…Second chapter. Yeah.

I'll put this up ever y chapter just as a reference…for anyone who needs it: Robin=Richard Grayson, Starfire=Kori Anders, Beast Boy=Garfield Logan, Cyborg=Victor Stone, Raven=Raven (lol..that wasn't necessary), Bumblee=Karen Beecher, Speedy=Roy Harper, Aqualad=Garth, Kid Flash=Wally West

Disclaimer: Me no own Teen Titans. Hehe.

You say you're looking for someone never weak but always strong
To protect you and defend you, whether you are right are wrong
Someone to open each and every door
But it ain't me, babe, no, no, no, it ain't me, babe
It ain't me you're looking for, babe
-Bob Dylan, It Ain't Me, Babe

"…Richard?"

A surprised young woman opened the door of her apartment to see the windswept and disheveled young man standing in the hall.

"What're you doing here? I thought tonight was--"

She was cut off as he grabbed her and crushed his lips to hers. They stepped inside; he kicked the door closed and kissed her with all the passion he'd been repressing since the last time he'd seen her. She had tried to resist, but gave in to his kiss as he pressed her up against a wall. He ran his hands up and down her sides as she ran her hands through his hair. They eventually slowed down to soft, gentle kisses and parted. He rested his forehead on hers, breathing heavily. She closed her eyes, her chest heaving.

As they caught their breaths, she slowly pushed him off her. He stepped a couple of feet back and she straightened up. "Richard…"

"Raven, I…I'm sorry, I just…I needed to see you," he confessed as he followed her past the sitting room into the kitchen. He sat at one of the barstools in front of the island as she got him something to drink. "I just can't take this anymore."

"Well, you're going to have to just get used to it." She opened her stainless steel refrigerator and bent down to look for something. "What do you want?" she asked. "I've got Pepsi, orange and apple juice…or I could make you some tea if you want..."

"You don't have anything else?"

"Richard, I don't drink, you know that…" She pulled out the liter bottle of Pepsi and poured him a glass. She handed it to him and he thanked her. She leaned on the counter, watching him with her amethyst eyes as he gulped it down. She was the same age as he was, twenty-four, and stood at five foot six. She no longer had the short violet hair she had once had when they were young; knowing it would make her too recognizable, she had dyed it black and let it grow out just past her shoulders. She wore an oversized white t-shirt and black boy shorts, choosing to walk around barefoot in her apartment. Since their teenage days, she was always known as the quiet one, wanting to just watch and observe rather than participate in any activities. She was smart and witty and the renowned queen of sarcasm, always making dry, sarcastic comments. It always seemed as if she hid her true self behind a wall, hardly ever expressing her emotions. But despite her cold exterior, she was a caring person, always putting her friends' well being before her own. Knowing what it was like to be alone, she never took her friendships for granted.

"...I still don't know why you're here," she said.

He put the empty glass down on the black marble top. "I told you…"

"That's not what I meant." She refilled his glass with more Pepsi and handed it back. "You should be at home with Kori. You do remember what today is?"

He nodded. "So why aren't you with her on your third anniversary?"

He sighed as he took his shades off and put them down. "I can't take it anymore," he told her for the second time.

When he didn't elaborate, she looked up. "Well?" she asked. "Continue."

"This just…it isn't the life for me, Rae." He took another swig of soda. "Living in the suburbs, in a two bedroom yellow house, of all the colors in the rainbow. Working at a nine to five job with people I don't even like. Having to drive a Volvo to work, to the supermarket, to anywhere we have to go. And having to be with Kori…"

He trailed off, gazing outside the window above her kitchen sink at the setting sun. "I was never sure of what we had. Even when we were still teenagers, when we first went out, I still wasn't sure of what I felt for her. I had strong feelings, but I realized they never went past the bonds of friendship." He absentmindedly played with his empty glass. "And then after the Titans disbanded, she wanted us to get our own place and live together. I wasn't as…excited about the idea as she was, but I didn't want to hurt her, so I said 'Yes'. But we've been there for a year now, and I just..." He met her gaze. "I'm not as happy as I thought I was going to be."

