's so funny?" Raven had been caught, chuckling to herself, "So I've only kissed one girl. How many guys have you kissed?" that question shut Raven up fast. So fast that Robin started laughing, "You mean you've never kissed anyone."

But Raven didn't laugh, or smile, her face stayed hard, almost angry. "My history with guys has never been the best. My father didn't even love me. In all honesty, the Titans are the only family I've ever had. Kind of sad isn't it," she whispered.

"Not really. I told you that night after our mind meld that I wanted understanding," Robin started. Raven looked up at him, as he took her hand in his, "Do you think you can give me that?"

"I can only give you friendship, Robin. Do you understand that?" Raven asked, taking her hand out of his.

"I wouldn't expect anything more," Robin answered.

"Than I'll give you understanding," Raven returned.

Author's notes: I hope you liked the chapter. Blah blah blah blah blah. Review and I might just update.