by: RioN VhEnTeUnO

A/N: This is one of my favorite chapters. I'm sorry if most of the chapters seems, well, short. I'll try harder next time. Enjoy...

Chapter 4

No Other Choice

(Raven)

My head was spinning. I couldn't be able to make any sense of what I was seeing. It wasn't a dream. I felt conscious. The swaying world around me seemed to be composed of… stalactites and stalagmites?

Where in the world was I?

I tried to sit up, but a searing pain in my head prevented me to do so. My whole body screamed in pain. Was I alone? If I was, how the heck did I get here?

"Welcome back," A familiar voice said. His face was a blur upon the bonfire. "You had me really worried there."

It was Robin. How'd he find me? Last thing I remember was plummeting down towards the winter wasteland, away from them, and then darkness.

I tried to sit up again, only slowly this time. It was still no use. The searing pain was still there. Maybe because of hearing my groans of pain, Robin walked up to me and laid me on his lap. He didn't have any coats on, just his usual costume. His hair was down. His gloves were by the fire and he had his cape over his body. He was shivering.

"Robin…" I began, painfully trying to finish what I wanted to say. "What… do you… think you're… doing… without a coat?…"

Robin smiled. "You need it more than I do."

"Ok… fine…" I deadpanned. He smiled weakly. I examined him closely and noticed that his left ear was spurting out blood. "You're… bleeding!"

"I didn't notice that," He replied truthfully, clasping the ear I was staring at. "Must be because of the cold."

"Just take one," I urged monotonously. "It's pointless to argue about…" But when I felt my hand go over my body, I realized something… I froze. Robin seemed to get the gist.

"Nothing happened, I swear!" Robin said, blushing furiously and turning away. "I-I had to! You were soaking wet and…"

"Uh… Well…" I began. I trusted him enough to know that he didn't try anything funny, but I really didn't know what to say. I scanned around the cave for my cloak and leotard, and saw them by the bonfire, still dripping wet. Even my shoes were wet. I felt my face burn up and a choking sensation welled up in my throat. Clearing it, I continued. "L-let's just pretend that it never happened okay?"

"F-fair enough," He said, rubbing his hands together and clasped them under his armpits. For a moment we avoided each other's gaze.

I tried (with much pain) to sit down beside him and gently place a hand over his bleeding ear. "I'll fix that," I said to him. But as I called upon my energy, I felt the sharp pain on my head come back. I winced, almost falling over again.

Robin noticed. He caught me before I completely collapsed. "A-are you okay?" he asked.

"I-I'm fine," I said. Why aren't my powers working? "My head hurts whenever I try to use my powers."

"M-maybe its because o-of the c-concussion you h-had," Robin replied through slightly chattering teeth.

He was shivering more violently now. It looked like he was about to faint. I had to do something! The thought that came across my mind made me wince. I felt the temperature rise from my neck to my face and my heart pound really fast…

There was no other choice… Is there?

I stood up slowly and limped behind him. He looked at me, obviously wondering what I was gonna do.

I sat down cross-legged behind him, opened the coats and wrapped them over us. I let his head rest on my left shoulder. I could feel his shivering slowly ebb away. My heart felt like it was about to bounce off my chest, and my face felt like it was on fire. "Let's just pretend this didn't happen, too."

"Fair enough," He answered in a weary tone. His face was redder than his suit. I could tell he felt uneasy. Well, so did I. "Thanks Raven…"

"Just rest," I said dryly. I couldn't quite place what I felt, and why I felt it. "But don't get too comfortable."


A/N: Well, I did post that it's a bit ecchi... I'm sorry in advance if I ever offended anyone out there. And thanks in advance for your reviews.