Hey everyone! Yeah, I know; months of almost total writing inactivity, and then BOOM! I throw out a chapter of SWBTN, a two-shot (can you say that, or is there only "one-shot"?), and this! Can you believe it? Hopefully it'll keep up and I can keep on writing like I have been lately. Anyways, here's what I've come up with so far for this. Robin and Raven just got out of a fairly disastrous relationship between the two of them. I'm not sure why, exactly, so just use your imaginations, okay? Anyway, Robin started dating Starfire soon after that to sort of help him forget about Raven, and Raven started dating Speedy just to spite him. But then it gets complicated because she still feels for Robin, but she likes Speedy too, and a bunch of little things start to happen that seem to push the two birds closer back together, even if they don't want to admit that they miss each other. So when Robin gets some horrible news, one girl goes to console him… But will it be Starfire (poor Raven) helping her boyfriend through his time of need? Or will Raven let go of her pride (and her morals- poor Speedy) and give Robin the comfort he needs? We'll both have to find out because I've got a scene plotted out in my head for both scenarios, and I can't decide which to use… So read on, faithful reviewers (or not so faithful, whichever fits you) and tell me what you think! Oh, and this'll only have, I don't know, three or four chapters in it (that way I won't get bored before I finish it) so the chapters will be kind of long.

Moocow

Disclaimer: Ha! I'm not going to do that stupid disclaimer thing! You can't make me!
Dedication: For my wonderful beta, Tecna.

In Medias Res
Chapter One:
The Conflict
by:
angelus abyssi

The car ride to town was more comfortable now than it had been even as early as four days before. The Teen Titans sat in their normal spots, chatting amiably about whatever came to mind… mostly. While her friends around her talked to each other, she sat in silence. That in itself was not unusual, but the silence around her seemed thick, almost tangible, and it radiated a distinct 'Fuck off' vibe. The only one in the car brave enough to speak to her was the mechanical creator, owner, and driver of the vehicle. But then maybe that wasn't bravery; he was just the only one she hadn't made pseudo death threats towards within the past week and a half.

"I don't wanna close my eyes- Come on, Rae, sing with me- I don't wanna fall asleep 'cause I'll miss ya baby, and I don't wanna miss a thing!" Cyborg sang loudly. (1)

Raven glowered at him in slight irritation, but made no other sign to stop him. "I don't sing Aerosmith," she muttered as an excuse.

"Don't you like this song? Here, I'll change the station," he responded cheerfully. He paused a moment to listen, then asked, "Do you like Rachel Farris?"

"You think you can have me and have her when I'm gone. You think you can kiss me and kiss her when I'm gone-" the radio started to sing. (2)

"Change it!" Raven ordered in a strange tone.

"Alright, alright…" the hybrid complied.

"I'm a real soul shaker. I'm a true lo-" another song continued. (3)

"No!" she said quickly.

"-watching you two from the closet, wishing to be the friction in your jeans," went another song. (4)

"No!" she reiterated.

"No, she can't be the one that you want, that has stolen my world." (5)

"Change it!"

"I want you to burn! Burn for me, baby-" (6)

"Go!"

"-wish your girlfriend was hot like m-" (7)

"Change it!" Her voice now had more than a slight note of hysteria in it.

Cyborg reached forward to the radio; but instead of changing the station, he just shut it off. The car was silent now as three pairs of eyes bored into Raven's head from the back seat. She sensed that at least one of the pairs' owners was amused, and probably fairly pleased, with her antics. He had to know that he was the reason for her actions…

"I'll just put in one of my CDs," the cybernetic man muttered. He reached over to the passenger sun visor, pulled it down, grabbed a disc, and shoved it into the stereo.

"Don't wanna be an American idiot!" the speakers played. (8) Raven gave a relieved sigh as they all went back to their conversations.

"Rae," Cyborg began.

"No, I know, but I just… I can't…" she murmured. She tried to speak quietly because she had the uneasy feeling that the cause of her anxiety was listening.

"Look, maybe you should get out of the Tower tonight. I mean, we'll all be going, except for you and-" he suggested.

