Disclaimer: You know the deal. I don't own them. Nor do I own the song Collide by Howie Day. In other words, you have nothing to sue me for. So stop coming to my house.
Thanks to my reviewers. To the two of you who don't like the pairing, thanks for not going crazy on me for it. I appreciate you letting me keep what little sanity I have left.
Introducing….Chapter 3.
The
dawn is breaking.
A light shining through.
You're barely
waking
And I'm tangled up in you.
Robin stood in his doorway for a moment before going down the hall. What was she doing outside his room? Pausing in front of the main room, he wondered for a moment, then walked through. Finding it empty, he passed into the kitchen. She sat at the table, calmly drinking her tea. Raven barely acknowledged his presence, glancing up for only a second.
I'm
open, you're closed.
Where I'll follow you'll go.
I
worry I won't see your face
Light up again.
He went to the refrigerator, opening and quickly shutting it when he saw what was inside. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him, somehow apprehensive. The masked leader turned around, gave her a smile and a "Hey, Raven." and walked out. She gave a sigh of relief. That could have been close.
Even
the best fall down sometimes.
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme.
Out of the doubt that fills my mind,
I somehow found you and
I collide.
Robin left the kitchen and headed down to the gym. He had decided to put her from his mind for a while, and the best way to do that was train. The boy wonder proceeded to flip, dodge, and roll his way through a complicated maze of simulated traps that he set up the week before. Having completed that flawlessly, he turned to the punching bag, trying his best to permanently cripple it while still keeping it intact. Soon it became evident that this was easier to do on a person than a bag of sand. He stopped himself just before it combusted onto the floor and sat down. Sure enough, the reserved empath crept back into his mind.
I'm
quiet, you know,
You make a first impression.
I've found I'm
scared to know,
I'm always on your mind.
The boy wonder sighed. She was always so distant. When she wasn't in her room or meditating, she was busy trying to ignore the rest of them. Maybe she had to, but…all the time? It didn't seem fair to her. Running a hand through his unkempt jet hair, he left the gym and went to take a shower.
Even
the best fall down sometimes.
Even the stars refuse to shine.
Out of the back you fall in time
Somehow find you and I
collide.
Raven sat on the roof, watching the sunset. Beneath her in the main room, Cyborg and Beast Boy were engaged in another battle of the Gamestation, their shouts and insults echoing up through the ceiling. "You little punk, I'm gonna crush you!" "Yeah, whatever, metal-butt!" She sighed. They never learned, did they? Amidst the threats and occasional violent outburst, a low swoosh sounded behind her. She didn't bother turning around. The lean form of the masked boy stood beside her, also looking in the direction of the disappearing sun. He lay down with his arms behind his head, staring at the darkened sky.
Don't
stop here.
I lost my place.
I'm close behind...
The demoness shifted, resting a hand against the rooftop. Her fingers brushed his arm as she did so, and she felt the heat of a blush warming her face. This was so stupid. It was only Robin, for God's sake! He looked over at her, smiling just slightly. Her fingers lay less than two inches from him, so as he moved, they touched again. He grinned even wider as her cheeks grew deep scarlet. "Stop that."
"What?" She glared at him from underneath her hood.
"That look."
"What look?" The wonder boy was enjoying this too much. Her soul self impulsively reached out and grabbed his birdarang. Before either of them knew it, she was running away from him, down towards the beach. "Hey!" He chased her down to the water's edge. She turned around, her cape fluttering around her feet.
"Can I help you-" she paused. "-boy blunder?" Robin feigned irritation.
"All right you. Give it back." Her hands were behind her back.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Now his face broke into a mischievous grin.
"Fine. Two can play that game." He walked up so that she was forced to tilt her head to look at him. Placing one hand on her arm, the other closed over the brooch holding her cloak shut. She shook her head defiantly. "Okay then, Raven. I'll just be taking this." First he carefully pulled her hood back, then the brooch slid off and her cloak fell away. Raven's eyes widened for a moment before he took off along the shoreline, daring her to follow.
Even
the best fall down sometimes.
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme.
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
You finally find, you
and I collide.
She bolted after him, intent only on getting back her jeweled pin. He laughter trailed back to her making her grimace. Stupid boy wonder. Her body levitated into the air, speed suddenly increasing. She was gaining fast. The masked teen looked back, a plan forming in his mind. "Hey Raven," he yelled. "Why don't we go swimming?" She stopped dead, completely shocked. Robin jogged back to her.
"Are you crazy?" He shook his head. "One, it's night. Two, I don't swim."
"You can't or you don't?" The empath hesitated.
"I don't."
"Oh, well I knew that. Come on." She found herself looking at his brilliant smile, and for once couldn't find it in her to say no.
"Fine." His expression of sheer I-told-you-so earned a grade-A glare, but he didn't mind. "Give me back my brooch first."
"Not until you give me the birdarang." Seeing the reluctance on her face, he nodded. "I thought so." They parted to go change, then met back up fifteen minutes later. She wore a tankini that covered most of her stomach. He sported red swimming trunks and a white shirt.
"You're going to pay for this." A smirk followed by a chuckle got another evil eye from her.
"I'm sure I will."
"Shut up." The two of them left the tower in a silence permeated by the ever-present cockiness. When they reached the bay, he took her wrist and pulled her toward the tide, "Let go." When he didn't comply, she began to struggle.
"Don't make me." Once again, her death stare bored through the white eyeholes of his mask.
"Make you what?" The dark girl refused to relent.
"Do this." In one lithe movement, he swept her up.
"If you don't put me down-"
"Will you just relax? I'm not going to kill you or anything." They started into the water. Soon it was up to his waist. "Are you ready Raven?" Without waiting for an answer, the boy slipped her into the water.
"ROBIN!" He looked at her innocently.
"It's not that cold." Her eyes glowed white; the next second a mini-tidal wave drenched him completely. "You cheater!" He lunged forward as she moved back, consequently catching her hips. She looked up at him as he pulled her close. "I'll get you for that," he murmured. Raven hesitated, uncomfortable with the close proximity. But this was Robin. He'd never deface her in any way. She trusted him. Slowly, her head came forward to rest on his chest and her eyes closed. He looked down, a gentle smile tilting his lip. So she did like him.
You finally find, you and I collide
End Chapter 3. Well that was long enough…and kind of weird and sappy, but hey. Review it anyway. You know you want to.
XxRavenStar
