Passing Judgment: Playing by the Rules

by cimple

Raven knew X from the inside out, he equally knew her from dorment history to current secret. Taking advantage of the situation to complete a personal vendetta, things get messy when a child is involved ... rated for safety

8. There's One Exception

-Passing Judgment: Playing by the Rules-

-There's One Exception-

"Thanks again! Take care!" Reign waved with her son as Robin mounted his bike, packing Starfire the alien princess waved with equal enthusiasm before Robin tore out of the Estate and left Reign and Lance standing a top the stairs. Reign with a big smile on her face looked down at Lance and patted him on top of his head, "You did good Lance … you did very good."

"Really?" Lance smiled bright and true.

Reign reached out her hand for her son to take in order to bring him back into the Manor where she chuckled and nodded, "Really, now I can be sure to leave you with your Uncle when he travel's to Egypt. I know you've been wanting to go with him on his excavations for quite some time … haven't you kid."

Lance blinked in realization, "So that's why you wanted a Titan here … you really did want them for protection for me … huh?"

"Right," Reign answered with a soft smile, But having it being Raven is a real treat! For more reasons than one for Trent … he better be at least slightly grateful that I thought of this idea in the first place, she thought with a sigh. Her smile still on her face as she lead her son back to the parlor to confront Raven and Trent. Though when Lance looked hard enough he could see there was a second hidden answer behind his mother's face of nonchalant indifference.

Unlike Trent who knew Lance was a bright kid, Reign would more often than not, forget that she had a son that soaked up information like a sponge and actually put it to good use. So by the time his mother opened the door into the parlor, Lance already had a hunch that his mother can be more conniving then he had first suspected … just like his uncle … or when the feeling came to her at least. With a smile Lance skipped into the parlor and ran up to Raven with his bright silver eyes and adorable smile, it never went unnoticed to him that there was a grim sort of air about the two, "Thank you for staying … I really appreciate it …"

Raven nodded, "No problem …" then simply turned back to the window, leaving Lance to stand by her while his mother and her younger brother sank into the shadows and had a minor discussion of their own. In whispered silence hoping that Raven wouldn't hear.

Their effort was in vain.

"Tomorrow you're going to Alexandria," Reign informed, "and you're taking Lance –" Trent furrowed his brows together and opened his mouth to protest, but Reign stopped him, "– it's about time he learns how to be like his uncle … he looks up to you, he really admires you Trent."

Trenton growled in a low voice, "I'm not a person to be admired Reign and you know it … don't do this to him, he doesn't have a reason to become what I am."

"Neither did you," Reign challenged, and Trent shot back.

"I didn't have a choice. The time we were growing up it was either do or die, I'm not even sure if Jaden's gone for good …"

Reign blinked and raised a curious brow, "What makes you say that?"

Trent sighed tiredly and glanced off to Lance who had sat down with Raven at the bay window and tried to get her to talk to him. All he was really succeeding in doing was upsetting her with his pestering questions, the annoyance was written all over her face, but hidden somewhat to control herself from loosing it. Bad enough she was going through hard times with her "friends" she shouldn't chase away a child just because he was being innocently naïve. She endured him a bit longer, and Trent cast his silver eyes to the ground in thought, then in a quiet tone nearly inaudibly whispered, "Back at the Gallery … when I took Lance … something scared him … scared him bad." (1)

"And you think it's Jaden," she more stated than questioned, then sighed worriedly, running her fingers through her long silky dark brown hair she glanced up at her brother and frowned when he had a stiff passive expression on his face. Usually indicating that he was thinking, especially with that glazed look in his eyes, she asked, "What are you thinking?"

He looked up at his sister and scowled softly, "Just praying … praying that you've made up your mind about him, because if I find him anywhere near Lance I'll have his head on a fucking silver platter."

Reign gulped, when a sliver of a chill went down her spine at the serious tone her brother took, it was scary to her, considering Trent was hardly ever serious about anything, "You're not a killer Trenton …"

""Trenton's" not a killer …" he emphases maliciously with a dangerous promise within his voice.

Raven on the side heard it all, and had to suppress the curiosity that scratched at the back of her mind, looking down at Lance she raised a brow when he suddenly, out of the blue, questioned, "Do you like me?"

"You're alright," she replied simply, hoping that he'd be a kid and leave it at that, but he thought about it and frowned.

"So you don't like me."

Raven shook her head, "I never said that."

