Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans, the ROM or Monsoon.

"I was reading this book," she began, "By Margaret Atwood called Oryx and Crake." She picked at the vanilla bean cheesecake they decided to share. They had ordered one slice with two forks because she didn't think she could finish one on her own. So there they both sat, arms on the table, picking bits out if the slice, which was pretty big, so close they could feel each other's breath.

He nodded, "Oh yeah, I've read that too."

"Good, well. It just made me think. Jimmy or Snowman, whatever you may call him, simply made up the Crakers' creation story. That's the part that hit me the hardest. Their God, Crake, was just an over glorified friend of their prophet, yet they took in everything he said and ate it. These creative synapses in a person's mind begat their religion. And they would die having faith in that. It made me think that that is probably the basis for all belief systems today, just stories. Make believe, creative impulses in someone that needed a good story telling. You know the three most widespread religions are all just based on one another, all coming from the same creation story of 'God'? They all have the same stories in their respective Holy Books. Only, like you said, everyone interpreted it differently."

"So you don't believe in God." He wasn't all that surprised; he knew a lot of atheists despite himself being a devout Catholic. Many people trying to convince him otherwise but he always had his faith and always will. It's got him through in one piece so far.

"Which one?"

"Any one."

"No."

"Not even in a 'supreme being' figure?"

"No, I am a historian Gar. In history, countless civilizations have had their own belief systems, each of them swearing that theirs was the way, the truth, and the life. Many even died for it martyrs and so-called 'holy wars'. Not to mention human sacrifices to the gods. Even so far as to persecute heathens, non believers and sceptics. And is the end result worth it? What is the end result?"

"But you have to recognize that religion stabilizes. For instance, take early European art, from the Renaissance. It was highly influenced by religion, not even necessarily their own either, Greek and Roman gods and goddesses and spread throughout. In ancient civilizations, moral code brought on by religion began a basis for laws. Religion gives people culture."

"Yes, but religion has also been their downfall. Take Egypt, Akhenaton was a hugely religious man, and it was that very trait, that flaw in their leader, that begat the downfall of not only Egyptian stability but of their entire civilization."

"But, I just don't understand atheism. You need something to ground you. There has to be something constant in your life."

"And there is; my work." He laughed at this. "No do not laugh at me. You have your God, I have my work. As God will always be God, Egypt will always be Egypt. Consistent, reliable, unswerving, dependable and true."

"But everything can't possibly revolve around your work. I mean, what about relationships?" Slowly he's been trying to get this out of her, Does she like me or not? He had his doubts and dealt with it the only way he knew how, shameless flirting.

"I never said everything revolved around my work, I said it kept me grounded. Relationships are a whole other ball of wax." She tried her best to stay away from this topic all night. Despite what they had agreed on, a friendly dinner among colleagues, she couldn't help but feel more. She was compelled to him and was afraid of it.

"So, what about relationships."

"What about them?"

"Are you in it for love or-"

"Ha! What is love?"

"Okay , okay. You don't believe in God, in magic, in fate. But you have to believe in love."

"I don't have to do anything, Garfield."

"Then, why do it at all? Why go through the tedious task of finding someone? Why go through the ritualistic dating scene if not for love?" Why share this cake with me? Why be here at all? Why say yes?

"Companionship, company. I don't believe in 'true love'. Unconditional, parental love I can understand… but 'true' love? Meeting someone, flying sparks, eyes meeting across a crowded room. It's all fairy tale crap."

"I think you're just sceptical because you haven't found the right person."

"And you have?"

"Well, no…"

"How many times have you thought that you were in love?"

"Um, a couple-" She cut him off, passionate bordering on anger.

"And how many times have you told those girls you loved them?"

"Uhh, quite a few-"

She smirked triumphantly, "And yet, you're not married. See? Everyone always says forever, it's all blown out of proportion. Forever never lasts. Let's talk reality here, if you want lovey-dovey romance, go turn on a TV."

"You sound like an old hag."

"Old hag?" It should have sounded insulting, but from him it was adorable. He was like a little boy failing to come up with a good come back.

"Yeah, old hag, heart broken and bitter." His eyes jokingly went to small slits, making her smile.

"No, realistic."

"Tell me something, are you heart broken? Had there been someone there before who you let in but took your heart and ran away with it?"

"Tell you what, you answer your own question first then maybe I will."

"Okay, sounds fair. When I was 17, there was this girl Terra. She was great, I thought she was perfect. She had these sky blue eyes and long, natural blonde hair. She laughed at all my corny jokes and, you know, I thought I loved her and I thought she loved me. It went on for a good while. Even when there were rumours about me cheating on her, which I didn't, we stayed together." He stopped looking in her eyes; he now stared blankly at the half full wine glass to his right. His face that of sweet remembering.

