Sorry for the long wait. School's being the bitch that she is again. Well, here ya go. The second chapter for alena-chan's challenge, to whom I dedicate this to.

I'm feeling angsty right now, so I'm gonna write my first somewhat angsty fic.

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Chapter 2: Weep Not, Mother Nature

"A hero doesn't cry!"

Dark clouds rolled in from the distance, blotting out the stars from view. A solitary vein streaked ghostly white across the ebony sky, just as deep percussion boomed into the horizon.

Mother Nature cried, and her tears tapped against a thin sheet of glass that separated the rest of the world safe within its four walls from her howling winds.

Yes, we are in our beds, safely tucked into the ocean of our sheets. Night awaits us as we drift off to the realm of Morpheus. Yet someone among us is not.

And his figure stood beside a window overlooking our city's view. Though very much awake, one could easily mistake him for a phantom.

Let us come a little closer then, and we can hear whispers vaguely audible to hear –

Sweet nothings for an unknown lover, maybe?

Or the makings of a deranged psychopath unconsciously revealing his innermost desires?

Perhaps that person could give us the answer…

Yes, the one whose face is concealed by a hood, approaching him.

Could you feel the aura of intimidating composure brought about by him?

Wait…let us shorten the distance…he muttered something, yet his companion neither replied nor made a move.

He pulled the pan of blue cloth away…Oh my, we should have noticed the maturity of her womanly body…It was a she after all…

He acknowledged her presence and murmured a name.

Raven? Ah yes, Raven. Such an exotic name. Truly fitting for a beauty like hers – possibly a darker and more mysterious adaptation of the goddess Aphrodite.

Can you not see the angular face framed by luscious locks of mauve? Ivory skin as pale as the round ghostly ship that passes your window every night before you turn off the glow of a yellow bulb? Alluring pools of amethyst that showed each and every emotion void of her features?

Yes, let us come closer. Do you not wish to know the identity of the man beside Raven?

Hush…she speaks…

"Where were you?"

Silence.

She…Raven tried again.

Silence once more.

It was certainly agreeable among us that he was trying to avoid her apathy. If only he knew how foolish that would be. This Raven does not seem like somebody who wears her heart on her sleeve.

Yet he does not heed her. His gaze was kept fixed onto the shimmering curtains of rain outside.

Boom!

What was that?

Boom!

Thunder…

They were both fearless indeed. Lightning reared its whiteness once more – have you caught a glance at him?

His choice of clothing was very intriguing…compared to that of the female beside him…it was…bright.

Did his clothes remind you of what was that called? The signal that uses red, green, and amber lights to control traffic?

That was not significant right now, look. She furiously cupped his chin and pulled him towards her.

"Robin. Where. Were. You?"

And Robin was his name…but it was not believable, yes?

His mask…we're very certain it was hiding something not even she could know…

Eyes so beautiful must not be hidden.

On the other hand, an almost tangible tension was rearing its ugly head.

Her voice…it sends shivers up and down your spine, does it not?

He would be even more of a bigger fool than he was if he did not respond to such a –

"I. Was. On. Patrol."

He likewise answered with the same dripping venom from his words, and he reflected the seething stare Raven had.

She refused to surrender.

"Looking for another stupid way to get yourself killed?"

He did too. Robin pushed her tiny hand away and focused his attention once more to the crying sky.

Lightning

Thunder.

We are not anymore afraid of such natural oddities. What frightens us was the hostility between these so called friends.

Were they even friends to begin with?

Maybe they were. Or are. Whatever suits Raven's softened features as she put the same hand he pushed away on his shoulder.

Lightning again.

Thunder again.

Did you see what we just saw?

Robin's cheek.

It was bleeding.

Raven put another hand on his other shoulder. She forced him to face her.

Slowly as a predator would approach her prey, slender fingers emitting a soothing sapphire glow brushed over the cut.

And she stopped.

"What do you think you're doing?" He glared, and again pushed away his only chance of comfort.

Her hand immediately shot up to the scratch on his well-toned face. "I'm trying to heal you."

