A/N: Third chapter up. It ended up being surprising long at 3500 words but ya know. I'm basically writing this story as I go on and honestly, I really have no idea where I'm going with it which does make writing it interesting. Robin talks with Batman and Raven and Starfire deal with the situation, one slightly more rational than the other but hey, love makes you do crazy things. I hope I wrote Batman well because it was hard for what I needed him to be but I think I did well. Any questions or comments about anything let me know. Next chapter might be written tomorrow if I have time. Peace.

To reviewers:

evilsangle: Thanks again for another review and I hope you like where this chapter is taking the story. Things should be rather interesting next chapter as this one was more to help set the stage. I think you'll enjoy what is to come.

zadeon: Well I did write Batman and Robin's conversation and made up an explanation of why Robin left though I don't go into too much depth. Yeah Batman is a badass character though I did have to make him slightly less menacing for this chapter so I hope that doesn't piss you off too much.

Cherry Jade: You really do write some insightful reviews. They are a pleasure to read you know that. Yeah Robin needs to get his emotions in order but that is always easier said that done especially with what is about to happen which this chapter starts to introduce. The team will get more chaotic. I don't think I could really do what happened in the dream to Raven. I have trouble killing off characters, unless its something heroic. Pointless death would be hard for me to write.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans so lets not try and sue me since I don't have anything to sue for.

Trying To Do the Right Thing

Chapter 3

By: Finalitylife

It was an early afternoon in the tower and Cyborg and Beast Boy were both surprised that they had yet to see any of the other members of the team. The two sat on the couch playing video games as the two constantly taunted each other despite the fact that Cyborg won almost every single game. The two remained blissfully unaware of what was going on in the tower at this time and only smiled and continued their epic struggle for video game dominance.

In Raven's room, a small, curled up body still remained on the bed, completely covered by a blue cloak. Though she was awake, she couldn't find the energy to get up. Even if she had the energy, she knew she probably wouldn't have moved because she couldn't think of a single reason why she needed to get up ever again. She felt a few more tears forming in her eyes but quickly forced them away. She closed her eyes and chanted her mantra quietly over and over again, hoping to force away her darker emotions. She tried to focus on her happier thoughts, her thoughts of Robin before he told her he couldn't return her feelings for him. Thoughts that held such wonderful feelings that she never imagined she would feel them ever in her dark existence. She smiled slightly at the memory of Robin placing a comforting hand on her shoulder one time when she was upset at Beast Boy for breaking her mug. She smiled at the memory of his kind and gentle words. She could feel her whole body relax at these thoughts. She knew in her heart that all was not lost yet and that somehow, she would get what she needed.

Starfire too was a huddled mess in her room. Tears would not stop flowing from her bright green eyes. She buried her face into her bed as she closed her eyes. For the first time, she wished her room wasn't completely pink, wasn't so very bright. At this very moment, she wished it was a dark, dreary place to match her current feelings. Her boy, her love, had rejected her. She just didn't understand, couldn't understand why. She knew he cared about her. He spent more time with her than anyone. He always said such kind things to her, told her she was beautiful. He went out of his way more than anyone to help her understand Earth and all its customs. He comforted her when Blackfire had made her feel unwanted. He had danced with her at the prom after defeating Kitten and Fang. He had risked his life to stop her marriage to that slime creature. All these things told her that he did indeed love her so why had he not told her. Why did he tell her to have fun on her date? Why did he emphasize the words friend when he called her his best friend? Why wasn't he jealous of her going out with another boy? The young alien princess knew she didn't understand a lot but this was far beyond confusing. What could possible be the reason that he didn't return her feelings for him. Nothing had happened between them at would have made him not like her. He still treated her wonderfully despite what happened when he was being haunted by Slade. It was her arms he fell into when he had finally won his internal struggle. It was her he clung to with all is strength. It was her he had apologized to first for what happened and even bought her an adorable stuffed animal to make up for hurting her.

