by: RioN VhEnTeUnO

A/N: Okay... This is a pretty juicy chapter if you ask me. This is one of the greatest turning points in the story. Don't worry, it's still RxR. Enjoy...

Chapter 10

Raven's Sacrifice

(Robin)

I couldn't sleep.

Her face, it haunted me. Her expression, I never expected to see her that way. I never knew I did so much damage. That look, I caused it…

I gave her pain. So much pain.

Those deep blue eyes that I like so much, they were hollow. Her dry humor, her sarcasm, all of it, they're long gone. It was like I sapped her soul. She seemed so much like an empty shell…

The walls of my room were closing in on me. It felt like hell…

I got up and decided to watch something. I had to do something to clear my mind. Hoping there was something good enough playing, I silently stalked the corridors that led to the living room. I walked in…

I never expected to see Raven awake. When I went in she was by the window, staring into the darkness of the midnight sky. The book she held glinted in the moonlight. With that look on her face, I guess she was just as surprised as me.

For a good long while I stood there glued to place. I had wanted so much to talk to her a while ago, and now I can't seem to do it. She stared at me, shook her head, then went back to contemplating…

"Uh… Hi," She said simply. She had her back to me.

"H-hey," I replied nervously. With all the strength I could muster, I tried to walk towards her. I found myself standing next to her moments later. "Can't sleep?"

Raven replied with a slight nod. It felt really awkward. Guilt seeped into me again. Seeing her in so much pain like this…

"So, how's your head feeling?" I asked, trying my best to sound professional. Somehow I knew it was no use.

"It's fine," She replied, still determinedly avoiding to look at me. "Only trouble it's causing is it still blocks my powers. Can't meditate. How about your ear?"

"It's okay," I answered back. This is so hard… "It still stings sometimes… A-am I bothering you?"

Raven didn't answer. I glanced at her. She had her eyes closed. Stupid question. Of course I'm bothering her. It's my fault after all…

"Stop blaming yourself, Robin," Raven said. I was slowly getting used to the fact that she and I can sometimes know what each other thinks or feels. "It's not your fault." 'Not entirely.'

"But I'm still to blame if you…"

"Look Robin," Raven began, cutting me off. She glared at me. I winced. Her eyes looked so pretty, even when she's angry. "All you did was save me. You almost always look out for me, and I should thank you for that. We're friends, I guess that's just normal. It's just me who thought… Nevermind."

A very disturbing silence hung over us. Was it just her? Then why do I keep feeling this way?

"I-its getting late," Raven said, breaking the silence. "I'd better go to bed…"

With that, she turned around and started walking away, gently enveloping the book in her arms. There's just one way to know for sure…

"Wait," I said before she could leave. "There's… just one thing I need to find out."

Raven stopped walking. I slowly approached her, feeling my heart beat madly in my chest. When I was directly behind Raven, I gently wrapped my arms around her. She hung her head. Moments later, she spun around and returned my embrace. The book she was carrying landed on the floor with a light thud.

"I-I'm sorry," I said. It was then that I knew. I had already fallen in love with Raven. I didn't know when I started feeling this way. It felt like a whole boulder just crushed me…

Raven suddenly broke down into tears. She buried her face deeper into me, hugging me tighter. Then she suddenly beat hard on my chest, breaking away from our embrace. I knew it was wrong. I'm still with Starfire. But why did it feel so right?…

"W-what do you want from me?…" Raven asked. She looked up to me with those deep blue eyes, streaming with tears. They scanned mine, desperately searching for an answer. Unfortunately, I honestly had none to give…

"Nothing's changed, and it'll stay that way," She said fiercely in between sobs. "We're friends…" 'Just friends…'

Raven turned on her heel and ran as fast as she could. I could still hear her faint sobs coming from the corridors of the tower. I knelt down and picked up the book she dropped. My heart felt like it was smashed into tiny pieces. As I got up to leave, I noticed the other person waiting for me outside.

It was Cyborg.

"Whoa, Robin," He said in surprise, a concerned look was on his face. "Mind telling me what this is all about?"

"It doesn't matter… not anymore," I replied, my mask soaked with tears. Cyborg looked surprised. I didn't even realize that I was crying. "It's… probably better that you don't mention this to anyone…"

Cyborg gave me a nod. He put a comforting hand on my shoulder. I hung my head, still drowned in my own tears.

"I-I should probably get some sleep," I said, wiping my face with my glove.

With that, I turned to go, feeling a million times more depressed than I already was.


A/N: Alright, this is the last chapter that I'll post for now. Hope you guys liked my update. I'm gonna wait for your reviews. Your opinion counts. Rock on!