"I don't need –"

"If you don't trust me enough to share about what fun you had getting your ass kicked, then at least trust me to let me heal you!"

Robin gave up, and left to her business. He studied her stance and wondered why she kept persisting. She caught it and redrew her face back under the safety of her hood.

"Any more injuries I should know about? Third-degree burns? Fractured ribs? Dislocated limbs? One or more possible signs of insanity?" Raven declared as-a-matter-of-factly with a hint of rudeness in her tone.

Do you wish to leave and come back a day after? Do you get the same feeling that they might be capable of murder if someone does not stop them?

They're superheroes? Oh, you mean the Teen Titans? Well, we knew the T-shaped tower was a dead giveaway…Let us stay then, and watch how two pillars of justice defend themselves against each other…

"Save it for someone who cares…" He muttered, distinct enough for her to hear.

Robin was too absorbed in his pride to even notice the approaching fist that was about to connect with his jaw.

Unfortunately, he was too late.

But being the Boy Wonder he was, it wasn't too long before he pulled himself back up into standing position and took no notice of what happened.

His female companion was now walking around him tauntingly, and he neither flinched nor paid heed.

Truly both were headstrong. And pathetically stubborn. May the gods have mercy.

"All right, Robin. I'll play your little 'game,' " Raven was now circling him in fast paces, boots thumping against the carpet, "Always being the hero now, are we?

She went on with a monologue dripping with the wryest sarcasm, cynicism, and hurtful insults that even you could have even pounced on her and be sorry for ever scarring her face.

"Yes, Robin, heroes don't fall down on their knees!

"Heroes don't cry!

"Heroes like you don't need saving!

"Oh help me Robin! I'm being the bitch that I am!"

And she wasn't able to continue as he tackled her to the ground.

Finally, it served her right. Now Robin, will you give her what she deserves?

Oh my…watch as the small girl was able to force himself off her, now the two are locked in a battle of what was going to be a flurry of punches and kicks.

Shhh…be careful as to not wake your teammates.

Robin delivered a side kick that looked powerful enough to send Cinderblock flying, and Raven avoided it, dodging and slipping out of the way as he began an assault on her.

Yet she maintained her defense mechanism, never making any contact.

He threw an upper cut, then delivered a punch to her gut, causing her to fall to her knees, clutching her abdomen.

Come on, woman! Use that telekinesis of yours!

And she did. Black energy emanated from her palms and immediately wrapped itself around his body, pushing him far back against the wall.

Raven stood up, and fixed her posture. Her ability to bounce back after just twenty seconds of emotional and physical pressure had to be marveled at.

The anger smoldering in Robin's gaze gave Raven a pause. The hatred he had nurtured to protect himself from hurt would eventually consume him unless someone would break through his leadership defenses and restored his trust.

Raven, Raven, Raven. Believe us or not, it was time to let go of the stubborn streak you were born with and console your leader not as a teammate, but as a friend.

Do it now.

And she might do a good job, will she not?

Still, she showed no emotion. Standing unmoving, her expression felt neutral from underneath the shadows of her cloak, Raven appeared totally detached.

Her magic eventually let the masked boy go. And he stood his ground with a calm unwavering sense of inevitability that ruled his entire life.

She matched his gaze with a depth of intensity that Robin found disarming.

Speak now, for we are tired of waiting.

Rain still taps angrily against the window. O drops of drifting stars, can you not be so piercing with your falling? 'Tis your fault we were not able to hear what Robin said.

Something about heroes? Shhh, Raven speaks.

Or rather, cries out.

"Damn you! You can't even expect me to just ignore the fact that there's something about to push you over the edge to the point of no return!"

"What's it to you? You're not even the one with the exaggerated need to be perfect?"

"Just because you're insecure about being human doesn't mean you should take it out on your nightly solo missions!"

"And who gave you the right to spy on me?"

Silence. Perhaps we should approach them nearer. It's not about violating their privacy, you are curious are you not?

Look, they are at a lost for words. And it always has to mean there was more to come.

"Rae, I'm sorry. I just don't want you guys to…"

"To what? Worry about you? All the while I was engaging Cyborg into anger management, consoling a worried Starfire, and who knows how much I have to put up with the green jackass' constant questions!"

