Chapter 5: Energy

Robin knitted his brows and shook his head before crossing something out on the piece of paper he was looking at. On top of the coffee table of the Common room, piling upon a the yellowish wooden surface were some documents full of writings, markings, notes and photos. It was obviously that he was working on a case. A complex one, to be exact, based on the way he relentlessly wrote down inferences and then disposed all of them, before doing it again, and again, and again…

Finally, the Boy Wonder let out a long sigh as he gave up, throwing the pen on the desk and watched it rolled on the mess of different materials.

Dead end, dead end, everywhere was dead end! He should have known better. After all, this was a 10-year-old case! If it had already lasted that long in this world full of detectives and heroes, how could he expect to solve it within only 24 hours and with nothing by his side but his own mind?

Okay, his mind was good, but it had only been in the hero career for like, 6 or 7 years. Something as old as 10 years was just too much for it.

Wait, did he just argue with his mind about his mind's capability?

That's it, he needed a break! He was getting delirious.

Robin cracked his knuckles as he leaned his back again his chair and placed his legs on the mess pilling upon the desk and interlaced his fingers behind his head, forming a relaxing posture. God, he had been in this sitting position for too long that he couldn't even bend his neck backward even just a millimeter! Everything running across his head right now was nothing but data, number, and other data. He couldn't even remember what he had done the day earlier. Oh right, he was working on this case…

Wait, why did everything he did in his free time usually involved investing a case?

Did he really have no hobby?

Was his life so dull that he actually made this his hobby?

"I'm surprised that it took you this long to realize. In case you're wondering, Yes. And past tense honestly isn't a suitable choice, when is your life not dull and boring and tedious?"

His train of thoughts derailed, and he was pulled out of his mind as the familiar monotone voice pushing its way into it. He didn't even need to look to know who was talking. After all, only one single person in this Tower would talk to him in this manner.

He casted a glance sideway, and wasn't surprised even the slightest as his gaze fell on her feminine, hourglass figure. She didn't bring her eyes to meet his, she never would, somehow she was just fond of pretending that she was the only existence in this universe and that everybody else was plainly invisible, even when she had just spoken to them at first.

She didn't have the gigantic leather books that she cherished like her own babies with her today. Instead, she was holding a delicate cup in her slender palms, the fragrant aroma and elaborate wisps flying up from it relentlessly like performing a dance indicating that her morning tea had begun. Now, if there was anything she loved just second to her books, that would be her tea – chamomile, nothing else added as it ruined concentration, like she had explained every time somebody questioned the inseparable link between her and the drink. Apparently, she would get grumpy without it. And like every Titan knew, a grumpy Raven could literally mean the funeral of anyone living with her, so they just let her be and never disturbed her precious time.

"I thought you said that empath couldn't read mind." Robin quirked an eyebrow, his entire back slumped against the soft sofa. Yeah, this was much better, his back was killing him. How long had he been slouching over the coffee table anyway? He couldn't even remember correctly. He woke up early, somewhere between midnight and dawn, and decided that he would just flex his mental muscles a little bit. It couldn't have been that long, could it?

"You were mumbling." Raven sent him a cold look, and calmly took a sip of her tea. "Perhaps you should consider a change of name. Boy Blunder seems like a better suit."

"Was I?" He found his eyebrow rising even higher, paying no mind to her harsh words. "I guess sleepiness has gotten the best of me." He had grown acquainted to her personality, and he knew that she didn't mean any of that. Crass, she was, and sometimes maybe cruel. But that was the things that made her her, she never went easy on anyone and treated everyone equally irrespective of who they were.

And that's why he found it comfortable to be around her.

"Running on coffee and stubbornness won't take you anywhere good, Robin. I would be surprise if you actually make it to your 20s." Raven spoke again, still in her emotionless and cold manner, but he could tell that there was some concern lurking somewhere in her tone, and that brought a small smile to his lips. His eyes set on her, on the slim, seemingly fragile fingers that encircled the small cup, on the violet eyes resembling rare gemstones that had never been discovered, and on the violet hair that seemed to glow as the faints rays of morning sunlight danced atop it…

Wait… was it morning already? He actually spent hours here without even realized?

"Go to sleep, Robin. It's not like the cases are gonna run away while you take a nap."

