xXxXxXx Robin sped through the streets once again on his r-cycle, Raven grasping lightly onto his waist. She leaned in to his ear, hoping that he could hear her through the gears of the motorcycle.
"Robin.." She asked slowly.
He kept his eyes on the road but responded with, "Yeah?"
Raven sighed then went on with, "How are we going to break this to the team?"
The boy wonder responded with a slight shrug of his shoulders. His eyes closed for a split second, imagining everyone's faces in shock and maybe even horror. The huge tower was visable in the distance as they swirved around a curve in the road. The stars were just starting to twinkle into the sky and the tower was mimicking them with it's bright yellow glow.
The R-cycle pulled almost silently into the garage and Robin pulled off his helmet. He looked around for a sign of anyone else and noticed the t-car still wasn't parked. Raven removed her own helmet and climbed off the cycle.
"Where is everyone?" Robin muttered, walking towards the stairs.
Raven followed soon behind, a slight shrug coming off her shoulders. "Probably still out on the town or something..."
The pair walked into the tower and through the two sliding doors that lead to the main room. Raven furrowed her eyebrows as she saw a green hand fly out of view on the couch. Robin didn't seem to notice though, he went over into the kitchen to make a mug of coffee. He offered Raven some tea and she almost eagerly accepted.
Walking over to the couch, she wondered what in the world Beast Boy could be doing now...His head popped up before Raven even managed to reach the couch, his hair a mess and a sly grin on his face.
"Umm...Hi Raven...Where have you been?" He asked, his eyes darting in her direction.
She glared at him questioningly. "Robin and I just went out for a bit...I could ask you the same question..."
Smoothing back his green locks he responded with, "Oh, Star and I just went out for a little snack. Just a salad and some pie...You know..."
Raven began to walk more towards the couch to watch a little mind numbing television when Beast Boy started talking again as if to stop her.
"Uhh...Sorry, I was sleeping on the couch as a dog, got hair all over it...You wouldn't want to sit down..." He swallowed lightly, trying to hide it, but Raven caught it and hardened her glare.
"What are you hiding?" The telepath asked, walking closer.
At this time, Robin appeared, holding two mugs in his hands. He raised a masked eyebrow at Raven and Beast Boy.
"Wha'd I miss?" He asked.
Raven didn't turn around to look at him and kept walking. "Beast Boy's hiding something...Probably destroyed something of Cyborg's again and thinks he can fix it before he gets home..."
Beast Boy's eyes widened and he sunk further into the couch. A slight meep was heard, but not from him and Raven blinked slowly. "Uhh...I have...Silkie...here...?" He offered.
But before he could offer anymore lame excuses, Raven peered over the couch but quickly snapped back, a grimace on her face. Starfire was trying to squeeze herself against the couch in hiding from Robin. Raven haden't even wanted to know where her shirt had gone to...but that was answered when she felt her foot step onto the purple material that had been discarded long ago.
Robin, still clueless as to what was going on, handed Raven her mug and took a swing of coffee. "Whatever it was Beast Boy, I'm sure Cyborg won't kill you for it..."
Raven turned to face Robin. "Umm...Let's just go train or something..." She said slowly.
The boy wonder shrugged and followed Raven out of the room. Starfire popped her head up to look at Beast Boy, a questioning look on her face.
"Please Beast Boy, I do not wish to hide from our friends any longer. Perhaps they would be understanding if we just told them?" Star said, tilting her head.
Beast Boy let out a long sigh and rested his chin on the sofa's back. This wasn't what he wanted, no, not at all. He was using Starfire to try and make Raven jealous, but he had a feeling it wasn't working the slightest bit...
xXxXxXxXx
Raven crossed her legs into her lotus postion and let out a deep sigh. Robin sat next to her on the roof, his feet dangling over the side of the tower. The stars were full out in the sky now, shining down along with the moon on everything below. Robin looked up at Raven, the moonlight casting a graceful shine against her nearly grey skin.