Lance tilted his head and fringed innocence, "So … you like me than?"

"Sure."

He messed with her head and cast his eyes to the carpet, "You hate me … it's alright, you're not the only one."

"I never said that either," Raven huffed, "Lance, I don't hate you alright. I barely even know you."

"But you don't really have to know someone to hate them …" he countered with conniving silver orbs, "… and you don't have to hate someone to dislike them … neither do you have to love someone just because you like them … or like someone because you love them …"

Raven blinked slowly and tiled her own head; gazing down at the child she found to be awfully intriguing (despite what troublesome annoyance he may be from time to time) she asked curiously, "Your mom told you that?"

He shook his head, "My mom and my dad are hardly around … I learn everything from my uncle Trent."

Trent? X? What was running around in his head to get him to say that? She thought to herself controlling her eyes from glancing to the side where she knew Trent and Reign were having a discussion of their own she sighed and sat back when Lance scooted closer to her. His silver gaze boring deep into her violet mask, he tilted his head again and asked in a very serious tone with a very serious look on his cute face, "Do you like Uncle Trent?"

Raven immediately shot her eyes away from the child to shield them with her hood, answering in a silent voice, "That's complicated …"

"It's just a yes or a no question … do you like him?"

"… That's on a Need-To-Know Basics," Raven brought her eyes back to light in order to pin Lance with a warning glare, "and the last time I checked … you don't need to know."

Lance got the message and backed off, immediately changing the subject, but before he could open his mouth the parlor doors opened and in walked the caretaker of the Manor and butler to the Bou family, Gregory. Old enough to have white streaks of hair in his otherwise neatly kept slicked back head of hair. He walked in and bowed politely to the public, turning to address his masters he specifically addressed his mistress, "My lady, there was an urgent call from Tokyo Japan, Ms Shimabukiro requests an immediate audience. She says she cannot wait for your arrival tomorrow."

Reign huffed and nodded, "Thank you Gregory, I'll be sure to return her call."

With another bow Gregory exited the room and Lance jumped up from his seat on the bay-window to scamper over to his mother, "So you're leaving now? Not tomorrow?"

"Sorry punk, duty calls." Reign smiled and patted her son the top of his head lovingly, then bent down to give him a big kiss on the forehead, "But look at it this way … at least you'll have Uncle Trent and Raven all to yourself. I'll be back sooner or later."

Lance nodded in understanding and returned his mother's kiss with a kiss of his own and a tight hug, "Love you mommy."

"Love you too sweetie," she whispered, then stood up and poked her brother in the ribs, earning him a yelp of more shock than pain. Returning her glare, she narrowed her eyes warningly at him, "take care of my boy Trent … or I'll have your head on a platter."

Trent sneered, "Of course your highness."

"Very good," with a smile she turned to Raven and threw her a mock salute, "well, I'll be seeing you guys later, hope Trent don't give you too much of a hard time. If he does, don't be afraid to smack him upside the head. He don't mind much."

Raven blinked and raised a brow, ignoring the invitation (however storing it at the back of her mind for further reference) she suspiciously asked, "Tokyo, Japan? I thought it was Egypt?"

Reign tilted her head and comically placed a hand under her chin in thought, "Oh … did I say that? Sorry … guess I got my countries mixed up … well … um … see ya!"

Gone in a flash, Raven crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head, How did I know something like this was going to happen … she thought dryly to herself. Getting up from her spot on the bay-window she walked up to stand next to Trenton and Lance, looking at them both with a passive expression she sighed and placed a hand on her hip, "So when do we leave for our expedition?"

"Leave?" Trent smirked, "Who said anything about leaving?"

Raven glared, "Don't play coy with me, you know exactly what I'm talking about."

"True … but how did you know what I was up to?"

"We share a bond, remember?" Raven reminded through gritted teeth, holding her self back from strangling the thief in front of Lance, "Besides … you're a criminal, it's not hard to figure what you're up to."

Trent scoffed, "Criminal … I hate that title; I myself rather prefer the term "morally challenged with slight personality disorder" more easy on the ears, don't you think?"

Lance blinked, answering his question blunting, "Actually that makes you sound insane."

"…"

"…"

After a moment of silence, Raven returned Trent's dropped smirk with an evil one of her own, "What he said."

