-+-A Thousand Shades of Gray-+-
+The Shade of Complications+
"It doesn't hurt to dream ... but it hurts to wake up."
"Bu … but that's all wrong!"
SMACK!
"Robin!"
"Shut-up Loe-Laina! If this kid is anything like you make him out to be, then he shouldn't be so scared to pull this off."
Pleading blue eyes filled with tears as she watched her precious 7 year-old-son pull himself back on his feet after being violently treated by the dreaded man who stood before them. The king cobra in the snake pit of the illegal world, Little Robin got as far as his hands and knees before he felt a hand full of his hair viciously yank him up off the ground back to his feet. The much larger man grabbed his shoulders and shook him to make sure he got his full attention. Robin dared not make a single peep … he already made a huge mistake by opening his mouth and protesting the man's proposal.
Bravely – if not stupidly – he looked up and the man scowled down at him as if pissed off at the defiant glimmer in the little boy's eyes. Robin blinked then looked down at his mother who was on her knees with two of the man's henchmen holding her down. She looked so scared … so hurt … and filled with so much regret that her broken-heart spilled from her eyes, streamed down her face, and dripped down onto the filthy floor. Yet … despite her tears … Robin saw the weakness he knew she had and he frowned and bowed his head in defeat … once again succumbing to his mother's power.
"I … I'm sorry …" he whispered and the man released him – well, more like pushed him back down on the floor – Robin gritted his teeth and suppressed the urge to cry.
He couldn't cry … it meant weakness if he did …
"Sorry isn't going to get me that chip, brat," the man growled and Robin balled his hands into fists, clenching and unclenching it the child got back to his feet.
Then … as if another soul had taken over he looked up with a sadistic smirk on his face and a dangerous glitter in his onyx eyes, "I know … but the only reason why I said it's all wrong was because your plan of execution was sloppy, hate to disappoint … but I got a better idea."
The man raised a brow and glanced over suspiciously at Loe-Laina, then shot a malicious glare down at the kid, "You pullin' my leg?"
"Nope!" Robin pulled out from his pocket a long strip of black cloth bowed his head and wrapped it around his head. Tying it tightly then looking up to show it was an eye mask, he winked and grinned, "Instead of going in from below … we'll go in from above no one will ever suspect it because the ventilation in the roof is highly vulnerable to penetration. Hack into the security, drop a bug and all you got to do is give me 5 minutes."
One of the henchmen sneered, "That's pushin' it, what do you think the security guards are? Stupid?"
Robin chuckled, "No, just technologically impaired … it'll take their mines a minute to realize that something's wrong, then it'll take them a few more minutes to try and figure out the matter, and by the time they find out that someone bugged their system I'll have already gotten in the vault."
The kind cobra in the snake pit narrowed his eyes, "But then how will you get out if they already found out someone's in the building?"
"Boss! You've not seriously taking this kid for his word!"
"We've hired him for his reputation … might as well see what he can do."
Robin stuck his tongue out at the henchman and looked up at the boss, "Just let me handle that …"
((--+-+-+--))
"… and … as a final note to bring up … I'd like to announce my step-son, Robin, as my permanent successor."
Robin jerked his head back his eyes going wide with shock, as the crowd erupted in full applause and the light shone on him. Feeling a bit apprehensive, he gulped and nearly jumped when he felt his mother's hand on his shoulder he looked down at her wide approving smile, "You see … it all worked out in the end …"
"Robin!" Robin turned to his right to see Marisa coming towards him, practically pulling him away from his mother with a tight huge she kissed him on the cheek and stared up at him with such a bright excited expression, "Wow … you've become the successor to the Xander Corporation … aren't you happy?"
Perplexed and feeling like this was all a dream Robin rubbed the back of his neck and blinked a few times chuckling nervously – which was quite an amazing feat considering it took a lot to make him nervous, "Heh … define happy … isn't this kind of … I don't know, sudden? Besides, I don't have the same last name as his, this seems –"
"Actually I changed it," Robin spun on his mother and stared into her soft blue eyes as she giggled as if she shared an amazing secret … which – in this case – it was because this was the first time he's heard of it, "Leon told me his plans and so I had your name changed from Street to Xander … isn't that wonderful?"
Robin blinked, "Is that even legal? I'm 16 don't I have a frickin' say in that."
"Well, because you are 16 and still a minor, not really … but since when has that stopped us in the past?" Lola, formally known as Loe-Laina grinned and leaned into her husband when he came down from his pedestal to wrap his arm around his wife's waist, Robin suddenly felt a chill run up and down his spine when Leon smirked.