She studied him for a minute before speaking. "She loves you, you know."

"I know she does," he answered as he ran his hand through his hair. "And I do, too, but…not in the same way. Just as a friend, as a little sister, even. So that's why it…it's hard for me to even look at her now. To see how sad she is, and how she's getting sadder every day. And it's all because I'm…I'm hurting her," he said in a pain-filled voice.

"Then stop it." He looked up, surprised.

"W-What?"

"Stop it," she repeated firmly. "If you don't want to keep hurting her, then don't."

She was always like that. Blunt and to the point. It was one of the things he loved about her, but right now, her lack of explanation slightly irked him. "Care to explain?"

"If you don't love her the way she needs to be loved, then tell her so. Star deserves more than a boyfriend who only pretends to feel the same way about her. Instead of trying to act like nothing's wrong, instead of trying to keep what you have going, just…sit her down and tell her the truth. It's the least that you can give her, Robin." She was the only he still allowed to call him by that name. "Besides…she isn't the only one being hurt in this relationship."

He placed his hand on hers. "Raven, I'm sorry," he apologized, feeling even guiltier. "I know you're tired of us having to be together in secret, and you deserve more than that…"

She put a hand up to silence him. "It's okay, I'm fine. I just want you to come clean to Kori, Rich. Promise me you will."

"…"

"Robin…"

"I know, I know…" he looked away, but she pulled his chin to make him face her. She knew him all too well; she knew that if she didn't make him promise her he'd do it, he never would go through with it.

"If you love me like you said you did when we were teenagers, then you'll make this promise to me."

"Raven…" He ran his hand up and down her arm, never getting enough of the feel of her soft, pale skin beneath his fingertips. "Of course I love you. I did all those years ago, and I still do."

"…Then say it."

He hesitated before finally looking up at her. "I..."

"Yes?"

"I'll tell her. But not tonight…soon. I'll tell her soon. I just need to think of what to say."

"Just tell her what you told me."

"It's…more complicated than that, Rae. Kori's always set her heart on being with me for the rest of our lives. She doesn't see any other guy except for me. The thing is…she has this vision of her perfect man. She wants someone who will protect her, defend her no matter what. Someone who will always be there for her, to talk to her, to get her flowers, to cherish her, to give her all his attention, all the time. And she thinks that that man is me. But…it's not."

"'It ain't me you're looking for, babe'?"

He looked up. "…What?"

"Bob Dylan?"

"Oh…yeah, I guess it does fit, doesn't it?"

She nodded. He continued. "I know it's not me…as a matter of fact, I've always known it wasn't. Maybe that's why I was a bit hesitant to even start a relationship with her."

"'I will only let you down…'"

"…Okay seriously, you need to stop."

She laughed. "Sorry…"

He smiled. "Anyway…it's difficult to let her know how I feel because I know how strongly she feels about me and I just…I don't want to see her heartbroken. And to know she was heartbroken because of me…" He leaned his head on his hand. "That'd be unbearable."

"She's my friend, too, Rich. And to be honest...I would rather see her upset but knowing the truth than living in a fake, made up happiness, being the only one who doesn't know what's going on. I want her to be happy. Real happiness, Robin. She should be able to love and be loved in return."

"Is that Nat King Cole this time?"

"…What?"

"You're quoting 'Nature Boy', right?"

She hit him as he laughed. "That was just a coincidence. But, seriously…" She put his hands in hers and he stopped kidding around. "Just tell her. She's not as soft as she was back then, and not as…obstinate as she used to be. She'll be willing to listen, Robin. If she loves you like we both know she does…she'll understand."

"But will she let me go?" he asked, looking directly into her eyes.

She looked right back, and after leaning forward and pressing a soft kiss to his lips, answered, "…I don't know. The only way to find out is to tell her. So--"

She was cut off as the phone rang. Letting go of his hands, she stood and went into the sitting room, answering it.