"Whatever," Trent snorted, turning his back and heading out of the parlor he offhandedly threw over his shoulder, "just get ready cuz' we're going to Egypt in the morning, Lance … show the princess over here to a room … just make sure it's far from my wing of the Manor."

"His wing?" Raven looked down at Lance in question as he grabbed her slender hand into his small one and pulled her towards the grand staircase that lead up to the wings of the Manor, "He has his own section to this place?"

Lance nodded enthusiastically, "Yeahuh! So does my mom and dad and me, ours is on the East Wing of the Manor. The North Wing is usually occupied for the entertainment of guests as well as rooming for the guests. The West Wing is where Uncle Trent dwells, and the South Wing is reserved only for training purposes. Besides the four main wings, there are four other minor wings, but I won't get into those, or else you'll get lost and we don't have any servants to show you the way, only Gregory and he only takes care of the main wings. Sometimes he gets lost to."

Raven couldn't help but to feel impressed, and overwhelmed … it was like living in the Presidential Palace … all over again, "So do you know your way around?"

"Only half and that's the East to the West, other than that, Uncle Trent can go through the Manor with his eyes closed … and I've seen him do it to!" Lance chuckled, "It was really funny when I placed a roller-skate in the middle of the hall and when uncle Trent stepped on it he tripped down the stairs! I actually took a picture of it! You wanna see?"

Raven's early smirk returned, Oh the humanity … placing a hand on his head she shook her head, "Maybe later when I need to dig up dirt on him."

Lance's cute little chuckle came back with an evil glint in his eye, "Yeah, I know, uncle Trent always walks around and acts like he knows and can do everything. Never once asking anyone – even Gregory – for help … he's always locked away in his Wing of the Manor or at the South Wing working out … or gone on his expeditions as Criss Daniels. That's why it's fun to bother and make fun of him sometimes. Get him mad and everything … it makes him more human I guess … but anyway … where would you like to sleep tonight? Every wing has room, and every room accommodates your needs."

"Um … somewhere near you I suppose, it is my job the look out for you after all."

"Alright!"

With that, Raven allowed for Lance to lead her through the halls, trying to remember where everything was at the same time, but by the time Lance had taken the four right turn in the Manor she was lost. And yet, with every turn she couldn't help to feel … like she knew where she was going … couldn't help to feel at home … or something similar to a very familiar feeling as being content and cozy. The Manor, she had to confess, was romantic, comfortable, and very loveable. Homey, unlike many of the palaces, towers, etc … etc that made her feel like she was being watched, being judged, and criticized. Where at every turn there was something bad to be said about her … the feeling wasn't anything new or anything she was afraid of.

She had to live with it since she was a child; born of demonic blood tends to have a frightening affect on people, where she stood was upon the line that she was either hated or feared. Never another … never trusted, and never respected … or if she was respected it would still be out of fear. Not even caring to touch on if she was loved or not, Raven knew it was useless to think of such luxuries. Being loved meant that she could be carefree … Raven Roth wasn't a carefree kind of person, with the weight of her powers she couldn't afford it.

Though it didn't mean she couldn't feel love.

She could feel love …

She could feel it just as strongly as the next human being …

It was her willingness in the end to express it that was important … and Raven was not a very willing and ready-to-give kind of person. She'd no sooner swallow her own tongue than to admit love to anyone or thing … it wasn't that she was scared of it … she just … didn't know how to show it. How to accept it, never really bothered to try herself, but it was with this uncertainty that feeling, receiving love from others, giving it back, and holding it up was doubtful because it was unexplored turf.

This would explain her sudden attack on Robin …

When he had accused her of being jealous of him and Starfire … of their love, their union, their carefree natures in being a part of a coupling relationship …

It upset – no – it depressed her … because in being jealous of love meant that she lacked what she didn't want.

To Raven … he accused her not of jealousy … but of wanting something that she never dared considered to begin with. Her chances with Robin she knew were minimal … it would have never worked for more reasons than just his infatuation with Starfire. So when he accused her of jealousy it was a sort of slap her face … it hurt her because it reminded her of the many reasons she couldn't – or rather shouldn't – be jealous of love.

"Here it is!" Raven blinked, snapping herself out of her thoughts she looked down at little Lance's angelic smile as he walked up to a room and swung open the door to usher her into a room that looked fitting for a … Raven scowled to herself, A princess … please don't tell me Lance was in on X's joke to … she thought gravely. The room was lovely in and of itself; it even had another bay-window that looked out to the forest that stretched for miles un-end. Being the complete backyard to the Castillo Estate, Raven had to faintly wonder how big the Estate was to begin with. "Do you like it?"