"I know, but I don't think I'm up to it," she interrupted.

"Speedy will be disappointed," he told her.

"He'll understand," she said firmly. Finally she turned around to see if he really was listening, but he appeared to be deep in conversation with Star. Maybe her instincts were wrong… No, they were never wrong. He had been eavesdropping; she'd just have to confront him about it later.

A few minutes later, Raven was humming along to Boulevard of Broken Dreams (which I don't own; that would be a Green Day song, not mine) when they finally stopped at the pizza parlor. They all piled out, and three Titans raced toward a table, leaving Raven and Robin at the car. She stared at him for a moment before slamming the door and starting to trudge off to their seat.

"Hey, play nice with my baby!" Cyborg yelled from across the parking lot and outside seating area.

"So, nice day, eh?" Robin questioned with a deliberately light tone.

"If I wanted to talk to you, I would have initiated a conversation." Her tone was dark and threatening.

"Jeez, sorry for trying to be nice," he retorted.

"That's not what you should be sorry for," she muttered back. "And from now on, stop listening in on all my conversations. They don't concern you."

"Raven, I don't need to 'listen in' to know what you talk about. Trust me, I have my ways of finding out," he taunted.

"Why you little-" she began.

"Oh dearest Robin, will you not join us in deciding the topping of our Pete's Za?" Starfire's voice called.

Robin grinned at the fuming girl beside him. "Gotta go. My girlfriend awaits me," he said nastily.

Raven froze, gasping as if he had punched her in the stomach. She had had no idea he would hit that low…

Moocow

Robin winced as he turned his back on her. The words had come tumbling out of his mouth even before they hit his brain, and he regretted them instantly. He wasn't usually that harsh with Raven; he tried to be nice to her, especially now…

In spite of his desire to live, Robin sighed and turned toward her again. "Look, Rae, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that…" he told her softly. As he looked up into her eyes, he saw a flash of sorrow in them before she hid it from his gaze. He heard Beast Boy back at the table try to explain to his current girlfriend that the word was really 'pizza', but the youth was having little success.

After a moment, Raven spoke. "It's… it's not like you to apologize. Thank you…"

Robin's mouth almost fell open in shock. She was letting him walk away? With all his body parts? She didn't even give most people the chance to say sorry, but here she was thanking him for it. Maybe he had made a mistake when he… No, don't think about it, he commanded himself. You did the right thing. You'll both be happier now. Just accept it…

"No problem, Rae…" he responded as they both headed over to their friends. As he sat down in between Raven and Star, he felt slightly guilty about reconsidering his decision about Raven; after all, Star was still a great girl who deserved more than his half-hearted intentions… Now if he could only make himself follow through with it…

The gang eventually decided on a medium cheese and a large pepperoni pizza, which were both out in record time. As they chowed down on the greasy slices, Robin couldn't help but let his thoughts stray to the beauty beside him… and he wasn't thinking about the appropriate one either. Despite his resolution to pay proper attention to the red-head, he found that it was hard to put into practice when the object of his more substantial affections was sitting so near him. It didn't help when said person's boyfriend walked up. He couldn't help but wonder if Speedy could sense his enduring warmth for Raven; he always seemed to show up when Robin's mind drifted to his ex.

"Hey guys, what's up?" Speedy asked the Titans in general. "Hey Rae, having a good day?" he said to her specifically. The look now on their faces was enough to make Robin's blood boil.

Raven smiled and looked up at the skilled archer. "It's been okay, I guess," she told him, flashing Robin the shortest of glances. "We haven't really done much."

Having finished with his sixth slice of pizza, Robin stood up. "Uh, Star? Do you want to walk around with me for a little bit?" he asked, just to get away from the table.

"Oh, I would certainly love to, dearest Robin!" she exclaimed as she bounded out of her seat. "Friends, please call us when you are finished consuming the pete… the peez… the p-eet-zaa… This is correct, yes?"

"Sure it is, just say it a little faster next time. Its pizza," he chuckled, momentarily distracted. But it didn't last long.

