~RavensMind~

Between Lovebirds: A Series of Shorts

Scene 5: Day Off

Crime never stopped, but once in a while, the Titans needed to take a well-earned break. It usually took the whole team to convince Robin that they should take a day for themselves, and they'd only ever taken two vacations. One day, they managed to win their leader over after an awful confrontation with some of the Hive students and got the next day off. Cyborg and Beast Boy were going to the movies to see the new Machines vs Zombies film and Starfire planned out an entire day at the mall with Bumblebee and Jinx. Raven had yet to tell anyone what she was going to do. Robin had his mind set on the arcade though, it had been a while since he was there, and needed a chance to play some new games, rather than picking up whatever Cyborg or Beast Boy were playing at the time.

As the team started filing out of the tower to go their own ways for the day, Robin spotted Raven meditating at the edge of the water. He set his helmet on his R-Cycle and waved to Cyborg and Beast Boy as they took foo in the T-Car and then waved to Starfire when she flew off to the mall. Raven didn't budge, hovering over a rock, chanting her mantra. Robin hesitated as he watched her, he wanted to go to the arcade and beat everything and anyone that challenged him, but he couldn't leave her by herself for the day. He hadn't spoken to her in days because she had used their bond to spy on him when he was obsessing over a lead. They had boundaries and she had overstepped. Still, he didn't want to see her waste the day with meditation.

Robin walked away from his motorcycle and quietly approached Raven by the water's edge. Her eyes remained closed even as he stood alongside her. He took in a deep breath and slowly let it out, pretending that he was enjoying the air and breeze, in an effort to ease some of the tension he felt.

"You can say 'hi' you know, or are you still not talking to me?" Raven asked.

"I needed some time, okay? Still not happy about it, but I'm not gonna let it mess with everything," Robin replied.

"I'm sorry," she started, as she opened her eyes and looked over to him," I shouldn't have done it, but you were scaring us."

"'Us'? Did the others know my emotions too?" he asked.

"Fine, me. I did what I thought was right for you, me, and the team. Tell me you wouldn't have interfered like that if you could've when we were facing the end of the world," she replied.

He took a few moments to think things over, if he had her powers, would he have used them to see what she was thinking before she walked away from them, from him, and fulfilled the prophecy of her birth? If he was being honest with himself, yes, but it still unsettled him how readily they would push their boundaries. She cared about him and he would do anything to keep her safe. There were lengths he went to for her that he didn't with the others. It had always bugged him. He should be there for his team and they should all be equal in his charge, but one of them kept taking his focus.

"You make a good point, but can we talk about it later? It's not why I came over here," he said.

"Then what is it?" she asked.

"Do you wanna go to the arcade with me?" he asked.

"Let's see, either the peace of meditation here, or chaos of screaming teenagers...decisions, decisions," she said dryly.

"You won't have to play anything if you don't want to, and we can go to the one across town, it's more quiet," he said, "figured it would be better than hanging out here by yourself."

"The alternative is your company?" she asked.

"Guess there's worse things, right? You could be watching that movie with Cy and Bb, or shopping with Star. C'mon Rae, I don't bite," he said.

"Wish you would," she blurted in a sultry voice.

She covered her mouth with her hand and landed abruptly on the rocks. He reached out to help her up, but she shoved him away and put her back to him as she recollected herself. He raised an eyebrow and watched her with concern. Did she say what I think she did? He wondered. It was then that he felt her emotions through their bond, a ludicrous amount of her power was being used to contain at least one of them. Based on her outburst, he could guess which one.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

She put her hand up to silence him as she found her center again. The wind kicked up and blew her cloak and hair, drawing out the silence between them. He didn't take his eyes off her, waiting for whatever happened next, good or bad.

"Sorry...I um, I don't know why I said that," she lied.

"You sure? Is there something you wanna tell me?" he asked.

"Just forget it. You better get going, go have fun," she said as she started to walk off.

"Wait," he said as he followed her from the water's edge.

Raven nearly lifted her feet from the grass in flight when Robin caught her arm and pulled her back down. His arms encircled her waist and her breath caught in her throat. He turned her to face him. Heat rose in her chest, she was all at once scared and entranced. Try as she did, she hadn't managed to hide her feelings from him and now she was at his mercy. They had walked a line between friendship and something else for so long, and she wondered if the next moments would ruin all they had or push them into new territory. Her eyes searched his face for clues, finding little, as his mask hid part of himself from her.

"The arcade can wait. Let's go someplace nicer, more private," Robin suggested.

"If you're hungry, I know a nice italian place, it's quiet," Raven said.

"Yeah, could go for a bite..or two," he said with a smirk.

Color rose in her cheeks and she bit her lip. He'd never let her live that one down, but it was in her favor. She nervously put her arms around him and tensed when he pulled her closer.

"Hey, Rae, I'm not sure what got into you, but I'm glad it did. Whatever happens, I won't hurt you, well...unless you ask me to," he said.

"Okay," she chuckled, "I promise not to hurt you either, unless I'm asked."

"Don't worry about me, just focus on you," he chuckled.

"Will this be a date?" she asked.

"Think so, unless you don't want-," he started.

"No, I do," she interrupted.

"Then let's go. I'll drive," he said, walking her over to his waiting motorcycle.

Robin hopped on and helped Raven onto the back, ensuring that she held tight. He felt her hands cautiously make their way around sides before they settled on his chest and she gripped him, her warm breath tickling the back of his neck. He wasn't sure what he had gotten himself into, but he smiled at the prospect that had just been presented to both of them. They took off from the tower toward the city, finally ready for some much needed time off.