Raven cast a glance over her shoulder to the child that had been generous enough to become her host besides the thief himself, it was only fair that she showed a little grateful grace towards his hospitality, "Thank you, it's … suitable."

His smile grew, "Alright then! I'll go see Gregory for this evening's dinner; I'll call you when it's ready, kay? Okay! BYE!"

With a slam of the door Raven was left alone … and when she was left alone she unceremoniously plotted down in the middle of the floor on her knees. Having her hood fall from her head, her cape drape over her body and her head bowed to have her violet locks shield her face. She brought a shaky hand up to her face and covered over her eyes and mouth in order to shut up the frustrated scream that was coming up from her throat.

Gritting her teeth, baring her pain, and trying to endure the little voices in the back of her mind telling her just how worthless she was for getting into such a spat with Robin … making her feel so insignificant and lost. Raven gulped and brought her free arm around her own waist to hold herself close when she felt her body shutter at the cold icy feeling of utter loneliness. Loneliness that she should be accustom to … loneliness that she should welcome … loneliness that became her friend … the Loneliness that consumed her when the aftershock of earlier that evening finally hit her. (2)

I'm such an idiot … she thought suddenly glaring at the beautifully soft carpeted ground with designs on it that could cause one to be jealous of it's unique craftsmanship. Jealousy, she grinded her teeth together desperately trying to suppress her emotions from spinning out of control … I'm such an idiot! I didn't have to hit him … they were just words! Words mean nothing to me! Nothing at all! Nothing … nothing … it's all … just … nothing …

It echoed … she repeated … it echoed … she listened … it echoed … she believed it … and so the routine went until she suppressed it, bottled it, seal it tight, and kept herself from crumbling into the dark oblivion. Struggling to hold herself above water, to keep herself from drowning, until she realized that she could float all on her own … and have the usual meditative calm like state overcame her chaotic mind. Emotions no longer fighting, just staying neutral and keeping to themselves …

That's how she liked it … that's how it should be … and that's just the way it is where Raven Roth was concerned.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Lance … she thought without actually thinking it through, getting up from the ground she dusted herself off, composed herself and walked to the door. Opening it without a moment of hesitation she looked down to Lance's height, but what she saw as khaki cargos and vans footwear. Confused for a moment she trailed her eyes up to a see a silk white, black pin striped long sleeved button up collared shirt with three buttons left undone at the top where it exposed naturally tanned skin and a golden chain necklace to her observation a diamond cut. Then finally to the face of Trenton Bou … who wasn't nine, wasn't short, and wasn't a boy who smiles, but a thief that grins devilishly.

Raven raised a brow and blinked dumbfounded for a split second, but she collected herself and shot up her indifferent mask, "Oh … it's you …"

He chuckled handsomely and tilted his head in wonder, "Were you expecting your boyfriend?"

The sorceress grabbed the door and got ready to slam it in his face, but he was faster to shoot a hand up to stop it's movements, this didn't at all surprise Raven, but it annoyed her to know that he would do something like this, "What do you want?"

"Just to check up on you …" he answered truthfully with an actual sincere expression, "… you seemed distant earlier … plus you were crying."

"Crying?" Raven blinked and shot a hand up to check her eyes, never feeling it dampened from her earlier episode she glared at the thief in warning, "I wasn't crying."

He replied by taking a step closer to her and passing through the thrush-hold of her door to lean down till he was inches away from her face. She neither backed away nor seemed startled, just stood her ground and waited for his answer, which came in a form of a sort of mocked whisper as he pointed to his heart, quoting her earlier reminder, "We have a bond, remember? I can actually feel your heart breaking. That cold blizzard blowing, coming in to chill and amend the cracks of your iced out fortress … princess."

The way he said it … would send a shiver down any girls' spine and swoon any girls' heart to fall into his arms and have him take her as his own right then and there. The modern day Casanova … the Joker that captured the Queen of Hearts, stole the Queen of Diamonds, used the Queen of Clubs, and flushed the Queen of Spades. Only to leave them and have them weep at their own despair … he was a player and a damn good one. (3)

It showed in his silver gaze … and Raven gave him a dry look in response, "You must think you've figured me out … don't you?" Closing what little gap there was between them, she stood before his height and turned the inches apart they were to mere centimeters. Showing him that if he wanted to be a notch on her bedpost, he'll have to hit her with his best shot and put her in her place. Just because he found out that she was hurting after her argument with Robin, never meant that she was out of it all together, "News flash genius, a bond with me doesn't give you complete access to know everything about me."