He obviously didn't hear his wife's last comment, but that didn't stop him from delivering the final piece to the puzzle that Robin had a gut feeling he'll be suffering in the near future, "Of course, you'll get the name, the company and everything that comes with it in full … but only on the condition that I pass away suddenly, or he gets married, which ever comes first … but of course, if he should have a child out of wed-lock he will be disinherited, but that part's still hasn't been finalized, so don't worry about it."
Marisa stood next to Robin and held onto his arm and tilted her head, "Gee, Mr Xander, don't you think that's kind of harsh?"
"On the contrary my dear, I think it's sensible for a young man like Robin, he needs to learn that patience is a virtue and I'm dreadfully old-fashion."
Robin held his head for a moment and took it all in, trying to take it all in stride, but still stumbling on the correct words to expression what he was feeling, he couldn't exactly say he was excited. Only because he was barely even interested in the business world to begin with, and he couldn't say he was disappointed, because, hey, free money, who could argue with that? He could sell the company and make a profit, no skin of his back because he wasn't a legitimate son and nor did he feel like he held any moral obligation to the company.
He was just …
Lost and numb …
Not exactly the feelings anyone should express when given something as spectacular as this, so he immediately shot up a mask and smiled coolly, "Well … I don't know … I guess I'm happy … thanks, Leon."
Leon nodded and before he could say anything more he was called to converse with a few other business associates, leaving Lola to reach a hand up to hr son's cheek and whisper softly, "Happy Birthday, Robin."
He couldn't say any more for Marisa had tugged him to the dance floor insisting that they have at least one dance before the night was through, "Hey … you wanna know something funny … Robin Eli Xander … Rex."
Robin smirked, "Rex … what? Is that my new nickname?"
Marisa giggled, "… Yep."
His smirk grew into a grin, if only she knew he had more nicknames than hip-hop artists.
((--+-+-+--))
It sank in … the blood … the dagger … the blue sky that was changing colors with the different splotches of dots lining his vision. X hissed when the pain sank in and gritted his teeth, "Ah … shit …"
He reached up to the dagger in his chest, only to have his hand clenched by softer, smaller, and delicate hands. He blinked and glanced up to his left to see it was the last person on Earth he expected to be staring at him with a such a helpless expression, whispering his name … his real name, "Robin … god … I'm sorry …"
He gulped when he felt something peeking up at the back of his throat, his tongue tasted iron Not good … he thought faintly as he hissed when another stab – not excusing the pun – of pain shot through his body when he opened his mouth to talk, "Wha … what are you … sorry for?"
The Titan bit down on her lip.
"…"
She didn't know …
She didn't know what she was sorry for … but for some odd reason she felt responsible and looked at the dagger. Ignoring his question she got her brain to finally work, "… It's in pretty deep … I don't think I can take it out … without the risk of loosing you … but …"
X blinked … then blinked again and gave her an odd look, trying ever so hard to ignore the pain as his chest protested his breathing; he bore with it as he studied her agonizing expression. What was she sorry for? Since when had her cold violet eyes become so watery and filled with worry? For him? He thought she hated him … he thought she wanted nothing more to do with him … he thought … he thought of a lot of things and suddenly felt his head swirl. Getting dizzy as the world kept spinning and the taste of his own blood tarnished his mouth … and … was it his imagination, or was he drooling?
No, his blood was dripping out of the corner of his mouth.
It suddenly became a hazard to breath for fear of drowning himself.
However that didn't help stop the world from spinning, he closed his eyes, there … that was better … but the pain was still there. Maybe … maybe if he fell a sleep for a moment, yeah, that'll help, but Raven wouldn't allow him the luxury, "Robin! Look at me … can you hear me?"
Barely … he wanted to say, but he suddenly felt so tired … numb … cold, but her hands, they were warm on his face as she stared down at him, "… This might hurt a bit …"
"Wha –!"
Before he could process what she meant she grabbed the handle of the dagger, braced herself, then as fast as she could without making the problem any worse she yanked it out and X screamed and coughed up his own blood. Raven dropped the dagger and pressed her hand to his chest to keep the blood from flow, she gulped when she watched his face contort into many different expressions of agony. She could feel his heart beating slowly … but that was good … at least the dagger missed his heart and gave him a chance, "Fuck Raven! That shit hurts!"
