A/N: I do not own Teen Titans. (Though I wish I owned Raven.)
Chapter II.
Robin sat outside Raven's room feeling like an idiot. He was waiting to walk into a mirror. He'd seen some pretty weird things since he'd started hanging out with Raven, so he figured at least a little more weirdness wouldn't kill him. Beast boy stepped out of the mirror with Merlin right behind him.
"Remember, motor skills use up a large portion of the brain." Merlin said sagely.
Beast boy was grinning from ear to ear and ran toward the living area. "Thanks Merlin!" Beast boy cried back.
"What was that all about?" Robin asked perplexed. He was the last titan to see Merlin. He wasn't looking forward to this and any reprieve was welcome.
"I was just giving Beast boy a few pointers on how to beat Cyborg at the Game station." Merlin said happily.
"I didn't realize you played." Robin said looking doubtfully at the older man.
"I don't. Truth be known, I'm not exactly certain what it is, but I've got a pretty good idea what it would take for Beast boy to beat Cyborg." Merlin said turning to open the way into the mirror for Robin.
"This I have to hear." Robin said as he stepped through into a quite cozy den.
"It's rather simple actually. Beast boy is thinking too much." Merlin said taking a seat across a small table from Robin.
"I never thought I'd hear someone say that Beast boy was thinking TOO much." Robin said with a smirk.
"Actually, he has a much more efficient brain than any of the rest of you as far as I can tell." Merlin said sipping at some tea that was laid out on the table.
Robin looked at Merlin like he'd cracked until he continued. "Beast boy's brain, much like the rest of him morphs whenever he does. However his knowledge has to remain the same. He subconsciously remembers every form and how to move in each form. His brain also has to handle the sensory inputs of creatures that are several times more sensitive than his natural form. All of this requires brainpower. It doesn't do much good to be able to change into a bird if you don't know how to fly. Beast boy's brain uses a massive amount of energy to process the acute senses, and how to function in each form. While this is all subconscious, it takes away from upper cognitive abilities. Quite frankly I've never seen a changeling as powerful as he is that can actually still speak. I think it has something to do with the fact he's green in all his forms. He doesn't have to keep the correct coloring memorized. Time permitting I'll have to study it later. Now about you."
"If it's all the same, I'd rather we just talked. I have quite a few secrets that I don't feel comfortable disclosing. I know I have your word, but I don't know you well enough to trust you yet." Robin said seriously.
"Very well, an interview then. I've seen how you've been acting around Raven from the minds of your friends so I really only need to ask a few simple questions." Merlin said smiling.
Robin didn't really like his smile, but he had little choice so he nodded for him to continue. Robin reached for his own cup and sniffed the fragrance. It was nothing he recognized.
"First of all, please describe your relationship with Raven." Merlin said sitting back to watch Robin.
"She's my very good friend." Robin said looking down into his tea.
"She's not your girlfriend?" Merlin asked pointedly.
"No, Starfire's my girlfriend." Robin answered.
"Interesting. Tell me, why do you love Starfire?" Merlin asked.
"I thought this interview was supposed to be about Raven." Robin asked hotly.
"It is, and more importantly about your relationship with Raven. Your relationship with her has changed significantly since the two of you first met. Your friends Beast boy and Cyborg have seen certain changes in your behavior as well as hers, but haven't been able to understand it. Only when I was able to see your actions through their eyes was I able to see a complex relationship developing between you, Raven, and Starfire. Now please, why do you love Starfire?" Merlin asked more forcefully.
Robin sat back and looked down at the table for a few moments. "What's not to love, she's radiant, gorgeous, exotic, and is one of the sweetest people I know. She's an innocent spirit despite everything we've been through."
"And why do you love Raven?" Merlin asked.
"Who said I loved Raven!" Robin said, his head jerking up defiantly.
"You did, just now." Merlin said smiling broadly. "I've been looking at the thoughts of your friends. They may not realize it because you're pretty good at hiding your feelings, but I watch for changes in behavior. After several key incidents your behavior has altered around both Starfire and Raven. So if you prefer, what are Raven's best qualities?"
Robin definitely didn't like this line of questioning. "She's mysterious, graceful, and very well controlled. Despite her appearance she has a kind heart and a hopeful attitude."
"Interesting." Merlin said looking off into the distance.
"You keep saying that, care to elaborate?" Robin asked pensively.
"Well, your description never mentioned any sort of pity. She leads a lonely life, but you never mentioned her ability to cope with it." Merlin said looking back at the Boy Wonder.
"We all have our crosses to bear." Robin said darkly.
"We? Do you feel alone as well? Even with Starfire?" Merlin said suddenly staring at Robin intently.
"I thought you said these were supposed to be simple questions." Robin accused.
"They are, you don't want to hear the hard ones."
Robin looked at his teacup in his lap for a moment. "I've been lonely ever since my parents died. Batman tried to be a parent, but he was more like a big brother than a father figure. I guess I've grown accustomed to people with dark personas, that's why I was able to see past Raven's exterior. She has her parents, but that isn't necessarily a good thing. She's just as alone in the world as I am. Starfire makes me feel like there is still light in the world while Raven…" Robin trailed off looking up at Merlin.
"… makes you feel at home in the dark." Merlin finished for him.
"Yes. I guess it was after the incident with the Puppet King. I was attracted to Starfire then, but when she and Raven had their bodies switched I started thinking about what life would be like if they never where brought back to normal." Robin said looking down again.
"Who did you want to be with then?" Merlin asked gently.
"There was Starfire's body with Raven inside, and I thought that it would have been the best of both worlds. Then I looked at Raven's body with Starfire inside and I realized that it wouldn't be so bad that way either. In fact Raven is quite beautiful in her own way, I'd just never looked at her as a woman before, only as a teammate." Robin admitted.
"So after they were switched back?" Merlin continued.
"I continued to get closer to Starfire, but I started noticing Raven too. It wasn't until what happened with Slade that things started to get more complicated. Slade had done something to my mind, and Raven entered my mind to try to help me. After that, I seemed to be able to always know what she was feeling and sometimes nearly what she was thinking." Robin said feeling color come to his cheeks.
"It's called sympathetic empathy, and it's a common occurrence during something such as a deep mind probe. Especially when the empath hasn't finished her training." Merlin said dryly.
"Well, I'm glad for it either way." Robin said heatedly. "Even though Raven controls her emotions it doesn't mean she doesn't have them. I was able to see a whole new dimension of Raven, and…"
"You saw how she really felt about you." Merlin finished again.
Robin made a long pause before he nodded. "I still don't know if she's aware of how much I know of her feelings, but during the issues we had with Trigon her feelings were coming out more and more. I knew I had to be the one who saved her, because I was the only one she would respond to. When she held me, it made me realize how much I cared for her too."
"So now you're in love with two different women." Merlin accused gently. "One that holds the promise and warmth of the day, while the other holds the comfort and softness of night. Sorry to wax poetic for a moment."
"Don't be, that's pretty much it. I don't want to break Starfire's heart because I care too much about her and I don't want to hurt Raven either." Robin said eventually.
"Well, this is the reason I'm here after all. Whatever you choose to do, I must prepare Raven for it. The emotions that the three of you are experiencing are profound, and whether it's love or grief, Raven must be prepared to handle those emotions or the outcome could be horrendous. We're not talking about a few buildings exploding here." Merlin cautioned. "Still, I am going to need your help with her training, but we can talk about all that later, for now I need to see this room Cyborg tells me will suit our training so amicably."