While still in his view, Speedy sat down in his vacated seat and put his hand on top of Raven's, which was resting on the tabletop. To Robin's surprise, she turned her hand and intertwined their fingers as she smiled up prettily at him. He had to turn away quickly, lest his inner demons went wild with jealousy. Little did he know, she had realized he was watching, and it was her way of getting back at him for walking off from her- in more than one sense.

Moocow

Not much of a fan of public display of affection, Raven internally winced as she scooted closer to Speedy ever so slightly. She knew it was wrong, but it was just so easy to make Robin mad this way. But Speedy deserved better than that; she didn't like using him like this. Recently though… recently, Raven had found herself more and more interested in him for him, not just as a way to spite Robin. It worried her that she seemed to be falling for him so soon; that just wasn't like her. Then again, it wasn't like her to get revenge either, and it was in doing just that that her other dilemma arose. She suddenly felt like shaking her head violently; the only thing stopping her was the number of odd looks she would likely receive if she did so. All this thinking was making her head hurt.

Leaning in close to her ear, Speedy whispered, "I can't wait for tonight. Are you excited about the new club?"

Raven nearly jumped a mile into the air when he spoke, for she hadn't noticed him bend over her. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I can't believe I forgot. Speedy, I'm not going tonight. I- I think I'm going to stay home," she told him softly.

"At home?" he repeated in mild shock. "You're going to stay home alone?"

"Well, not entirely alone, unfortunately, but close enough. I don't know that Robin is going either…" she muttered, knowing that his reaction would be suspicious.

"If that's what you want, I guess… But are you sure you want to stay in the tower with just the two of you?" he almost whined, giving her the puppy-dog eyes.

"What do you think I'm going to do, jump him in the elevator on the way to our rooms? You know better than that," she retorted with the smallest of smiles.

"I know you won't do anything, but he might." His voice held only the slightest amount of jealousy, which she secretly found amusing in an ironic sort of way. He was jealous of the man she was trying to make jealous. It was almost something one would laugh at in a sitcom on television, or roll one's eyes at on a movie.

"Don't worry. I can take care of myself, and I can take care of him if he tries anything…" she teased gently.

"Well, that's reassuring. I hope Boy Wonder doesn't have a broken arm next time I see him, because then I'll know what happened," he said laughingly.

She smiled and spoke again. "Seriously, don't worry. Robin won't do anything; he knows we're together. He wouldn't do that to either of us. And if he thinks anything like me, he knows Titan relationships are screwed up enough as it is without going around cheating on each other."

"So you think we're screwed up?" he joked.

"I think we have to be to go around wearing spandex and capes and leotards and miniskirts all the time, not to mention willingly going out to get fresh bruises from the many nutcases we have to fight. Don't you agree?" she asked with a cocked head.

"Well, when you put it like that…" he grinned as he leaned his forehead against hers. "Are you sure you don't want to come?"

"I'm sure. Just make sure you have fun without me. Dance with Star if you get a chance. She'll be depressed without Robin…" Raven told him. Speedy nodded, and at that moment the couple in discussion walked back up. For some reason, the alien princess looked upset and her companion resolved.

"Friend Beast Boy, please tell Robin how much fun there is to be had at the parties of loud music and fast dancing! He tells me that he does not wish to go!" she exclaimed. Robin just shook his head.

"Dude, you're not going?" gasped the changeling.

"I've only been saying that for the past four hours! Will you people just accept it?" Robin moaned exasperatedly.

"What's wrong, Robby-poo? Is it too much to ask for an explanation?" Raven said bitingly. Their gazes met and he knew she wasn't just talking about going out that night.

"Is it too much to ask for you to tolerate my presence for five minutes?" he growled.

"I've tolerated your presence for five hours. I think I'm allowed a little sarcasm, considering the circumstances. And bearing in mind the fact that I'm going to have to spend a few MORE hours with you and only you, I think you can accept that. Besides, that's why you're staying home isn't it? You're just hoping to get me alone…"

"I hate to burst your bubble, Rae, but there isn't going to be any elaborate or romantic making up or making out tonight. We're finished, and that's that."