"Raven, are you alright?" He asked, peering at her.
She furrowed her eyebrows and looked over at him. "Fine as I can be...Why do you ask?"
Robin shrugged. "I just want you to be in alright mood...Because, as soon as Cyborg gets in, we're going to tell the team..."
Her eyes closed for second and she bowed her head slightly. "But, can't we tell them tomorrow...It's getting pretty late..."
"The longer we delay this, the harder it's going to be..." He said, standing up.
She put a delicate hand on his wrist, keeping him in place. "You're right...But...I have to prepare myself for this...Besides, are they really going to believe that you're the father?"
Robin let a mysterious smile creep up on his face. "They'll believe us...We're good at keeping secrets, aren't we? I think the team knows that...For all they know, we've been dating since the team started."
Raven's eyes widened slightly and a rock below cracked, the sound mixing in with the crashing of the waves. Her hand slipped off his wrist as she responded, "We'll tell them tomorrow, I promise..."
As Robin walked away and back into the tower Raven felt something that she haden't felt all day, Alone. The wind brushed past her, making it's prescence known by blowing her hair in all diffrent directions. She frowned slightly. She hated feeling alone, especially with the situation she was in now. It was so dark, she felt as if Slade would seep from this darkness again and take her away.
She stood up briskly and went back into the tower. She wouldn't sleep for the third night that week, she knew. Once she entered the main room, she found that Beast Boy and Starfire had already went and gone. Still no sign of Cyborg coming in. Her steps were careful and slow as everything was pitch black. The television wasn't on as usual, no popcorn scattered around the floor, no smell of old pizza. Just darkness and nothing more.
'I shouldn't be afraid of just some darkness...it's what I stand for...' She told herself. But for some reason, every horrible thought creeped into her mind at this moment. The darkness wasn't helping the images of Slade chuckling above her, telling her that she would murder everyone close to her, that she would be forever alone.
Figuring she just needed to sleep, she left the main room without making herself another mug of tea as she had intended. All that was heard down the hall was her own breathing and footsteps. The moonlight outside was the only lighting for the hall. Finally, she reached her room and punched in the code. The door slid closed behind her and her eyes shut slowly.
'It's always the quite ones, isn't it?' The voice echoed in her head.
Her eyes shot open and she slipped into bed, staring up at the celing. 'Sleep.' She told herself, but found her eyes wouldn't close. It had been this way since Slade had come back. Raven began to fear that she would never sleep again. Always afraid of the dark, always running and always scared somewhere inside herself, always...alone.
xXxXxXxXx
It was one in the morning and Robin still wasn't asleep. He was used to it by now though. These sleepless nights, obsessing over how and why Slade had come back. But now, he feared he would never sleep again. He kept thinking his same old thoughts with new, troubling ones added in the mix. He was thinking thoughts both good and bad, more bad than good of course. His mind suddenly flashed to Raven, her small smile in the elevator earlier. For some reason, that vision relaxed him and sunk deep into his pillow.
Suddenly, a small knock came at Robin's door. He raised an eyebrow and grabbed his mask from the night stand, placing it back on his face. Within moments, he was at the door, expecting it to be Raven seeing if he was still awake. He really wouldn't have minded that actually. But instead, it was Starfire. Her eyes looking worn and slightly red.
"Uhh...Starfire?" Robin questioned.
The Tameranean looked away for a second and then back at Robin. "Robin...I have been meaning to speak to you about something..."
He furrowed his eyebrows and stepped aside. "Okay...Come on in..."
Starfire walked in slowly, the door shutting behind her. Her heart was racing with every movement. She turned to face him again, a slight sigh escaping her. Robin tilted his head slightly, trying to read her.
"Robin...I...I am beginning to..." She walked closer towards him, placing a delicate hand on his shoulder.
"Starfire...Are you okay?" He asked, thinking that something had happened.