"Right, I knew you'd say something like that … you hero's are all predictable that way." he snickered, and trailed a finger under her chin then hooked it, she sneered and moved her head from his grasp, once again putting some distance between them. Trent tilted his head and leaned on the door after shrugging something off his shoulder and dropping it to the ground at her feet, "You and Reign are about the same height I figured you'd want to change out of your … uniform into some real clothes, and dinner is served, if you're hungry."

He made a move to leave, but Raven stopped him when she questioned him about his conversation with his sister that she had overheard, "Who's Jaden? I heard what you and your sister were saying … who is he?"

Trent bowed his head slightly, then looked over his shoulder and shrugged nonchalantly, "Lance's real dad … but you don't have to worry about him, he's my problem … not yours. So stay out of it."

Raven furrowed her brows together in determination, "Is he it? Is he your personal vendetta?"

The thief smirked and shook his head, "Nope … but nice guess though, maybe later you'll get the point. See you in the morning."

"You're not going to eat?"

"Sure I am, I just take my meals in my room."

Raven frowned, "What about Lance?"

Trent shrugged nonchalantly again, "He has you, and Gregory to spoil him."

She shook her head walked up to the door once he stepped outside, grabbing the knob she pushed it to close the door, but before doing so addressed him one last time, "He may have me as entertainment … but he loves you … don't throw that away so quickly …"

… Click …

She closed the door and left the thief standing in the middle of the hallway to contemplate her words, stuffing his hands into his pocket he sighed and closed his eyes. Walking the halls by pure memory he scoffed and shook his head when he recollected the odd look in her eyes when she said what he should do. A soft pleading glimmer that prayed he understood what she was trying to say. Not many would have expected to see such a look in the sorceress's eyes because of her cold-front nature, but he saw it, as clear as day … because … they looked like her.

Amy … within the dark confines of his mind he whispered the name of the only woman who had ever had the patience to put up with him … sure there was Terrance, and he was cool guy but, Amy was the real parent to him. Terrance was a best friend, the guy to show him the ropes and help him become what he was today. But Amy taught him morals, made him see the big picture of reality and helped him cope with the horrors of the true world. She soothed his chaotic thoughts and gave him a place to run to when he couldn't understand life.

She was the one cool mother that every kid wanted …

But he had to loose her … and when he lost her … he lost everything …

From the get-go he was always a troublemaker, a little mischievous imp that loved to mess with people's heads. Trenton, X, Criss, Rico … whoever he was at the moment, always had a destructive personality with a nonchalant twist. It was like nothing could truly upset him … everything was a joke, a bore, or nothing at all. He could never truly take life seriously, everything was a game … a certain move on the chessboard to help him checkmate life and finally understand the entire scheme of things.

Everything was a game …

That was his outlook on life in general; everything was just one big joke.

Reopening his silver eyes he stopped in the middle of the hall and stared at the ground for a moment, actually recapping everything he had thought of in a matter of a few seconds. From Raven's room, to where he stood now, he had just summed up his personality … he really did think everything was a game … but sensing the witch herself coming up behind him he turned to stare at her with a distant look in his eyes. One that got the sorceress to stop and stare back, wondering what it was that caused his sudden space-out. She raised a brow and looked herself over as if there was something wrong with the outfit he had given her.

Very bland, just normal everyday dark blue denim jeans, a black bell-sleeved peasant blouse with white lace around the edges, and a couple of converse shoes … what was the deal? Sure they were a little tight and showed a bit more of her figure than she'd like, but by the look in his eyes, she could tell it wasn't the outfit that got him to stare. She looked back at him and shrugged in annoyance at his staring, "What?"

He blinked out of his thoughts and immediately put up his usual nonchalant mask that consisted with his ever present smirk as he offhandedly answered with a shrug of his own, "Nuthin' … just didn't think you would get dressed so fast, I haven't even left the East Wing yet."

"Yeah … right," Raven sneered and looked off into the distant with a sarcastic snort, she crossed her arms over her chest and glanced at the thief that was suddenly staring at her again. She scoffed and huffed, "… okay … since standing here is literally getting us no where … can you at least show me to the main hall so I won't be late for dinner?"

