Raven walks… ..hovers… … …'glides' through the Tower's hallways. She is making her way past the infirmary, but pauses momentarily to glance in on a certain Starfire. The movement and the observation is swift, for—as it turns out—Starfire is not only recovering from her bruises but she is not alone. A certain Static sits on the edge of the exam bed besides her and the two talk. Their legs dangling side by side. As innocent as can be.

'Innocent'.

Raven doesn't know whether to wince or smirk. As always, she chooses the safe route—not necessarily inbetween, but around. She emotes nothing.

Swishing about in her robe, she turns and heads gracefully down the remainder of the hallway.

Something dark and smoky catches the peripheral of her vision.

She stops with a jerk and glances over her shoulder. A dark eyebrow is raised as two violet pupils calmly grace the length of the hall.

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

"…. … …."

Raven walks over to a wall.

She gently presses her palm against it.

She slowly shuts her eyes and meditates.

A slight gray glow flickers around her and is gone again.

Then—in another beat—her eyelids lift open. A breath, and she glances down.

Down through the floors.

Down through the floors of the Tower.

"…. …. …"

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

I do not know that I am asleep until I am being awoken by a gentle but persistent knocking on my basement bedroom door.

I stir atop my small bed. I have plopped down across the top blanket, fully clothed and all. I never even bothered with the covers.

The knocking continues.

I sit up with half a gasp and settle as the blood flow returns to normal in my skull. All the while, faint… …smoky images of underground H.I.V.E. passageways and torture laboratories fade from recent memory.

If I had vocal cords, I would be groaning. I run a hand through my bushied hair, swivel out of bed, leap down, and trudge over towards the door of knockingness.

Creeeeak.

Raven.

I do a double-take.

Her again?

"Having trouble sleeping?"

I shake my head. Halfway through, I wince—for I realize as much as she does that I'm lying.

"Noir… …. …I must inquire," Raven drones. A gentle gesture of the feminine hand: "Are you doing well? Or is there something troubling you?"

I gulp, a little in confusion and a little in discomfort. I look up towards her—for she is almost at eye-level with me, but not quite. She'd make a great counselor if only she wasn't so… …I dunno… … …pale?

I shrug, scratch the back of my neck, and start hand-signing. But soon I realize it's a fruitless effort to answer her.

Then is it not all the more fruitless an effort for her to ask such things of me?

What's going on here?

What's the big picture?

What am I missing?

"Noir, ever since you and the other four returned from the recent operations in the wilderness, the proverbial cat has got your tongues," Raven dictates. "Static and Starfire aren't talking because they only know as much as their little run-in with Flaar will tell them. Bard isn't talking because of a stubborn, cowboy resistance to all things with half the ego that he's got. Robin knows more than he cares to share, but is using his authoritative initiative not to reveal it. And you?" She leans her head slightly to the side. "I believe you know something about the recent excursion, but are too afraid to share it. Because everyone around you is for the first time—like you—'mute'."

I gulp. I glance aside with a shudder.

What can I tell her?

I don't know what it is that Robin saw down there with Mister Freeze!

I don't know what sent Bard off and running into the night when things got heated at the last second!

I only know that…. …that….

That Red X isn't the Red X that we thought he was.

Or is he?

A suit?

A robot?

What is he?

Never mind 'who'—What?

But I've fought with Red X, and so has Robin. He's a 'who', not a 'what'…… …right?

"Noir, I cannot force you to do so, but I think that it would be a smart decision to go and talk with Robin about this," Raven says.

I smile nervously. A sweatdropping.. … …

"Who knows…?" She drones—mostly to herself this time. "Maybe this can start bridging the godawful gap in communication that has afflicted all of us at this time."

I shrug. I hand-sign nervously. I consider trying to tell her about Red X. But—who am I kidding?

She's right.

Robin it is, then…

I motion 'upstairs' and point out the door to my basement bedroom.

She nods and—with a swish of her cape—shows me the way. "Good boy. After you."

I take a brave breath and start my trek upstairs to Robin's room—

But Raven's hand rests on my shoulder.

I shudder to a stop. Blinking black eyes. Her hand is so soft—yet so commanding. I don't know whether to be scared or--?

"Noir… …I am…. …how-should-I-say-it… … …concerned."

I turn and glance at her wyrdly.

Raven?

Concerned?

How out of character is that?

Pffft….damn fourth wall—

"Please answer me, if you can," she says gently. "Have you truly been having a hard time sleeping lately?"

I squint my eyes at her. Then blink in thought…

Heh…

'Trouble sleeping'…. …

Does going to bed and not worrying about waking up in the morning considered 'troublesome'?

Aye, there I go being melodramatic again.

I have no trouble sleeping.

I just… …I just…. …

I think of nice, beautiful things. And I can relax.

Like a good song. A day out in the warm breeze.

Fei-Yan… …

"…. .. ….," I glance confusedly at Raven's hand on my shoulder.

She glances as well, shakes off the perplexity, and steps back. "Never the matter. I am simply wanting to make sure you're looked out for."

I nod with a strategically sarcastic smile.

Isn't every freakin' one these days?

Together, we ascend.