"Stop moving and lay still!" Raven gritted her teeth and sighed to cool her nerves, "Now listen … I'm going to heal you … but whatever happens after that … … … just lay still …"
"What … what are you doing!"
She ignored him and closed her eyes, falling into a deep trance like state and chanted her mantra, "Azarath … Metrion … Zinthous …"
((--+-+-+-))
Knock! Knock! Knock!
That was the first thing that he heard, and the first thing that came to mind was if a midget was drilling holes in his head. Being that he had a very low temper when it came to being awaken from his slumber, his short patience was already starting to short circuit. That is … until he heard the conversation and an awfully familiar voice that participated.
"Oh! Miss Roth … I –"
"Robin's still sleeping, what do you want?" It was Raven … but he wasn't sure if he heard right … did she just call him by his name? Preparing for light to flood his eyes, he opened them, but was surprised to find himself staring up into the darkened ceiling of his room, dimly lit by his cracked open door.
"Um … Mrs. Xander was worried about him not eating for the whole day yesterday and this morning, so she assigned me to bring him some fo –"
"I'll take it."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, thank you."
She closed the door, and by the time she sauntered back to his side with a tray of food, he had already propped himself up on his headboard his unbuttoned collared shirt falling off his shoulders to expose the white bandage wrapped around his chest. Hissing when his body protested his movement, he narrowed his eyes in the darkness to try and see the Titan who he heard set the tray down on the nightstand next to the bed and got into his bed with him.
Her small hand that he remembered which held his earlier slid onto his right shoulder, her voice low and unreadable, "You shouldn't be sitting up … stay down … Jamie will be here soon to check on your wounds … but they should be fine."
He whispered right back at her, "Well if it should be fine … then I don't see why I have to lay down."
"Well at least don't move so much," Raven slipped her hand away from him, "It's just a safety precaution …"
Before she could go anywhere she felt him reach out to take a hold of her wrist, to stop her from leaving, then slowly he slid his hand down to weave his fingers into hers and gently pull her back to him. Obeying without question, she looked up into his dark eyes that stared at her, for the first time, without his inner mask, all barriers dropped and she saw right into his soul. Her heart rate picked up when his other hand came up to hook under her chin and bring her face close to his till he was the only thing she could see and vise-versa.
"You saved my life, Angel … why?"
It was more of a plea for an answer than he'd like to admit, Raven could feel it … and she was ashamed to say that she didn't have the answer he wanted from her. She couldn't tell him what he wanted to hear, because … because it wasn't right, despite the lack-luster response she'd give him. Rehearsed words from years passed that were embedded into her DNA since she became a hero, "It was the right thing to do … I couldn't just leave you there …"
It wasn't exactly a lie … but …
"You're lying."
Shrouded in darkness, where no one could see, where no one would know he pulled her even closer till she was near straddling his waist and Raven felt herself die for a split second at the realization of what he was about to do. Centimeters became millimeters till they were just a wisp of hair away, but both were just so hesitant, neither moved, neither wanted to breath because the sound of air passing through their nasal or their mouths suddenly became deafening. Not a sound was made, so quiet they could hear the pounding of each other's hearts … the only question on Raven's mind was why he wasn't hasty to take her.
And why was she even anticipating it?
"… Robin …?"
"…"
Click!
SWOOSH!
His window opened and the curtains automatically slid back to reveal the hazardous sunlight that even Raven wasn't prepared for and buried her head in X's shoulder. X closed his eyes and winced when his body acted on reflex and held Raven close to him, momentarily glancing in the direction of the window he sneered when Jamie and Otto jumped through the window and landed in the middle of his room. Jamie stretching, "Wooo! OH RAAAAVEN! We're ba – ack! Whoa … did we come at a wrong time? I see you're finally up."
Raven shook herself from X's grasp and leaned away, kneeling on his bed as X shifted and slid his shirt back on his shoulders, muttering in exasperation, "Jamie … what are you doing here?"
"What?" Jamie shrugged as she walked up to his bed and glanced at the food on the nightstand. Licking her lips she snatched up a cream-puff and popped it in her mouth, with an expression on her face that read she was in ecstasy she sighed and giggled after she swallowed the delicious treat, "Didn't Raven tell you? I'm taking care of you."
"That's not what I meant," X glared, "I told you, if ever our position was compromised we were to head straight to Tomika Point! What are we still doing in Hawthorne!"