Trent chuckled lightheartedly, and then bowed formally, "This way my princess."

Raven gritted her teeth and stomped down the hall to follow after the teasing thief, "Keep calling me princess and you'll see …"

The thief snickered, "Ooo … that sounds like a threat … I love threats."

The sorceress glared, "Don't test me."

For a moment the two squared off, standing a foot apart challenging the other in a death defying stare down, silver verses amethyst and neither had any intention of being the first the back off. Until there was a sudden clear of the throat a little more down the hall was when Trent and Raven turned away from one another and looked to see Gregory and Lance standing. With a dry look upon the caretaker's face and a smirk on little Lance's lips, the caretaker sighed and with a bored tone spoke up when Trent and Raven pulled away, "Pardon the intrusion, but I just thought you'd like to know. The Lady of the house had already left the premises … dinner is waiting … and Master Trenton, there is a young woman waiting for you down stairs in the main entrance."

Trent jerked his head back in confusion; Raven tilted her head up at the thief curiously and crossed her arms over her chest in wonder. Trent glanced down at her and shrugged, then turned to Gregory, "Did you even bother to tell her I'm not in? Who is she anyway?"

Gregory still in his dry expression looking bored out of his mind checked the cuffs of his suit and sighed tiredly, "First of all Master Trenton, I'm not paid enough to lie for your sake, and second of all, I hardly know … many woman are associated with you. It's hard to keep track of every Linda, Ginger, and Stacy that walks through the door."

"Thank you Gregory," Trenton gritted his teeth and held back the urge to strangle the sarcastic caretaker, when Raven scoffed and rolled her eyes he growled, "thank you very much, you can now lead Miss Raven to dinner so she can take her meal with Lance. At least I trust you'll do the job I'm PAYING you to do."

Without breaking a sweat Gregory bowed mockingly, "Whatever you say Master Trenton, I am obliged to you. Young Master Lance, Miss Raven, if you'll follow me this way."

Lance giggled and turned with Gregory to follow him towards the dinner hall, but looked over his shoulder and jogged back to Raven to grab a hold of her hand and tug her after the butler. With a gasp she was jerked out of her scrutinizing glare, to follow the child, hearing Lance shout back to his bewildered, annoyed, and rather agitated uncle, "It's Quean Moth from Gotham City Criss!"

Raven reared back, "Quean Moth? Wha – hey!"

"Come on! Or Gregory will get there before us!" Lance tugged harder forcing Raven to walk faster, helpless to deny the child of his fun, she looked back at Trent who frowned and glared at the ground in thought. Narrowing her eyes on him she thought to herself, Quean Moth … that's Kitten Moth's older sister … what has he got to do with the Moth family?

Meanwhile with the thief's thought's to himself, he growled and huffed, storming down the hall, but taking a later turn towards the main entrance he clenched his teeth and his fists in pure irritation, This house just keeps getting crowded by the damn second … Quean … what the hell are you doing here … and with Raven around no less! Shit … this is gonna turn out badly, I just know it …

--

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans, but everything that doesn't seem famliar to you or sound in any way made up, is all mine, so no touchy

Info Center:

1. I forgot which one of my lovely reviews asked about who was the guy at the museum, it wasn't the one that X threw out, it was this guy, Jaden, so that solves one mystery, and just a little heads up, Jaden plays a more significant roll in X's life than what I'm giving you now. Just a heads up ...O.O ... I really don' think I should have told you that, but yeah, I did, so be happy that I'm such a nice person.

2. Sorry to make Raven seem kind of weak in this scene, but I thought it fit, but if you don't get why she's so distraught over it, is because she "bit the hand that fed her" Robin - besides all the other Titans - was one of the only persons that she could easilly relate to. Again referring back to that "friendship" she thought they had, yeah, let's just say she's scared of actually loosing Robin all together. Their bond was severed - according to me anyway - and I guess to her, it's taking a little getting use to.

3. Useless information, I just loved what I wrote down for this whole paragraph, I don't know why, but I do. Damn you Axe commercials!

A/N: So there you have it the 8th chapter installed, praise me! Nah, you don't have to, but telling me wha'cha thinkin' would be nice in the little review button, I love reviews, they make be happy - and make me update a little faster for your sake. Final projects are over with so it should be a little easier for me to get up a few chapters faster than normal. So yeah ...

l8er daez