"So why doesn't he love me like I love him!" She screamed into her bed. It was a scream of anger, hurt, sadness, and confusion. This was not how it was supposed to be. She had seen all the Earth movies where two people fall in love and her and Robin had shown all those signs. She suddenly felt very worried for Robin. Something had to be wrong with him still, something still had to be affecting him that would prevent him from proclaiming his undying love and affection for her. If he was okay, he would have told her already. Starfire felt hundreds of ideas flying threw her head finding it impossible to grasp on to any single thought completely though she knew that Slade was linked to almost every possibility. Was the dust still controlling her boy in some way? No. That wasn't possible. Cyborg had said he was clean and Raven had been in his mind again and told them he was fine.

Suddenly a spark of jealousy hit Starfire. It was the same feeling she had when Robin was forced to go on a date with Kitten. It was the same feeling Robin should have had when she told him she was going on a date with Speedy. Raven had been if her loves mind. The most logical part of her brain told her to stop this type of thinking, that her bestest friend in the universe would never do what she was thinking but the raging emotions with her told her it was true. It was all piecing together in the young aliens embattled mind. Raven had been hanging around Robin more than usual. Raven had been in the training room with Robin while he trained when she didn't need to be. Robin was almost the only person she talked to. Raven only smiled when with him. She knew the two would read together on occasions on the roof. Raven had been in his mind! She had seen things no one else had ever seen, knew things about Robin that no one else knew. If she could have entered his mind, then maybe she could control his mind. Starfire could feel herself growl slightly. It all made perfect sense. Raven was trying to steal her boy. Her best girl friend was trying to take what was hers. The reason Robin hadn't told her he loved her was because Raven was affecting him, preventing him from telling her the truth she longed to hear because Raven wanted Robin for herself. Starfire stood up, filled with righteous fury to protect what was hers. How could Raven do this to Robin, to her. Starfire believed she was her friend but now she was betraying her in such an awful way. Starfire threw a starbolt at a picture of her smiling form hugging a blanked face Raven. The picture was incinerated causing a nearby sleeping Silkie to cry out and slink away from his angry owner. Any type of rationality had left her mind as her eyes glowed green. It was time to have a talk with her so called friend.

Robin P.O.V

As soon as Starfire left, I crept back into my room. I went into my back room, a room no one in the tower knew about. It contained all my stuff from my old life as Richard Grayson as well as those things from my time with Batman. I sat down in a chair at a desk which had a communication monitor on it. I punched in a secret code that only I knew and the screen came to life. This was my only link to the Batcave, my only link to Batman. I let out a deep sigh as I thought about my mentor, my old leader, my surrogate father. I had not spoken to him since I had formed the Titans. Our falling out had been terrible. I still remember my raging emotions and his cold, indifferent stare. That had always been our greatest difference. I was passionate and emotional while he was my polar opposite with his emotionless demeanor. We both had watched our parents die yet Bruce had chosen to close himself from all things emotional while I, as my time with the Titans had shown, could never do that. I would have been lying to myself if I didn't say I was nervous, scared even a little about talking with him. I had no idea really what I wanted to say to him let alone what he would say to me. I guess here goes nothing. I pushed a few more buttons and waited. It was only a few seconds until the screen flickered and a dark, brooding presence was seen at the other end. There was no doubt in my mind who I was staring at even before seeing the costume came into view. Even from this far way, he was still able to give off a presence that could be felt by me, that made me shiver slightly. I simply stared at the screen for a few seconds not being able to find my voice but it was Bruce who broke the silence.

"Is there something I can help you with Dick?" I cringed at the sound of my name. It had been a very long time since someone had called me anything but Robin. I laughed slightly in my head though. Bruce was straight to the point as usual. I guess some things just never change.

"Um a…Um…." I could tell he narrowed his eyes underneath his cowl as I stuttered still trying to figure out what to say.

"I am very busy right now Dick so if you don't have anything important to say to me I have to go."

