The Raben Project
By
Agent X
The Incandescent.
A/N: Thankyou for all the feedback for the last chapter, regardless of the long delay. I have the next part here for you, but first I would like to thank DrewMayShipper, who is my new beta.
Also, I believe I owe Plotless Leporidae a cookie, for being the first to state that Cyborg is the president of the Robin/Raven fanclub in EmaniaHilel's "It Only Takes a Moment". Way better than anything I could write. Go read it!
Moment: Episode 16 (Terra) – Robin and Raven share a look, and linger as the Titans return to the tower.
"I go wherever the wind takes me, you know? I get to see new places, meet new people, stop a few bad guys here and there!" Terra said with a grin.
Robin glanced over at Raven. He expected that she would see the same problem as he did, but was still gratified when his guess was correct, and she met his eyes meaningfully.
The Titans would be aware of the unspoken message in their new acquaintance's words. They were tactful enough not to comment, but…
"You mean you don't have a home?" Robin clarified, and ignored the small glare sent his way by Cyborg.
"The Earth is my home!"
Robin watched curiously as she responded, because it seemed that outside of himself and Raven, no one else was able to see where the real problem lay. It was not in the meaning of Terra's nonchalant words, but in the question they raised: why would a young and powerful metahuman have nowhere to go?
So he waited silently and critically on the sidelines as the most exuberant Titans welcomed and chatted with Terra, before leading her away. He didn't protest that they invite her to the tower – he was cautious, not heartless – and he made no comments on security breaches and general protocols that were being flouted.
Still, something about the situation bothered him, and if there was one thing Robin had learned in his life, it was to trust his instinct. Of course, if his experience with Slade had taught him anything, it was that he also needed to temper that instinct with deliberation.
He kneeled at the place where Terra had risen from the earth, contemplated these warring thoughts, and wondered which was the right action to take. Raven stepped up behind him: she had been quiet the whole time. He had almost forgotten she was there.
Robin felt her assessing gaze on his back.
"Everything okay?"
The sense of relief he felt when she spoke those words – someone else could see there was more to the story; it wasn't his obsessions getting the best of him; he wasn't alone – left him so surprised, that he honestly answered,
"Not sure."
A few notes:
1. This moment is actually comprised of two separate ones that occur within a short time span.
2. I see Robin as a bit conflicted on how to oversee situations like this now. I think that his experience with Slade – and having his friends doubt and distrust him due to his obsessiveness – would have effected him more greatly then he lets on, thus the dilemma on whether or not to bring up procedure and security protocol, or to let it slide and appear calm. He doesn't want to come across as being unnecessarily paranoid or suspect.
3. I know a few people have mentioned that this isn't a very strong romance, or that it should be more romance based. Unfortunately, it's just going to be like that for a while, because I wanted to show the development of Robin's and Raven's relationship. From caution to respect to friendship to admiration to love, it will all be done in accordance with what the series itself gives us as fuel, and should climax around 'the End' Arc.
Also, thank you to Home, for commenting on the style. Yes it is different. Part of the reason I started this project was to practice my writing abilities. With that in mind I've decided to change the style for this season, making it (as you noted) more dialogue heavy, more narrative, and less reflective and introspective.
Any feedback is greatly appreciated. I have altered the previous chapter for those interested in assessing it.