"Marisa …" Raven informed, X turned on her with a raised brow and Raven got off the bed and straightened out her outfit, "… we still haven't gotten her potion, but she called yesterday to ask what had happened, I told her the truth … but left out the Slade part."
X blinked, "You told her that you're under a submission spell?"
Raven nodded, "Yeah … and so she's coming over today to drop off the potion to transfer masters, apparently she doesn't have anything to eliminate the spell on me entirely."
"… Transfer masters?"
"Yes … meaning, Slade won't have any control over me, but someone in this room will …"
She didn't have to say it …
X knew she meant that someone would be him … and he didn't know whether to be honored or suspicious because she was being so cooperative.
Maybe it was the thought of working for Slade that got her eager to put herelf at his mercy.
Jamie whistled as she checked up on X's condition glad that his wounds were healing up nicely – mostly due to the fact that Raven for the passed few hours helped … a lot. She thought it was incredible the way magic works wonders on the human body … although she couldn't exactly have been happy about Raven's decision. Because since the Titan was an empath she not only helped X heal, but took on the weight of his pain and a few times as she was healing him she passed out for hours at a time.
However, she couldn't help to think how incredibly cute it was to see how much Raven actually cared!
Even though she said it was strictly business and a payback for the times X had helped her … Jamie didn't become a psychiatrist for nothing.
"Yeah … and speaking of control," Jamie glanced at her silent brother who walked over to Raven and took a hold of her arm, he took out a needle and without warning pressed it in and injected Raven, "You're due for your daily dose, don't want you drifting while you're taking care of Rob, now do we?"
He pulled the needle out and walked over to the nearest trashcan and tossed it dusting his hands off while Raven massaged the tension in her arm. Rotating her shoulder and flexing her arm she sighed and walked over to the curtains in X's room. Using her power to turn on the lights of the room to a dim level she shut the window and curtains as Jamie helped X stand up from the bed. The sorceress stole a glance and couldn't help to notice how stubborn the thief could be … very similar to her leader in so many ways … but … No … he's not the same … he's different … he's an unexpectedly nice person that has been taken advantage of too many times in his life … and now the only way he can deal with life is to take … never to give. Which would explain his selfishness … since no one in the world has ever cared for him as anything but a tool, he'll treat it with the same indifference.
Raven shuttered and immediately looked away before anyone found out she was staring at him … staring at his perfectly toned chest and abs exposed by the opened white button up. Despite the bandage wrapped around him, it never hindered his good-looks. Raven gulped and shook her head, it would not only be embarrassing if X noticed her staring, but the situation was becoming rather complicated. She cared … she cared for him in a way that no one on the opposite side of the law should … and she couldn't exactly revert her feelings because … she understood him now. She could sympathize with him and thus only helped her fall further in –
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Jamie and Otto stilled, Jamie running over to grab Otto's wrist, "Shit! Where do we hide!"
X growled at their panic, "It doesn't matter!"
"Okay! The closet it is!"
Otto jerked his head back, "Wha – no! Wait! Jamie!"
"Shut-up!"
BAM!
She slammed the closet shut and X sat back down on his bed, because he knew it would look bad if he trudged to the door with a bandage around his chest, Raven took it upon herself to answer it, but never allowed the servant in, who bowed lowly and respectively, "Ms. Roth, there's a visitor here to see you, I told them to stay in the parlor and that you'll be there shortly."
"Thank you," Raven closed the door and looked over her shoulder to X, "It's probably Marisa, just sit tight."
"No problem," he smiled at her … genuinely, sincerely smiled at her … and Raven gulped. He looked so honest and absolutely drop-dead gorgeous with that smile of his.
She put it out of her mind and exited the room, closing the door she headed down the hall towards the parlor where the servant had told her Marisa would be waiting for her. Straightening out her black skin-tight tang-top and low-rider jeans she flipped her violet hair back that had grown passed her hips at an alarming rate, so she pulled it up into a high pony-tail to keep it out of the way. Pausing just outside of the parlor, she took a breath and prepared to play high-class treasure-hunter, however when she entered, nothing could prepare her for what she saw.
Raven damn near fainted when his sapphire blue eyes made contact with hers and widened nearly as big as hers. Time crawled to a halt when he shot up from the couch and his mouth dropped open … Raven froze and lucky for her no one else was in the vicinity or else people would be looking at her funny when she whispered his name. His alias, "… Robin …?"
"… … … Raven?"