All she did wasn nod slightly and stare at him. A deep silence fell between them and suddenly Star began to lean foward. Robin gasped, realizing what was happening as Starfire had her mouth an inch from his. He jumped back, his masked eyes wide with shock.
"S-Star! What are you doing?" He stuttered out in surprise.
Starfire furrowed her eyebrows in pain, "But Robin, you do not feel the love for me as I do you?"
The boy wonder swallowed. Hard. When he didn't say anything for what felt like an hour, Starfire flew out of the room at light speed, the tears streaming down her face. Robin stood, motionless, unable to even comprehend what had just happened.
xXxXxXxXx
Early next morning, Raven was in the kitchen making herself some tea as usual. She sighed deeply, closing her eyes and waiting for the pot to boil. Beast Boy walked into the kitchen, undetected by Raven and stood behind her.
"You alright?" He asked, tilting his head slightly and walking a bit closer to her.
She jumped slightly at his sudden appearence and nodded, keep her eyes closed and waiting for the tea kettle to whistle. Without warning, two green hands slid onto her hips and pulled her back lightly. Raven gasped, and her eyes shot open.
"What the hell are you doing?" Raven asked as his hands slid foward, going places they shouldn't.
He leaned into her ear, nipping at it slightly. "You know you want me..."
Raven's breath picked up, her heart racing and pounding in her head. All she was reminded of was Slade touching her exactly like this, his voice smooth as silk going into her ear.
"No!" Raven shouted, black magic flying from her hands as the tea kettle finally gave it's whistle of defeat.
Beast Boy was thrown backwards by Raven's power blast and gasped, nearly flipping over the counter. Raven turned around, her eyes almost full with tears, but mostly anger. She walked towards him and gave a defining slap to his left cheek, causing his head to snap to the right. Before he could turn his head back to say a word, she had already teleported out of the room, leaving her tea behind.
xXxXxXxXx
Robin groaned as someone nearly pounded on the door. He stood up and opened it to see a very distressed Raven. He pulled her inside gently and locked the door tight behind them.
"Raven...What's wrong?" He asked, peering at her, concern filling his thoughts.
She looked up at him and wiped the few tears from her eyes. "I'm sorry...It's just...Beast Boy...he tried to...he tried to touch me and I freaked out..."
Robin lead her over to the bed, the both of them taking a seat. Robin furrowed his masked eyebrows. "What do you mean he touched you?"
Raven's eyes widened and she looked away from Robin. "He put his hands on my hips and...started going to...well, you know..." She muttered, looking at her hands in her lap.
"What the..." Robin said in a slight whisper. What was going on with Starfire and Beast Boy? Before, Starfire only registered Robin as a friend and last night she had tried to kiss him. Beast Boy had sworn his disliking for Raven a while ago and now suddenly he was trying to feel her up. It was all to bizarre to him.
"I think we need a little time out of the house, what do you say?" Robin put on a charming smile and placed a hand on Raven's shoulder.
Her eyes widened slightly as she looked up at him. "Umm...Going out really isn't my thing..."
"It's poetry night over at the cafe on fith..."
"Count me in."
Raven smiled, although barely visable, Robin could see it. She slipped out of the room to get ready. Robin sighed and walked over to his closet, peering into it. He didn't have all that much street clothing. Shrugging, he pulled out an outfit he haden't worn in ages and went into the bathroom for a long shower.
xXxXxXxXx
When Raven slipped back into the main room, she found Starfire on the couch, watching some sappy romance movie and guzzling unhealthy sweets. Typical. The telepath went over to the kitchen, grabbing a cup of now chilled tea and warming it in the microwave. Wasn't as good as the fresh stuff, but it would suffice. Raven was surprised when Starfire didn't even turn around to give her a cheery good morning.
She leaned back on the counter, sighing deeply and looking down at her outfit. It wasn't much. Just a pair of tight fitting black jeans and a white t-shirt. She didn't exactly enjoy the white t-shirt, but it was the only clean shirt she had left beside her uniform. Raven walked over to the sink, washing her cup out and loading it into the dishwasher.
