Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans. I do own Dove though – Princess of the Crystal Desert. Nor do I own any Guild Wars references.

Notes on this excerpt: Robin is a devil, a crossbreed between Demons and Humans. If you wish to get a better feel for a Devil's way of living I suggest you read Fine Line by cimple. Also, at the moment they are in a world called Tyria, a world which Guild Wars Prophecies is set in (a role-playing game). Lakeside Country is a very western sort of countryside.

Trust

Sunlight peeked in through the slightly open curtains, creating a small beam of light on Richard's face. His eyebrows furrowed as he was unceremoniously dragged back into reality. Opening his eyes he shut them tightly as the sun's rays almost blinded him.

Stupid sun… he thought darkly, growling.

He shuffled slightly, freezing when his hand suddenly came into contact with bare skin. That wasn't his. Richard swallowed and opened his eyes, squinting in the light.

He was met with a view of someone's forehead, quite close, framed by shiny purple hair. His body relaxed as he realized who it was and recalled last night. Requesting his presence the young woman in front of him had slept soundly, finally feeling safe after her ordeal with the Bandits.

Light cascaded over her smooth face, her hair shining and the gem on her forehead, her chakra she had said, glittering magically. Richard found himself smiling as her head moved, trying to avoid the sunlight coming through the navy blue curtains.

Slowly he moved the hand which was on her side, and then faltered as she shivered slightly at the contact, goose-bumps forming on her skin around his fingers. Deciding against anymore movement he set about memorizing her features.

Soft, wavy purple hair framed her face and splayed across the pillow, shining in the light. Naturally arched eyebrows rested over her closed eyelids, which curled delicately. The gem on her 'chakra' sparkled mysteriously, emitting a dark red colour as the sun shone though it like a prism.

Ever-so-slowly he moved his free hand (which had been folded up against him) and placed his fingertips on her pale grey lips lightly, his eyes wide at the possibility of her waking up at any moment.

Richard lay there, simply watching the empath sleep. His eyes were drawn to her forehead, where the red gem, a ruby he assumed, sparkled. There's so much I don't know about her…but I want to know everything. He thought determinedly. He found himself leaning forward; brushing his lips against hers and making his lips tingle from the touch. The woman moaned, slowly waking up.

Richard hurriedly closed his eyes and evened out his breathing, pretending to be asleep as her eyes opened sleepily, blinking in the light. She moved slightly then stopped as his hand fell down onto her hip bone. He heard her sharp intake of breath and he swallowed nervously.

"I know you're not asleep." She said accusingly.

Richard sighed and opened his eyes, looking straight into her purple ones. "Um, morning?" he tried.

She scowled and glared at him, somehow at the same time. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I can explain!" he said desperately as she sat up pulling her nightgown down, which had ridden up in the night. He mimicked her, looking in her eyes as she crossed her arms angrily. "I woke up with my hand on your side, I was trying to move but every time I did you came closer to waking up." He explained.

"Then you should've just let me wake up." She argued.

"I couldn't." he shrugged, "You looked like you were having a nice dream." He smiled absently, remembering his observations.

"Demons don't have good dreams." She said rolling her eyes and crossing her legs, placing her hands palm-up on her knees.

"You don't? You mean you have nothing but nightmares?" he asked shocked.

She shrugged. "We either have nightmares or no dreams at all." She said it like one would the time of day.

"That's horrible!" Richard's lips pouted as he thought about her heritage. No good dreams, she doesn't even get weird dreams that makes no sense! His hair fell into his eyes, making him scowl, but a sweep of his hand got it out of the way.

"It must be annoying to not have your hair gel." She remarked, suppressing a smile.

"No kidding." He tilted his head to the right, thinking. "How come Demons only have nightmares?" he asked curiously.

She looked across the room, looking at a painting of the Lakeside Country in autumn. "When Azarath was originally formed many Demons attacked it, nearly killing the entire population. The people turned to their leader, Azar, for help." She looked back at him. "She defeated the Demons, and as punishment for the carnage they brought she banished all good dreams from the Demons' mind, and cursed their blood so that their descendants wouldn't either."

"Wow…you have no good dreams then?" he asked (again).

She rolled her eyes, exasperated. "Yes we have no good dreams." She added under-her-breath, "Although I get other peoples' dreams."

Richard heard this and looked at her. "You have other peoples' dream!" he asked, shocked.

She sighed, avoiding his eyes and blushing. "Thanks to Lyssa's gift to me I become witness to other peoples' dreams more frequently then my own nightmares."

"Wow," suddenly he laughed lightly. "That must get really embarrassing sometimes."

The empath rolled her eyes. Typical! Boys always think of that first. "Quite." She answered.

Richard's smiled disappeared, replacing it with a worried expression. "Hey?" he said quietly, shuffling closer to him. She looked at him with un-assuming eyes, but with a small dose of fear in them. "Are you alright, about yesterday?"

She closed her eyes, pushing back any flashbacks back firmly. "No," she looked at him, a sad smile on her face. "But I will be." She clutched one arm with the other, her hair falling forwards as her head hung down. He shuffled even closer and cupped her chin with his hand, lifting her face until she had to look into his Blue Lagoon eyes. He smiled at her warmly, rubbing his thumb across her cheek affectionately.

"Don't worry Dove, I won't let anyone hurt you again." he vowed.

Dove's face grew patronizing. "You can't promise something like that Richard." She scolded.

He grinned cockily. "Yeah I can. I'm the Boy Wonder remember?" she rolled her eyes at this. He stared at her silently, until Dove scowled and asked to the reason for his staring. "Would you get any flashbacks if I hugged you?" he asked tenderly.

Dove stared at him confused. "I don't think so…they didn't really hug me." She said logically. He smiled and moved forward, wrapping his arms around her. Despite the warning her back straightened as their bodies collided. The trust between the two shown by the way there was no space between their bodies, the way Dove's arms were folded up against his chest, her head resting on his shoulder.

Dove closed her eyes, finally feeling warm and safe. She relaxed into his arms, their bodies going together like a jigsaw puzzle. His heartbeat, which was rather fast for a calm state, drummed against her breast echoing her own. She opened her eyes and stared at his exposed neck and chest (which she just realized had no shirt on); looking up she met his eyes and froze.

Richard tightened his arms, his heart going crazy in his chest. A wave of affection and worry overcame him, making his heartstrings twinge as he thought of what had happened to her. If anyone hurts her again I swear I'll make them wish they were never born. His eyes glowed red briefly, his fangs lengthening. He looked down at her, to be met with her purple orbs looking straight at him and paused, entranced.

Their heads leaned towards each other, their lips just touching when a knock on the door alerted them to someone else's presence.

"Dove! Are you alright in there?" Prince Rurik's voice came through the heavy door, sounding alert and worried. Dove pulled back and looked at Richard, offering a sad smile (even though her cheeks were red) and got up to greet the prince of Ascalon.