"It's not like I even wanted this! You of all people must understand that I do what I have to do not just for the city's sake, but for the team's – "

"What about your sake?"

"I can't afford to…Raven I-I can't possibly afford to fall down on my knees, or cry, or even have the nerve to think of myself…" And his words trailed off, him knowing that Raven was about to burst out into a one-girl reign of whatever she was capable of.

"How did you think I feel knowing that you were out there? Hoping that you'll come home safe…Worrying that I may not be able to reprimand you the next time you decide to do something stupid…What if I lost you? I would…I-I…" Raven's voice lacked the intensity it had, and it came out as a whimper, desperate to let itself out as fast as it could.

And she broke down.

Robin was by her side in a heartbeat, wrapping his arms around her. She looked up at him, and saw the tiniest hint of a tear at the edge of his domino mask…being illuminated by the soft moonlight.

Moonlight?

Have you ended your melancholy Mother Nature? Indeed you have, for the natural orchestra has ceased, leaving only the gentle kisses of the wind against the rustling leaves of the trees outside.

He sniffed, trying to suppress a sob. This did not go unnoticed by the girl in his arms, as she pried herself gently away from him, so that she could reach out to him with her hands…

Oh her hands, the same hands he pushed away so many times before but kept on coming back to him.

"It's not Robin that's crying now, is it? Robin doesn't fall to his knees, nor cry. He doesn't even need anyone to save him. But…"

"He isn't real. And Richard Grayson will make sure of that, as of tonight," he finished for her.

Robin took her hand, and she felt warmth swirl through her. His gaze drifted to her eyes and removed his glove, and oh so slowly lifted his hand, and cradled her cheek with his palm.

Raven leaned into his touch, automatically closing her eyes as she sensed him pull away her hood.

Now both of his hands, void of any gauntlet whatsoever, brushed against what they could feel, as he memorized every feature with his fingertips, long enough for him to paint a picture of her in his mind.

And he stopped.

Then he took her small hands and led them to his own face.

Raven then trailed her feel his every feature, with her eyes closed. She entangled her fingers in his hair, stroked the eyelashes in front of the closed eyes, taking in the rest of her features…

Eyelashes?

She opened her eyes immediately, only to find themselves lost in pools of electric blue, much more softer than the sky's on a sunny day, or deeper than the clearest waters…

Kiss him…

Passion.

Lust.

Love.

Kiss him.

And she did.

It was filled with warmth and tenderness that he leaned in for another. One that was deeper, more intimate, Robin felt her frail arms snaked around his neck as his hands wrapped around her petite figure.

As chaste and clumsy it was, it made him feel loved.

And when it ended, he felt breathless and light-headed.

Mother Nature stopped crying, and we are certain the next time she does, it would be tears of joy.

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Well, here ya guys go.

Anyway, I think I'm gonna take a break from all the stuff. No, not permanently, but on a hiatus.

Too personal…everything's just too damn bitchy for my own good.

So uh…I'm just gonna finish the next three chapters for this fic, and then take a vacation. If you guys really wanna know why, to make a long story short, I have this obsession of always having to be no. 1 in class, so my grades just took a little dip there and then.

Still on top, but what bothers me is that I don't know if I could balance my schedule anymore. I did maintain my straight-A streak, except for my conduct, B, just because I lost my temper…

But what's bothering me is the fact that while I was so happy to be the first in my batch once again my parents had to say, "Ooh. You almost slipped. Whose fault is it for not following us when we told you to not spend so much time blah blah…Make sure to get higher next semester."

It sucks, doesn't it? And to think this came from my parents…I did get high grades!

Damn.

Well anyway, I promise to finish this fic, then I'm gonna take a break, come back sometime around February-March with updates of 'Make the Fireflies Dance,' 'Catch a Falling Star,' and 'Haunted by Desire,' plus two new stories 'Gemini's Dreaming' and 'Night's Plutonian Shore.'

Man, I am gonna miss you guys. I promise I'll be back.

God Bless,

kiki