Robin walked out into the main room to recieve a cheery hello from Starfire. Raven raised an eyebrow but ignored it. But when her eyes rested on Robin, she nearly choked on a gasp. It wasn't much, but enough to make her jaw want to drop. He was in a pair of tight, light blue jeans that fit his figure perfectly. Some might say they were too tight, but Raven thought they were perfect. She couldn't see what his shirt looked like because he had on a black, leather jacket, zipped up to the rim.
He smiled lightly at her as she walked over to him. Starfire peered over the couch at the both of them.
"Friends, where are you headed?" She asked, tilting her head slightly.
Robin gave a slight shrug. "Ahh, we're just going to hang out at a cafe and then go around town for a bit. Nothing special. Tell the team we'll be back in a couple of hours..."
Starfire's face dropped slightly. "Oh...Have fun then..."
Without another word, the pair walked out of the tower. Robin opted to walk since the R-cycle was being 'impoved' by Beast Boy and Cyborg. He had hoped they weren't painting it pink or something bizzare. Finally, they reached the cafe on the corner of the street and walked in. There weren't very many people, but enough to make the place seem full. They took a seat towards the back and listened as people read their works aloud.
The hour of the poets went by and everyone gave a round of applause. Raven looked back over at Robin and sighed slightly, playing with a piece of a napkin.
"So...Now what?" She asked.
Robin shrugged. "Not sure. We could just walk around for a bit, see if we find anything intersting...I just don't feel like being in the tower right now..."
Raven gave a slight nod and they stood up, leaving the cafe to wander the streets. The sky was dark, the clouds blocking any view of the sun. They walked for a long while, reaching the outskirts of town where it was mostly factories and burnt down buildings. Rain began to fall in big, juicy drops, like someone had poured a bucket of water on the city from above. Robin and Raven groaned as the rain began to soak them.
"Great...Hair gel for nothing..." Robin muttered, shoving his hands in his pocket and walking back towards the city.
Raven rolled her eyes, a smirk playing at her lips. She crossed her arms over her chest, cursing herself for wearing white and vowing never to wear it again. Her hair was starting to stick to her face and the water was slipping off the bridge of her nose as she tilted her head down. Robin looked over at her, a smile appearing on his face.
"What are you smiling at?" She asked, trying to sound tough, but unable to hide the playful smirk that had slipped into view.
He shrugged and took one of his hands from his pockets. "Nothing...I always did like the rain..." Studying her, he saw that she was shivering slightly. He slipped off his jacket and placed it around her shoulders.
"Thank you..." She said, giving him one of her rare smiles. But Robin realized that they weren't all that rare anymore, at least around him.
They were back at the cafe now, pretty near to the tower. But part of Raven wanted to stay out in the rain. She enjoyed the feeling of Robin's jacket draped securely around her shoulders and the water streaming down her face.
"Raven..." Robin said, stopping and looking at her. They were going through an alley at the moment, a short cut the both of them knew.
She stopped also, looking at him and raising an eyebrow. "Yeah?"
He looked away for a second, smiling. "I enjoy spending time with you like this..." He slipped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer towards him.
Raven's cheeks began to heat up in a slight blush. She never really had anyone tell her they enjoyed her company before. In truth, she enjoyed his company too, but was a bit too shy to say anything. They kept walking along, Robin's arm staying around her.
Little did the two of them know, Starfire was in the distance. The rain had her drenched and was mixing with the tears that slid down her face. Seeing Robin put his arm around Raven like that, it hurt her for reasons unknown. Had she missed her chance with Robin completely?
xXxXxXxXx A/N: Finally! RobRae fluff. I know, it's been killing me not having it in here too. I wanted the relationship to build up a bit first, I like where this is going. Hmm, Rain is so romantic, no? Next chapter, I promise you some serious RobRaeness. Read and Review: Emmery.