"Gee, that's just what I was telling Speedy. It sure is a good thing we're on the same page here, or we might have had some problems tonight."

"The only 'problems' we might have had are the ones you would have started."

"Whatever, Robin. Is anyone still eating or can we go now?" she asked angrily.

"Uh… I think we're all done here," Cyborg muttered.

"Hey, Rae, since you're not going with us tonight, do you mind if we spend a little time together now?" Speedy asked quietly.

"I… I'd like that," Raven responded, noticing full well the unhappy glares Robin was giving the pair of them. And just to give Robin the show that she knew he was expecting- and hopefully dreading- she leaned forward and pressed her lips gently against Speedy's. The red-headed archer then threaded his arm through hers and they turned and walked off towards the downtown area.

Moocow

"I can't believe she'd have the nerve to insinuate that I would have any else to do with her! God! How can she be so… so…" Robin had been ranting on in this fashion for the majority of the car ride back to the Tower and had continued even after they entered the building.

"Arrogant? Stubborn? Hurtful?" Starfire suggested. Her contributions caused everyone to look at her in shock. Star never insulted Raven; they were best friends! Then Robin noticed that her narrowed eyes were aimed in his direction, and he realized that maybe she wasn't really talking about Raven. "Are those the words you were looking for?"

"Uh… maybe…" Robin muttered, wondering where this was going.

"Are you sure you were meaning Raven when you were searching for these words? Because they describe you quite well!" she yelled at him.

"Star, is this still about me not going to that thing tonight?" he asked her exasperatedly. Her sniffle seemed to be the only answer he was going to get. "Look, I'm just tired, okay? I just don't feel like going out tonight. Maybe later we can go somewhere, just us two, to make it up to you, 'kay?" he soothed while pulling her closer for a one-sided hug.

"I do not know if I wish to go anywhere with you. Maybe you should ask Raven to go, as you seem much more eager to spend time with her than with me."

Silence… Silence… Silence… Then- "Star, are you kidding me?" Robin practically screamed at her. Neither of the people in the argument realized that Cyborg and Beast Boy were now sitting on the couch, a large bowl of popcorn in hand; watching the scene like it was something on television.

"I do not see what a baby goat has to do with this," she remarked coldly.

"No, not a goat, I mean, are you joking? Why, why, why would I prefer to be with her? Have you not been paying attention? Star, we can barely even speak to each other anymore! I just… God! I'm through with this. If anyone needs me, I'll be in my room!"

Moocow

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Ta-

"Stop it!"

… Tap.

"Raven, for god's sake, would stop tapping your goddamn foot?" Robin had had just about enough. Two hours of nonstop Raven had been grating on his last nerve, and the fact that she was pretty much his equal in battle- both physical and verbal (especially verbal)- was the only thing that kept him from declaring an all out war on her. Instead he just took all the snide comments she threw at him, just telling himself over and over that it would only hurt the team if they got into a fight, it would be better not to react to her provocations.

This, however, wasn't just her making some stupid remark about his lack of color coordination or his lack of intelligence or his lack of something or other, which seemed to be the theme tonight. This was Raven knowing exactly what drove him to the edge and toying with him. Tap… Tap… Tap…SLAM!

"… Temper tantrums, much?" she observed dismissively, as if he slammed his fist into the elevator walls all the time.

"Well, if you weren't so fucking annoying, I wouldn't have hit the wall!"

"Nice language, Boy Wonder," she said in the same flippant tone. Almost inaudibly, she added, "I wish you'd hit a bus or something instead…"

"I bet you do…" he responded, catching her slightly off guard.

Silence reigned for a brief few moments before Raven interrupted again. "Robin?" Her voice was soft and uncertain, but the addressed person took no notice.

"I don't want to hear it, Rae. Haven't you gone on enough tonight about how horrible a person I am and how I obviously don't deserve to be leader?"

"… That's not what I was going to- Aieee!" she squealed as the elevator came to an unexpected and abrupt halt. The shaky stop almost knocked her off her feet, but Robin quickly reached out to steady her. Another unexpected jolt caused them to both stumble backwards, so that Robin was now leaning against Raven, who was pressed tightly up against the elevator wall.

