A/N: I didn't sleep at all last night. I'm still not sleepy. I don't feel well. . Well, at least I'm writing...

Disclaimer: (Which I forgot in the last chapter, oh well, don't sue me). I own nothing except for my dear warrior stranger from Raven's past... He's mine! Really! I swear! Don't sue me!

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Just a Little Advice

Chapter 4

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"So, ah, Cerin," Robin said as they returned to the Tower. "I presume you'll be staying with us for a while?"

Cerin looked up from the plate of food he had raided from the refrigerator and pantry. He swallowed another monstrous shovel-full of some random not-edible-looking leftovers before answering. "I'm perfectly comfortable with staying outside, if that's alright."

Robin stared at him for a moment from across the table as the Titan's newest ally started shoveling food into his mouth again. Really, he could take on Cyborg with that appetite... "Uh, you mean you want to camp outside?"

Cerin shrugged. "Ah aven' sweft unter a woof faw yars." He said around a mouthful. Then he winced as if struck with a sudden pain and glanced at Raven, who was glaring from across the room. Cerin swallowed dutifully. "I was saying, I haven't slept under a roof for several years now."

Robin resisted the impulse to raise an eyebrow, but Beast Boy couldn't help but to chuckle at this.

"I really prefer the outdoors, anyway." Cerin continued, looking dubiously at the ceiling above him.

"You can sleep on the roof;" Raven said, "I'm sure you'll be comfortable there."

Cerin looked her way and paused in his eating, a mixture of emotions hidden behind his eyes as he stared at her. Though Robin tried, he couldn't discern what was going on behind the look.

Starfire, who had been standing off to the side with Raven, cocked her head to the side. "Oh, but Mr. Warrior, sir, we have many, many rooms, and lots of room for you! Surely you would like to stay where it is warm and cozy? You are most welcome." She smiled beatifically and Robin felt his stomach do something unpleasantly exciting.

Cerin shook his head. "No, really, I'd prefer the roof, thank you." Then he returned to his food.

All was silent in Titan's Tower for several moments. Then Beast Boy spoke up. "So, ah... how do you and Raven know each other exactly?"

Cerin paused and looked to Raven, who looked entirely disinterested in the conversation and was looking in another direction. Cerin looked back at Beast Boy and shrugged, then swallowed. "What are you all to Raven?" He inquired quietly, glancing at Raven as the words left his mouth as if worried he was saying the wrong thing. Raven was busy examining her nails with a studious frown.

"Friends," Robin responded instantly. "We're her friends and she is ours. Now, we deserve to know what the f—" Robin took a breath. "Why are you here, and what is Raven to you?"

Cerin glanced at Raven, who was now frowning at the group of them.

Exasperated, Robin turned to Raven. "Is this him? The guy you were talking about last night?"

Raven stiffened.

Robin scowled. "You don't have to be so secretive, you know. It's not like we'd ever hold something against you, we are your friends and accept you for who you are and... all that you have been."

Raven looked away and Cerin started to rise from his seat.

"Goddamnit, Raven!" Robin cried in frustration.

And suddenly he was lifted off his feet by a strong hand on his collar. Startled, Robin looked over the fist at his throat into the icy eyes of this stranger.

Cyborg and Beast Boy cried out in protest, jumping up from their own seats, and Starfire made a disconcerted noise.

"Put him down." Raven said bluntly.

Cerin did, if with noticeable reluctance. He turned away from Robin and the indignant Titans. "Whatever you say," He said with a sigh to the dark eyed girl.

Raven looked off to the side. "I know." She whispered.

Cerin took her slim shoulders into his hands, gently stroking the material of her cloak with one thumb. "Why did you cut your hair?" He said at last.

Raven looked up, startled. "What? My hair?" She reached up to touch her head, as if to insure they were talking about the same hair that hung around her ears.

"Yes."

Raven frowned. "Manageability."

"Oh," he said; bringing a hand up to cup her sallow cheek. He ran a finger along the delicate curve of the bone under her eye.

"AHEM." A throat was cleared behind them, breaking the image of solitude between Raven and Cerin.

Robin shifted on his feet as two pairs of emotionless eyes turned on him. "I'm sorry," he said abruptly. "I probably got a little out of hand there. I just... I don't like not knowing what exactly is going on." He finished with a deep breath.

Cerin shifted and only Robin could see that his grip had tightened on Raven's shoulders. "I'm here to take Raven to a safe place." He said. Raven looked off to the side. "She can't stay here much longer."

Gasps and displeased or confused reactions abounded from the other Titans.

Robin opened his mouth a moment before the words actually came out. "What do you mean? She's safe here. We can protect her, we're her friends and all was fine before—"

"Robin," Raven interrupted. "He's right. In fact, if I stay here much longer I'll be putting you all in danger greater than any you have experienced before."

"That can't be true!" Beast Boy cried out suddenly. "What can he do that we can't for you?" He pointed an accusing finger at Cerin, whose eyes were downcast from the gaze of anyone and was gripping Raven's shoulders with white-knuckled intensity.

"Why exactly is this a necessity?" Cyborg asked, frowning.

Raven paused. "Because, my father will be coming soon."

The four Titans paled or squeaked, respectively.

"He comes behind me." Cerin said quietly to the floor. "I came as quickly as I could, lest he find Raven before me." He raised his eyes from the tile to look at the dark girl in his hands. "It has been many years, but I am here, and now we must leave again."

Raven bit her lip, returning Cerin's look a moment before looking at her Titans. "I'm sorry," she said, "but you must accept it."

Robin's fists tightened at his sides. He had always known Raven's past was troublesome, and he had known that should it be dug up it would only cause more trouble. That was in fact the main reason he had never tried to pry into her private life. Her private life was trouble and could only cause trouble. But now her past was coming back to haunt not only Raven, but those around her. The Titans were going to lose one of their own, and he didn't like it.

"But surely, we can come with you!" Starfire cried; and all eyes turned to her.

"That won't work." Cerin said, eyes still on Raven.

Before even making the decision, Robin jumped at the chance. "But it would! We are the Titans, and the Titans stick together. We'll all come with you, and help in the best ways that we can. We'll defeat your father!" Robin finished, hardly realizing what he was saying.

"Yeah!" Beast Boy and Cyborg cried their approval and Starfire jumped for joy.

Cerin frowned.

Raven sighed. "You'd be safer here. You should stay here, protect the city and do your duty."

"Our duty is to you," Robin replied, "our friend."

Raven watched him for a quiet moment. "My father cannot be defeated, with your help or without it. You don't know what you ask for."

"We're coming with you." Robin said adamantly.

Cerin shook her shoulders slightly. "We don't have time for this."

Raven sighed. "We leave in the morning." She said resignedly.

Beast Boy and Cyborg leaped for joy, Starfire twirled in the air.

Cerin sighed. "We should leave now, Raven."

Raven shook her head. "I need to erase the traces of my presence from this place so my father may lose the trail. It'll take a while." She shook Cerin's hands off her shoulders. "I'll be going, get some rest."

Robin frowned internally. He wondered which was more important: holding onto a friend no matter what it took, or his dreams of heroism. He got the distinct impression he wouldn't be seeing Titan's Tower for a while.

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A/N: Short, again, I know. But this is the second chapter in two days, eh? Tell me what you think.