Oh … God …
((--))
"You know … you owe her now," Jamie said as she leaned against the bathroom door still inside Robin's room; however he was in his shower just finishing up while she filed her nails, "she saved your ass … and I mean putting her own health at risk."
"Actually I'd like to think we're even," came his response as he stepped out of the shower without a towel on and walked casually over to his closet. Entering it and closing the door behind him.
Jamie rolled her eyes and blew on her nails, "No, you're not even because only under false pretenses did you 'save' her … I mean, if I was her I'd have you wrapped around my fingers."
"Well she's not you thank god."
Otto sighed, "You know, besides this nautical conversation, can we discuss the issue of Cheshire and nearly killing you? What the hell was that all about? The Dago family?"
"No …" X came out and sighed tiredly leaning on the frame of the door with his eyes closed wearing a black wife-beater under an unbuttoned dark green flannelled shirt with faded blue jeans he reopened his eyes to stare at the ground for a moment, "… not after what Rae did to them … they're too scared to pull another stunt. It's gotta be someone else."
"Well then we're going to be here a while," Jamie huffed in annoyance, "because you have a long list of people you've pissed off this much to sic Cheshire on you."
"… It's Slade …" X sighed dejectedly as he smoothed back his damped hair, frowning, he growled, "… he knows I'm tampering with his control over her … and if he knew we were at Marisa's … we have to get out of here before he finds out Cheshire failed."
Otto perked up, "As a safety precaution, do you think he knows about Jamie or me?"
X shrugged, "If he did than you wouldn't be standing here talking to me now would you?"
"No … I don't suppose so …"
X frowned and second guessed his own declaration, But it's weird that Slade doesn't know about them … they have no skill in the art of stealth … it would have been easy for Slade to pick them up … he grumbled and shook his head, storing that information for later he sighed and shrugged, his left shoulder protested the move, "Well then, pack it in; we're headed for Tomika Point."
Jamie and Otto winked and at the same time chimed, "'You got it!'"
X looked them over and chuckled, "You know, with how different you guys are, it's easy to forget you two are twins."
Otto cringed, "I resent that comment."
Jamie scoffed and grabbed her brother's arm, "Come on ya looser, I think that's a sign from our boss telling us to leave so he can have Rae all to himself. Selfish tight-wad."
The thief rolled his eyes and headed for the door while the twins headed for the window, "Just don't forget to close up once you're gone."
"Yeah, yeah lover-boy," Jamie giggled and before she jumped out the window with Otto she snatched another cream-puff from his food-tray and winked at X, "see ya at Tomika Point."
X walked out of his room and rubbed his left shoulder, ignoring the slight pain as he walked over to the parlor where he knew Raven would be with Marisa most likely, however as he rounded the corner into the parlor. He stopped dead in his tracks when Raven spun on him and stared at him like a fish out of water while the supposed visitor he noticed wasn't Marisa at all. No … it was Richard Grayson … Wayne's adoptive kid! The thief narrowed his eyes and raised a brow, What the fuck is this brat doing here?
Richard straightened up and nodded his head in greeting, "Robin."
Raven turned her attention on Richard, then returned it back to Robin who raised a brow his narrowed onyx-eyes glaring suspiciously at the blue-eyed visitor in his parlor he inclined his head and curtly said his name in the same manner, "Richard … what are you doing here?"
"Business," Richard shrugged casually and glanced at Raven, "I came here to talk to your father about a few matters concerning his association with Wayne Enterprises and it's take over of the Xander Corporation."
Robin raised a perplexed brow, "Take over, I was never aware of this."
"Not surprised," Robin didn't like the way Richard sounded so smug when he said it with a shrug, "after all, my sources tell me that you just up and disappeared after your father had forgivingly paid your bail …"
"Really?" Robin scoffed and stuffed his hands in his pocket and matched Richard's indifferent expression with a sarcastic sadistic sneer of his own, "Well, I think your 'sources' should stay the hell out of my life, kay?"
"…"
"…"
Tension.
Raven held her breath; They both have no idea who they're talking to! Dammit! I had a feeling Speedy and Aqualad followed us … I guess Aqualad is a better mind tracer than I thought …
Richard cleared his throat, "Well … anyway … besides that, come early this summer Xander will now belong to Wayne once Leon finalizes the paperwork."
"… Who are you trying to play, Richy," Robin crossed his arms over his chest and turned his sneer into a smirk, "you know that take over is bullshit, Leon wouldn't sell his family corporation without a fight … pride, it'll do that to a man. Besides, he's been in Japan for the passed few days, there's no way he'd have the time to meet personally with Bruce to finalize anything, so why the sudden visit, I know damn well you're not here to see Leon."
