The green gorilla lunged forward, massive hands grasping futilely at the small human who continued to dance just out of reach.

"Come on, Beast Boy! Quit playing around," Robin rapped the ape smartly across the knuckles with his bo staff.

Roaring in pain, Beast Boy lashed out with one arm, only to have the leader of the Titans grab the extended limb and use his momentum to throw the heavy primate unceremoniously on his large, hairy butt.

An instant later, a jade tiger bounded back at Robin, razor sharp claws ready to tear him to ribbons.

The Titan calmly waited until the last possible moment and then deftly leaped over the big cat, smacking it in the nose with the staff in the process. The feline growled in annoyance as it stumbled, collapsing to the floor. Before the animal came to a complete stop, Beast Boy resumed human form.

"Dude! That hurt!" the youngest Titan said, voice muffled by the hand he held to his nose.

"Beast Boy, I'd appreciate it if you'd stick to bipeds."

"Dude, I can't do machines!"

Robin frowned, "I said bipeds, not mopeds."

"I know you said bipeds!" Beast Boy exclaimed, face reddening. "I just figured a biped was like, you know, two mopeds put together. Or something."

He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head self-consciously.

"Look, I need you to take this seriously!" Robin shouted, patience at an end, "I don't have time for your stupid games!"

"Hey, Robin, come on!" Beast Boy sputtered, "I'm just trying to lighten things up a bit."

Robin advanced on his teammate until their faces were only an inch apart.

"That's your problem, Beast Boy. You never take anything seriously. Don't you think its time to grow up? Don't you ever want to be taken seriously?"

"Why don't you lay off him, Robin?" a new voice called out from behind.

Both Titans turned as Cyborg entered the training area.

The older teen sized up both of his teammates before he continued.

"Just because you've got issues with the psycho in the Batsuit doesn't mean you have the right to take it out on us, man. Why don't you chill out for a bit?"

Robin bit back a harsh retort.

"Fine. Whatever."

He collapsed his staff and stored it in his utility belt. "This was a waste of time. Sparing with you guys isn't going to give me the edge I need."

Robin stormed out of the gymnasium.

"Geeze, what crawled up his butt?" Beast Boy wondered.

"Don't take it personally, BB. He's going through something big. If he wants to let us in, he will," Cyborg shrugged, "Hell, my old man and me had all kinds of problems back in the day."

"Yeah, but Cyborg! Batman isn't Robin's dad."

Cyborg looked down on his best friend and shook his head.

"Man, didn't you listen to anything he said last night? Sure, Batman may not have changed his diapers or anything, but he's the one who took him in when his parents died, and he's the one who trained him to be a superhero."

The big man bent down to stare Beast Boy in the face to make his final point.

"As far as Robin is concerned, Batman is the one who made him the person he is today."

-----

Raven had watched this scene quietly from a dark corner near the ceiling of the gym. She muttered a few mystic words and disappeared into the darkness she manipulated so well.

She reappeared a few seconds later on the roof of the Tower.

The weather was much nicer now, with the sun shining brightly through the nearly cloudless sky. She pulled the hood of her cloak back and allowed the warmth of the sun's rays to caress her face. Then she sighed and looked for the person her empathic abilities had tracked to this place.

Starfire was sitting in her usual spot, legs dangling over the edge of the Tower, watching the horizon of the ocean. Normally, the alien princess wouldn't come out here until sunset, an event still several hours away.

But normal no longer seemed to apply after their visit from Batman.

"Starfire?"

The young woman turned and smiled sadly, "I am sorry, friend Raven, but I do not think I would be very good at the mediation today."

Raven came up and sat down next to her teammate.

"That's okay, Starfire. We don't have to meditate. We could just . . . talk."

"Really?" the alien's face lit up like a child on Christmas morning, "You would be willing to discuss the relationship problems with me? You would accompany me in my misery? How wonderful!" Starfire clapped her hands together in glee.

"Ooookay," Raven exhaled, "Just don't hug me."

Starfire stopped in mid-motion, arms almost encircling her friend. She grinned sheepishly and resumed sitting on the edge, looking out over the deep blue sea. All too soon, her face looked sad once again.

"What's the matter, Starfire?" Raven asked, gently prodding her friend for the answer she already knew.

"Robin will not talk to me," she replied simply.

"Robin's never been much of a talker."

"No, it is different now. Before the Batman came, Robin and I shared a wonderful conversation. He told me about his parents and how he grew up. Robin was telling me all about himself! And it was glorious!"

"That doesn't sound like Robin."

"I know, but I enjoyed him like this. It was like we were sharing a special bond. You know, the boyfriend-girlfriend bond. It was so much better than the recreational activities and the flowers I have read about in the teen magazines!"

"That's . . . great." Why aren't I happier for her? She's waited a long time for Robin to come around.

"No!" Starfire shouted, "No, it is not the great! It is not even the good. Since the Batman came, Robin will not talk to me. Not even the way he talked to me before we had the nice conversation."

She stood up suddenly, frustrated. "I do not understand Earth boys at all!"

Starfire burst into tears.

Raven got to her feet and awkwardly patted the taller girl on the shoulder, "Um, it's going to be all right, Starfire. Things will, uh, things will work out."

"Oh, Raven!" Starfire embraced the smaller Titan, pulling her off her feet, "You are such a good friend!"

The sorceress attempted to avoid rolling her eyes.

Great.

-----

He sat alone on one of the many large boulders that marked the boundary of the island and the sea. Occasionally a particularly large wave would crash upon the shore, sending a fine mist far into the air, soaking most of his body.

If the wetness bothered Robin, he gave no sign.

It's no good. Six days left and I still have no idea how I'm going to beat him.

The young man had wracked his brain all day to no avail.

The Titans don't fight like Bruce does. I've been training with them for years, and they've honed my skills as much as they possibly can. I need something more.

He skipped stones absently into the ocean, each one a perfect throw. All of them would bounce across the surface of the water a half dozen times before sinking below the waves. The sky was beginning to redden as the daylight began to wane.

What am I going to do? I can't let him destroy the Titans. I just can't.

He pitched one more stone.

Something shot out of the gathering gloom and intercepted the rock perfectly. The rock was deflected across the darkening sky and plopped into the sea, while the object which had hit it curved through the air and returned to the person would had thrown it. Robin jumped to his feet, Birdarang in hand.

"I hope this isn't your idea of training, Dick. I mean, I know your David and he's Goliath, but somehow I don't think a stone's gonna cut it."

He recognized the voice instantly and relaxed.

For the first time all day, he smiled.

"Hello, Babs."

Batgirl leaped gracefully onto the boulder. He reached out to steady her and she hugged him. "It's good to see you, Dick."

"It's nice to see you, too," he hugged her back, resting his head on her shoulder, "It's been a long time."

"Too long," Batgirl replied, pulling back to get a good look at him.

"Does he know you're here?" Robin asked.

"I don't doubt it, but I wasn't going to ask for permission to come see you," Batgirl smiled, "You could have called or written, you know."

Realizing they were still embraced, Robin blushed slightly and let her go.

"Why did you come here, Barbara?"

"Do I have to have a reason to visit my boyfriend?"

Robin sighed.

How much more complicated can my life get right now?