2 years ago….

Raven was impressed with the progress of her team over the years. They were all now 23, give or take, depending on which member she thought of. She was surprised at how much they'd all grown- and how much closer they'd all grown. Beastboy, shockingly, was taking online courses in video game design. Terra was back at the tower, and one of the most honorable people she knew. Cyborg was maturing in his romance and was now engaged to Bubble Bee. Starfire was finally fully acclimated to Earth's way of life. And of course Robin, was growing into a strong, admirable leader she could be truly proud to follow.

She thought of herself too. Spending more time with her teammates, letting them in deeper than ever before. She saw how appreciative they all were of this new Raven. Bothering to laugh at their ridiculous jokes. Listening to rants and raves of Starfire and Terra about boys and clothes. Even playing a video game or two with Cy and Beasty. She'd been grateful for their patience, as she spent years honing her powers so she'd be able to let more emotion show.

Her commitment to being more emotionally available to her friends, the only true friends she's ever had, must be why there's a knock on her door so late at night. Years ago, no one would have dared approached her at this hour as she sat secluded in her quarters. She cracked her door (force of habit) to she that the leader she had so much pride in was standing before her. She noticed his nervousness immediately, and glanced down to see disorganized books and papers in his hands. Confused and intrigued, she invited him in, without using her words to do so.

He made himself comfortable and spent the next three hours pouring out his heart and soul. Raven was deeply impressed with his new found interest. The passion he spoke with was something she'd never seen in him before. Even when he'd spoke of new training regimens and motorcycle upgrades in the past. This other side of Robin subconsciously drew her in. They began spending almost every late night together, when there wasn't any crime to interfere.

He laid himself bare. This surprised her immensely. Aside from herself, he'd been the most private and secluded member of the team, carefully choosing what to share with his peers. This was something they had always mutually respected about each other. And yet here they were, spilling secrets and dreams and fears that had never left their lips to be heard by another living being. As he did with her, Raven began to lay herself bare as well.

After about 3 months, she admonished herself on a daily basis. She began seeing him as more than a leader, more than a teammate… more than a friend. Alone, she'd shake her head violently to fight the thoughts that would creep through her mind. She'd always lose the battle. Her ability of empathy was turned off, but she didn't need it to see that he might feel the same way. They'd sit too close as they looked over his art. He'd extend his arm behind her chair as he read aloud from one of his new found books. They'd hold on just a little too long as they hugged goodnight.

Raven never considered herself to be relationship material. And therefore, never allowed herself to think that far ahead when interacting with the opposite sex. Sure she could admit when a guy was good looking, but all the things girls thought of after acknowledging such a thing never accrued to her. She believed this was her demon half seeing it as weak and futile. But here she was, thoughts running wild, acknowledging those other thoughts. His touch. His taste. Even more than that. Cuddling late into the night and whispering sweet nothings to each other while the world was at bay.

She was ashamed at giving into the idea of this silliness. But she couldn't help it. She hid her turmoil well. He was not so skilled at that. His feelings were written on his face every time they met. It even started to bleed into the day. She'd catch him staring from across the room. She forced herself not to blush. This new found, and agonizing, view of her friend tortured her daily. Three more months passed. As much as she tried to ignore what she was feeling, she began to feel desperate for the pressure and tension to come to a head.

Say something you fool. Kiss me you fool! Reassure me… reassure me I'm not alone in this. And then she understood why nothing was ever said. Had she been so caught up in her own feelings that she made up him feeling the same? She'll never forget that night. The night Starfire was ecstatic beyond reason, blushing as bright as her hair. They went on a date. They kissed. Starfire was sure they were soulmates. Raven's stomach pitifully turned on itself, sinking to the depths of Hell. That night she refused to cry. She had given him so many pieces of her, she would not give him that.

She grew distant. Their meetings became awkward. Thankfully, distracted by his new relationship, the meetings eventually stopped entirely. She missed their nights, but was deeply relieved to no longer face him in such an intimate setting. It hurt for a while. Seeing them together. But she numbed herself to it, laughing it off as a foolish lapse in judgment. But there was something in the way he was with Star. Guarded? Regret filled? Lonely even? Raven ignored the hope that tried to make it's way from her mind to her heart. She moved on.

Present day….

Raven was in his living room. It was without thought that she teleported here. She heard running water in the bathroom. She made her way through his run down home and slowly opened the door to his facility. The creak caught Jason's attention and he coward against the wall. His face was riddled with fear. He looked confused and full of terror. "What in the world happened?" she asked softly, careful to not upset him any further than he already was. "I-I-I honestly have no idea. I have not a single clue. What-what was that? What am I?"

He began to sob uncontrollably, curling into a fetal position near his toilet. Raven dropped to her knees next to him and stroked his hair out of his face. "We'll figure it out. We'll figure it out together." That childhood memory he always ran from made itself present in his current thoughts. "You're gonna give me what I want!" He clinched his eyes and began to rock. "Please no. Please no!" His pleading made Raven move her hand from his hair to his face. And once again the memory flooded through her being, clearer now than ever before.