Richard took a deep breath as if to settled his nerves then reached up to unbutton the top two buttons of his white collared shirt and undo his cuffs, he sighed and narrowed his sapphire blue-eyes on Robin, "Fine, what are you doing with a Titan in your house Robin? How much did Red X pay you to keep her here?"
Raven gulped, and Robin scowled, "Pay – what the fuck! Didn't you hear the stories, Richy? X is dead, and who are you to care? I don't recall you ever becoming a cop."
"No, but I'm close friends with the Titans, and I'll have them come down here myself if that's what it's going to take for you to tell me where Red X is!"
"He's dead."
"You're lying."
"Prove it."
"Raven's still alive and standing before us! You expect me to believe she survived while that thief didn't! He kidnapped her and practically sold her to Slade! Do you even know who he is? That bastard is the lowest of the low and right now, Robin, you're coming so close to his level that it's making me sick."
"You have no merit for finding a Titan," Robin sneered, "so what's your edge?"
In a flash Richard was on him, grabbing a hand full of his collar and shaking him he growled as Robin challenged him, both stubbornly meeting each other's heated glares, "I don't need a damn merit to do what's right."
"Well I do –" Robin with a harsh shove, pushed Richard off and smirked as he stumbled to catch his footing, "and to be quite frank, I don't think little miss Raven over here even wants to go … right?"
Raven's heart stopped as she stared into Robin's eyes in great disbelief, Wha – he's not setting me up to choose … he's … I can't … she thought with frightening realization and nervously glanced at Richard who faltered and gave Raven a perplexed look, "Raven …?"
She shook her head and backed up, "Richard … I ... it's … it's complicated …"
Richard reeled his head back and tilted his head, "What's so complicated about going back to your friends?"
She closed her mouth … bowed her head … and her shoulders dropped, closing her eyes she gritted her teeth and clenched her fists … why … why was it so complicated? What held her back this time? First … it was the fear that she might hurt her friends … and that fear was still there, but very minimal now that she knew what was going on and if she went back she could use the potions in her room to end her suffering. Yet, the second chance she had at leaving … she couldn't go just yet … because … she thought she might have a shot at taking down the Red X if she was cured.
However, adding to the second chance, she was also quite curious about the thief's past to begin with and now that she knew enough about him … why was it so complicated to leave? It shouldn't be … there was no more reason to stay … none whatsoever … except … she cast a discreet glance at the thief who held an impressive passive expression much the same as her leader. Although, Richard was staring at her with more confusion than anything else … Raven gulped and closed her eyes again.
Leave …
She thought to herself.
Stay …
A small voice in the back of her head pleaded.
I have no more reasons to stay …
You've been making up excuses … just admit, you don't want to go back.
… No … I do … it's not the fact that I don't want to go back … it's something … different …
… Not different … you just don't want to leave his side … because you know what will happen …
…
You cried when you felt him near death.
…
You held his hand and pleaded with him to stay alive.
…
You … even after everything that he's done, everything he's said … you put up with it.
…
So it's not a question of why it's so complicated … it's a question of are you willing to let him go after everything the both of you been through? Are you willing to leave him to deal with Slade all by himself?
… Jamie and Otto …
Are not skilled enough or strong enough to stand by him …
… I have no reason to stay.
Yes you do …
It's not good enough.
Since when do you need a reason to care for someone?
…
"Raven …"
Her violet eyes opened and she looked up at Robin who had called out her name, his onyx eyes staring at her … and she honestly had no clue what he wanted for her to do. His mask – his inner mask – was back on and impenetrable, but the tone in his voice. Did it hold a secret? Did he want her to stay? Inwardly, secretly, yes, he wanted her to stay. She gulped and walked up to him, hoping against hope that what she was doing was the right thing as she stood before him and softly whispered, so only he heard, "… Thank you … for all you've done … but I … can't stay …"
"…"
"…"
"… I know …"
That's not what she wanted to hear.
Her heart fell to the floor and shattered.
((--))
Disclaimer: No ownie Teenie Titans, not even the quote is mine
A/N: Woo, woo! And so the cookie crumbles, the only way to know what happens next is to sit tight …will Robin actually change his mind, or will Richard find out who Robin is? So many, many questions drop me reviews and we'll all find out together.
l8er daez