"But if I try a bit more, maybe…"

"You have been going at it for, like, three hours and a half, and yet, no progress." She glanced at him, her voice raised a notch as she tucked a lock of violet hair behind her ear. "They labeled those unsolvable for a reason, Boy Blunder."

Her eyes glinted, and he could swear that for a while, he saw the words "Bird Brain" running across her violet orbs even though she kept her face blank and emotionless as ever. He never could understand how she could put on a tranquil face and while holding someone as a ridicule subject with just her words and gesture. It was rather impressive, and, all the while downright terrifying too.

"You wouldn't mind if I sleep right here on the couch, would you?" Knowing that there was no point in arguing with her, mainly because she was right and his mind was not in the right state to form proper words, much less a battle with words against Raven of all people. "I really don't have enough energy to move."

"Go ahead. But just for you know, Cyborg and Beast Boy can get down here in just an hour or two and begin another franchise of 'Meat vs Tofu." Raven shrugged and replied in a nonchalant voice, as though she herself actually had no problem with that.

"Try not to kill them this time. And remember to open the window at first if you plan to throw any of them outside. The preparation fee put pressure on our budget last month." Robin mumbled, trying to hold back a yawn. Now that the concentration and adrenaline drained from his vein, exhaustion was coming and hitting him on full force. If he just shut his eyes, perhaps he would be gone until the end of the week.

But first…

"Could you go get me a sandwich or something? My stomach's just too empty to fall asleep."

"You sleep with your eyes, not your stomach. I don't see any problem here."

"That's hurtful!" He whined falsely insulted, even putting his hand on his heart exaggeratedly: "Come on, it'll not take long. There's leftover in the fridge."

"Then just go and grab it yourself." Raven stated with a stern voice, refuse to back down, her violet eyes focused on the cup in her slender hands.

"C'mon, Rae." The masked boy shot up from his half-lying, half-sitting position and inched closer to the violet-haired sorceress, until his black cap touched her indigo cloak. The dark girl instantly wiped her head toward him, scowling and shot him a heated glare, a clear sign that she was in no mood to fool around and that he had better get away from her unless he wanted to die a slow and painful death. But Robin just returned her with a sly smirk, unaffected by her rage. He didn't even know how come he mustered such courage, but he blamed it on the sleepiness.

"How about I give you a shot of energy first, and then you return the favor?"

"Knock it off, Robin. I'm serious…"

He lunged, and that was the only words she could spoke, because right there, he kissed her.

Full on the lips.

Raven widened her eyes, her heart skipped a beat, she didn't even see this coming at all. His lips were hot against hers, passionate, but all the while innocent. She could sense his desire, his care, his emotions, and on top of all, his love. It was at this moment that she wondered whether he was tired and had his mind invaded by fatigue at all, because he seemed pretty much awake to her…

She didn't even get a chance to fully react, to get a hold of the situation, and yet, he had already let her go. His thin lips hovered on her lump ones, a mischievous grin slowly stretched them up as his masked eyes stared into her shocked, perplexed violet eyes.

"Is that enough?"

She swallowed, finding herself almost shivered as his low voice danced on her ears, tickled the, toying with them, turning them all red. She took a deep breathe, doing her best to regain her composure and stop her emotions from blowing the whole Tower up.

"You taste terrible."

That was all her mind could come up with. It was too busying keeping her squealing and screaming emotions in control at the moment.

"That's why I needed the food." He closed in again, cutting the short distance between them. His gloved fingers reached up and twirled a lock of her violet hair around and around, had them trapped in his grasp, just like the way he had her: "If you're not satisfied, I can make up for you." Husky, masculine voice, and her skin crawled at that. Damn it, he knew exactly how to untangle her completely. His hot, almost scorching breath was on her again, and his hand began moving downward…

"For the love of… Fine! I'll get you that stupid sandwich. Happy?"

With all the strength she could gather, Raven extended her arms and pushed the unbelievable bold Robin away, feeling her breathing turned erratic as blood rushed to her cheeks and turned pale grey into deep red. Her leader leaned back against the sofa, smiling at her cheekily, as if he himself was the reason behind her being totally disheveled like this.

As he watched her getting up from her comfy spot, leaving her favorite tea unfinished on the table and stormed toward the fridge while cursing him under her breath, an ear-to-ear grin plastered across his face. He couldn't wait to see her reaction when he finished up the meal, and then just finished her off. He bet that it would be priceless. Maybe he could even get her to use her voice in a more… creative way.

But now… sleep!