"Wait!" I yelled it out in a voice that surprised even me. Bruce's expression did not change at all though I'm sure he heard the desperation in my voice. He was the world's greatest detective after all.

"Batman, Bruce, I need advice…from you." I'm sure had it been Bruce asking me that question I would have smiled in some sort of triumph that he needed my help but Bruce didn't even flinch.

"Really Dick. You need advice from me. That is surprising considering the last time we talked you told me that you didn't need me telling you what to do all the time and that you were your own man. You told me that you would be fine with me and that you were leaving to create and lead your own team. This is really surprising since you did say I was completely useless to you." Though his voice held no malice I still couldn't stop myself from cringing at my words being thrown back in my face which he had every right to do. I had said some terrible, hurtful things to my mentor and a lesser man probably would have punched me in the face for what I had said when I said it. A lesser man would have said what he had just said and hung up in my face. A lesser man would have said the words with venom and malice and continued to mock me until I grew angry only proving his point again. However, Bruce was anything but the lesser man, he was the greatest man I had ever know. I looked at him for a few seconds.

"I'm sorry for what I said Bruce. It was wrong to say those things to you." He glared at me for a few seconds and I felt myself shift nervously. A small smile formed on his face which caused my eyes to widen in shock though what he said next almost gave me a heart attack.

"I am sorry too Dick. I realize now that in the end we were both wrong and right at the same time in our own ways so I don't think either of us are truly to blame for what happened. What's done is done so lets leave it in the past." I could feel my brain freeze up completely. Did Bruce, all knowing and master of being right just admit in some significant way, he was wrong? I probably looked foolish with my mouth agape as I stared silently at the screen. I was pulled back to reality by Bruce calling my name. I shook my head to clear it and smiled at him.

"Apology accepted and now its all history." We both had small smiles on our face as we sat basking in the situation. Two years of separation and the problem is solved in a minute of rational communication. There wasn't much we couldn't accomplish when we were together and I think we were both happy to simply be able to talk again.

"So what is it that you needed advice on?" Good ole Bruce, right back to the point. I let out a deep sigh.

"Do you know how you tried to teach me the importance of keeping my emotions in check and not allowing people to get to close because it could be used against me in a potentially deadly situation?" Bruce nodded slightly.

"Well this all kind of deals with that."

"Continue."

"I knew that when I formed this team and moved in with all these people that it would be impossible to remain completely impartial to them and they have become my friends over time, people I do care about deeply."

"That was to be expected Dick. You are not like me. You need people around you, you need to feel while I am content with the solitary life that I have created." I nodded my head. It was that type of understanding that hadn't been there two years ago when I walked away.

"And exactly like you said Bruce, a mad man named Slade was able to use them against me to try and make me his apprentice, his son." I could have almost sworn I heard Bruce growl slightly at my words though whatever it was, was quickly gone. He didn't say anything which meant for me to continue speaking.

"In the end however, it was my feelings for them and their feelings for me that were able to help us survive, to help us win and that is probably why after everything is said and done, I still value our friendship so much."

"So what exactly is the problem then Dick. It seems like everything is working itself out." I let out another deep sigh.

"In the end, I accepted that my friends would always have a bulls eye on them if someone wanted to get to me. I accepted it because I need them and the fact that they understand that and it is also true for them if someone wanted to get at them." Bruce nodded in understanding.

"However, recently, a very large problem has emerged. Someone on the team has desired that our friendship become something more, someone deeper. The problem is that your words keep replaying over and over in my mind along with the situation with Slade. If I ever allowed something like that to happen, then that one person would become singled out by my enemies, by Slade. That one person would be in terrible danger, so much more than any of my other friends and I could never allow that to happen to someone I care about."

"Are we talking about the stunningly beautiful alien or the dark exotic beauty in the cloak?" My eyes widened for a second. He is the forever bachelor.

"Actually Bruce, its both of them." Even Bruce couldn't hide his shock at this though he was quickly back to his blank face.