"Hello?"

"R-Raven? Are you (sniff) occupied, friend?"

Her eyes widened. She covered the receiver with her hand and mouthed, "It's Kori!"

He sighed and put his head down on the counter as she returned to the phone. "Uh, no, not at all Star. Is…is something wrong? You're crying…"

He sighed even louder, feeling like the biggest asshole in the world.

She put a finger up to her lips as the upset young woman continued on the other end.

"I…I just needed someone to talk to, and I felt that you would be the best person to turn to…I am (sniff) sorry if I am taking up any of your time--"

"No! Kori, it's fine…I'll listen, don't worry." She looked at him, shooing him away, towards the door. He gave her a 'Do I have to?' look, but she just ignored him. Sighing, once again, he put his shades back on, pulled himself off the stool and let himself out.

She watched him leave and then plopped down on the maroon sofa. "So…what is it? Although I think I have a feeling I know what it is…"

"It's…it's Richard, Raven. He has been (sniff) hiding something from me, but I am perplexed as to what it is. He has been going out by himself, more and more often, and I know he is lying about his whereabouts; I can see it in his face. In fact, he went out now, perhaps an hour ago…" She stopped to blow her nose. "I am at a loss at what to do, friend!"

"Kori, just…be patient. You know as well as I that he can be incredibly stubborn…if he decides to tell you, he'll do it when he's good and ready. Don't nag him…just let him come out on his own."

"Yes…perhaps you are correct, Raven. I, too, think that agitating him any further will make him withdraw even more, like what had happened earlier today when I confronted him about why he had been gone for so long."

"And if you need me or any of the others to, we'll talk to him, okay?"

"Okay," She smiled on the other end. "But I am afraid Victor will, as he said, 'Beat the crap out of him' if he finds out…"

She laughed at the thought. "Yeah…but I think a good beating is exactly what Richard needs to wake up and realize he's doing something wrong…"

"Oh, but I do not wish for him to be hurt!"

She sweat dropped. "Um…I didn't really mean it that way, Kori…but nevermind!" She put in quickly before Kori could go any further. "Just…try to relax and not stress out about it too much, okay? Stressing over problems won't solve them."

"I will, friend. Thank you for listening."

"It's not a problem, Kori."

"Oh! Friend Raven, wait!"

She had just been about to put down the phone. "Yes?"

"Um…I had just been wondering if you had any idea where Richard may have been going?"

'Shit.' "I'm not really sure…he may have been going out to the bar with Roy and the guys or something…you know how they are sometimes,' she answered, lying through her teeth.

"Oh. Maybe I should call Roy or Victor--?"

"No! I mean…I don't think you should worry about it, Kori. Like I said, just wait until Richard decides to open up and talk about it…I'm sure it's nothing to worry about…" Lie number two.

"Yes…I suppose you are right. Well, good night friend Raven. I will see you this weekend at Karen's birthday party!"

'Oh yeah…It's this Saturday.' "Ok. See you then. Bye."

"Goodbye."

She hung up and sighed. 'Richard…you better tell her soon, because if you don't…' She looked towards her balcony, out at the city lights. '…I think I may have to.'

A bit of Rob/Rae this time. Rob/Rae is usually the pairing I read about and write about, but I felt like focusing on Starfire for a bit, too…so even though there is some Rob/Rae, the story will be centered on Rob/Star…but it's one-sided Rob/Star.

So what did you think? I'm gonna try to include all the characters I listed at the top at least once or twice...next chapter is gonna be Robin hanging out with the guys, so I hope I can write that okay…we'll see :)

I'm getting tons of hits, but no one's reviewed yet…pretty, pretty please! When I finish the third chapter, I'll dedicate it to the first person who reviews...but don't just say, "…Yeah. It was good," and that's it! I want comments, critiques…ideas you have that I can use to improve the story…especially the plot…