Faces inches apart, neither of the birds dared to move. Or really wanted to, for that matter. "Robin…" Raven whispered. Her eyes showed her torn emotions, and his would have too, had they not been covered with his mask. Slowly her lips inched closer to his, all her emotions screaming at her to stop and think about what she was doing. Then Robin began to shift closer as well. Then they both stopped, lips a hair's breadth away. She could feel his minty breath playing across her lips, taste it even, but she didn't dare move again. It had to be obvious now that if he wanted her, he could have her…

"Rae…" he whispered back. His lips brushed against hers, sending minute shivers through her body. Quickly making the decision, he pulled away a bit, noticing the hurt in her eyes. Then the elevator- which was obviously working against them- shifted again, causing him to slip forward a press his mouth to hers in an unwilling kiss.

Unwilling though it maybe have been, both teens reacted to it at once. Raven reached up and tangled her hands into his hair as Robin trailed his hands down her body until they rested on her hips. Her lips parted at once, and her tongue rushed to meet his in a dance they hadn't done in long while. She moaned into the kiss as his hands began to inch their way under the t-shirt she had put on when the other Titans had left. His mouth pulled away from hers and frantically made its way down to her neck, giving it little open-mouthed butterfly kisses that made her heart jump wildly. "Robin…" she whimpered, tilting her head to the side in order to give him better access. His hands were gliding across her stomach, caressing their way up to her bra.

The traitorous elevator then shook roughly, throwing the two in opposite directions, and began to move upward once more. Standing up, Raven smoothed down her slightly stretched shirt and stared at her feet. Robin, however, just stayed on the ground and let his eyes focus on some inconsequential speck resting on the shiny, metallic elevator door. "Let's… Let's not tell anyone about this, alright?" he requested softly. Her suddenly angry eyes turned to him just as the doors slid open.

"Fine," she hissed as she stepped into the hall, making her way toward the kitchen. With a deep sigh, Robin stood and passed through the doors just before they began to close. He turned the corner into the kitchen just in time to see Raven slam her own fist into the hard, metal wall. With great shock, he watched as she pulled her slightly bloody hand away to reveal a large dent where her hand had just been.

Lacking anything else to say, he repeated her words from earlier, "Temper tantrum, much?"

Eyes flashing, Raven looked up at him then stomped away. Suddenly alone in the dark room, Robin groaned and pulled a chair out from under the dining table. "What the hell just happened…" he mumbled rhetorically before letting his head slump to the table in front of him. "What the hell just happened?"

Moocow

Disclaimer Pt. II:

(1) This song is owned not by me, but by Aerosmith.
(2 )This song is owned not by me, but by Rachel Farris.
(3) This song is owned not by me, but by Big & Rich.
(4) This song is owned not by me, but by Fall Out Boy.
(5) This song is owned not by me, but by Hilary Duff.
(6) This song is owned not by me, but by JoDee Messina.
(7) This song is owned not by me, but by The Pussycat Dolls.
(8) This song is owned not by me, but by Green Day.
Alright, I broke down. I don't own the Teen Titans in any way, shape, or form. Please don't sue! I'm not even old enough to enter into a legal contract, so it's not like you'd get anything of value… I don't even have a car!

Oh, you people are so lucky… I think that's the fluffiest thing I've gotten around to posting on here… Not that that's saying much, but hey, beggars can't be choosers, ne? Don't worry, the next chapter should have some fluff, but I feel the need to warn you- it'll be a peace offering, since I'm planning on seriously traumatizing Robin… Well, not too seriously, but he's gonna be having a nasty little breakdown, let me tell you. But that's more than you need to know. You'll just have to see when I post it, won't you? 'Cept Tec, 'cause she's my beta and therefore has to read it in order to beta. But that's not the point. What is the point, you ask? To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. Isn't that reassuring? Well, hope you enjoyed it, hope you review it, and hope you come back to see the rest of it!

Ciao i miei amici
angelus abyssi