"Impressive. So how did you plan on dealing with this?"

"Well actually I kind of already did. I told Raven rather coldly that I would never return her feelings and that she should just forget about us being together ever. I figured if she saw no hope for us she would eventually get over me and everything would be okay. I won't go into the situation with Starfire exactly but I did a similar thing. I made it clear that we were friends and absolutely nothing else." Bruce just stared at me.

"It all made sense when I came up with it. If they know I won't ever love them in return, then they would eventually get over it and eventually everything would settle down and things would be back to normal. But now, I feel…"

"Guilty." Bruce said it first before I could but he knew exactly what I was going to say. I lowered my head slightly.

"Exactly. I feel terrible for hurting them. I feel like I'm some type of monster for what I did to Raven and Starfire. I feel like I'm falling into some type of darkness because I was capable of doing what I did. I can't get the pictures of them crying out of my head for a second. Their shattered hearts are haunting me." Everything was silent for a few seconds as I waited for Bruce to say something.

"You were wrong Dick." I gritted my teeth for a second.

"But I thought I was doing the right thing." My voice came out defeated and soft.

"Look at me Dick." I tilted my head up and looked at my mentor. "What you did wrong was trying to handle the situation as someone else. You tried to be like me when you confronted the girls, cold and indifferent. You are not me Dick. You never will be me. We are two different people. I stand by what I said about emotions and people being liabilities but as I can see, that may not be the truth for you. Emotions and friends are not liabilities for you, they are your strength." I continued to simply stare at my mentor who suddenly sounded like an understanding father. Two years apart I think had made us both better people.

"So what should I do then?"

"Be yourself. Handle the situation as you would have done it have you not followed my words. These people are your friends and they deserve honesty and compassion, not you being a complete jerk." I nodded my head in understanding. It really was so obvious, an answer that I probably always knew but got messed up in all my worries and my unwillingness to be honest with my feelings with my friends.

"But I do have one question for you Dick? Are you in love with either of these girls?" The half expected that question but it still took me a few seconds to even register that it had been asked.

"I don't have an answer for that Bruce. I just don't know."

"Well Dick, in my opinion, you should really apologize to those two girls for how you acted. I think you need to figure out your emotions and I believe the answers will flow from there. Trust yourself. You're a good man and I know you will figure it all out." I couldn't help but smile at his praise. It wasn't something I heard, well ever. I liked the feeling and his words.

"Thanks for all the help…Dad." The word came off my tongue slowly as it was so completely foreign for using with him. I don't think I had ever once to his face called him Dad or Father though I'm sure he knew I felt that he was mine. His image didn't move, his face was blank and I could have sworn he got more menacing looking.

"Don't call me that Dick." He then slowly smiled. "It makes me feel old." I smiled back at him.

"I'll save it for special occasions. Well again thanks, I really needed to clear my head about all this."

"Your welcome Dick and come home soon. Alfred misses you and he is always making me feel guilty for you not visiting." I smiled as I could just imagine Alfred, probably the only person who could truly put Bruce in his place, yelling at him for being stubborn.

"I will as soon as everything is settled." Bruce nodded and the screen went black. I let out another deep sigh as I sat back in the chair and smiled. Things with Bruce were better than they had ever been before and I couldn't be happier about that. I knew he would never admit it but maybe he had softened up just a little though I knew the last word to describe him would be soft. My mind slowly drifted to my situation and again my nightmare flashed in my head. Bruce was right, I wasn't trying to handle this problem as myself. The Titans were my friends and I should have approached this situation with understanding and respect, not as an asshole. Raven most of all deserved an apology and the images from my dream only reaffirmed the importance of doing that. Not just because I felt guilty or because I was afraid of what might happen to her, but because she was a great person and deserved it. Starfire too. Suddenly I heard an explosion down the hall and immediately jumped to my feet. I was in the hallway before I knew it as a commotion could be clearly heard down the hallway, toward Raven's room.