The Raben Project
By
Agent X
The recalcitrant
A/N: Okay, so it could be argued that they are NOT on the same wavelength here. That perhaps Raven was going to finish with a more pessimistic statement, and Robin just interrupted her. I choose to believe differently.
Cyborg: my other, other favourite character. Did you know if you click on the little arrow next to the story name, it'll take you to the last chapter? I only just discovered that.
P.S. Drew, I never noticed that part at the end before. I guess we're both seeing unnoticed aspects.
Moment: Episode 10 (Mad Mod) – Robin finishes Raven's deduction. [Quote in footnotes]
No body believes Cyborg when he says he knew from the beginning. The two in particular scoff, as if something that had passed unnoticed by them, could not have been noticed by anybody.
But while – okay, he may not have predicted exactly where they would end up (… at first!) – the first inkling of the first suspicion of his initial belief was definitely situated here.
He can pinpoint the time frame, because he knows that whatever it was, happened after Raven had joined him and Rob, but before Robin had gotten taken by Slade. His internal log has (in an older data file) the exact date and time of the event, and probably even a digital recording.
But this is not what he is interested in, because Cyborg – without help – remembers the feeling, if not the scene, with unusual clarity. It was the sharp crack that spears through you when you realise something monumental, but don't know what it is you've realised yet.
What he remembers of the actual event is trifling. He knows that the Team had been talking (more likely arguing) about something. He knows that Raven (who was still a reluctant participator in their team powwows) had offered some bit of advice. And he remembers his… not shock, more like confusion – when Robin had started finishing the girl's sentence.
They're both smart. He gets that. (He, himself, has a not unimpressive genius). And they both have a good mind for strategy and a decent understanding of human nature (the later, perhaps an area where he's lacking). However, Cyborg doesn't think it is these qualities that lead them to the same conclusion back then.
How had Robin known? And Raven didn't even seem surprised. Cyborg liked the girl: he had just spent an inordinate amount of time fighting through Mad Mod's madhouse with her. He was happy to try including her when Robin had forced him to read that report – he'd have been happy to anyway, though. He knew she was smart already, and he was a little concerned for her, over how she isolated herself from everyone.
But… he would have been utterly unable to predict Raven in anything, at that point in time. Hell! He hadn't even thought that she'd accept their position. So, really, who was to blame Cyborg for jumping to conclusions and being all amazed by this small show of personal understanding?
Because, what Cyborg remembers most about the whole event, is thinking:
I wonder if they'll ever…?
And then, he remembers thinking:
… Nah.
But Cyborg maintains that he had known from the beginning, because – for a fleeting moment – the supposition had been there, even if it had been dismissed out of hand, for a while to come.
The Quote
Beast Boy: Then how are we supposed to get out?
Raven: We're not. Don't you get it? Mad Mod is just going to keep messing with us, until–
Robin: –We mess with him.
Mmmm… deduction.
…I don't know if anyone has noticed this, but I've done this thing with Raven and Robin, where Raven will generally make addendums using brackets, whilst Robin will emphasise and add using hyphens. (This is not a solid rule, however)
The brackets are meant to help convey Raven's ability to think on several levels, and also her tendency to self-critique and criticise (building on how she does this with the others). Robin's hyphens are meant to represent the logical leaps of his mind, or his thought process darting back and forth, as well as sudden revelation.
I used both for Cyborg, because I think that (with the help of his computer) he would be able to accomplish both ways of thinking at once. One system, I believe, he would favour, while his machine uses the other. I don't think he knows which is which. (Neither do I). I think that scares him.
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