"Sounds perfect, how'd it end?" She absently took another scrape of the cheesecake, now less than a quarter left. She was watching him intently. She felt his pain, she hurt that he had hurt. A stab in her heart, an all too familiar feeling. How could anyone do that to him?

"She cheated on me with some jock strap named Wilson. I dealt with it pretty bad. Kinda sulked, stayed away from people for a good while," he chucked sadly, "I was in such denial for the longest time, but eventually I got over it, over her. Moved on with my life." His eyes stayed on the now half empty wine glass, old memories haunting his mind.

"To 'love' another?"

"Yeah, to 'love' another," he looked up at her again, the playfulness returning to his eyes, "But at least I'm open to love."

"It's nothing but lust, infatuation. Most marriages end in divorce. Look at history. What brought great men and women down? Their spouses. After physical attraction wears off, what do you have?"

"Ever heard, 'Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks'?" He smiled at himself, proud of the fact that he had remembered that.

"Yes, Shakespeare."

"Okay, quid pro quo. You didn't answer my question."

"What question?"

"Oh come on. I showed you mine now show me yours." He smiled at his own immaturity.

"In case you forgot, I said maybe."

"Come on Rae," he whined.

"Fine, only if you never call me 'Rae' ever again," she paused then began again, "I was pretty young too. Teenage love and all that. Well I met this guy, Malchior. He seemed like the perfect gentleman, British and so smart. We could talk about books, politics, whatever, all day. He was really tall with these incredible steel blue eyes…" She drifted off in memory before snapping back to reality. He watched her eyes now, unlike his her stare hadn't wavered, she didn't look away. A part of him wished she had, because despite her cold exterior and strong façade, he saw the fragile girl beneath it all. Through her eyes, her beautiful eyes that revealed what she so sought to hide.

"But then I found out he was just using me to make his ex jealous. I was so naïve, he called me beautiful and-" How could anyone do that to her?

"But you are beautiful Rae-ven," he quickly save himself from the mistake.

"Well thank you," she let herself show the blush, "But I'm still not convinced."

"You'll find someone someday. And he'll show you fairy tales can come true."

She poked the fork topped with cheesecake at him, "That's a very cheesy line."

He shrugged, pretending not to hear her, "I don't know, maybe you'll be walking and just accidentally bump into the right guy," he began to smile, "And he'll ask you to lunch, then afterwards dinner. And you'll fall in love and live happily ever after."

Raven rolled her eyes at the obvious innuendo and countered with her own clichéd line, "Yeah, when hell freezes over."

A figure loomed over the Toronto skyline. The sun was long gone, and so were the people within the ROM. The figure crouched atop the Toronto Parkway Hyatt Hotel overlooking the Crystal.

Powerful spotlights illuminated its face like a toy on a pedestal, mocking him. It made anyone walking within the immediate vicinity glow with eerie white light. He watched as a small figure of a woman exited the front doors, the locks clicking behind her. The sound would have been inaudible to normal ears but his, fine tuned to hear such intricacies, perked up like a dog's, his eyes spotting every motion of the door. He eyed the small woman, petite, Caucasian, blonde hair peeking from beneath her hat.

He took out a small box, almost remote control like but with a single glowing red switch. His eyes danced with mischief as he flipped the switch and…

Beneath a set display case, hidden behind a leg, a small disk began to glow. A tiny red 'X' on its face.

The air outside was brisk, but not freezing. A man and woman walked side by side, her arms folded over her chest, his hands in his pocket. They were talking and laughing, occasionally playfully bumping each other. As they approached a building, she turned to him.

"You know you didn't have to walk me to my door."

He shrugged, "Well, it was only two stations away from mine and it's not like I'm short on bus fare. I bought a day pass." It wasn't a lie, nor was it exactly true. It was somewhat out of his way and quite a walk from his hotel, not to mention the streetcars stop working at 10:30.

She nodded, "O well that's convenient."

"Isn't it?" They kept walking and stopped outside an old building. Gar opened the door and ushered Raven in.

"Well this is my place." She searched her pockets for her entrance card. Finding it she kept her hands in her pocket.

"Wow, nice building. I guess museum work pays off huh?" He took off his gloves and turned, taking in a 360 of the lobby. It was nicely finished, with aqua painted walls and the glass was ribbed, all giving the impression of being beneath the water.

"Not really, I make enough to get by." He turned to her and they stood face to face, toes touching. Ignoring the obvious whirr of the security camera, they stared at each other.

"You know, I have flight headed back to Chicago tomorrow, there's business to attend to. Then I'll be all over the place making arrangements for the exhibit. And finally, I'm headed to London to accompany the artefacts here." He never took her eyes off her.

"Must he nice to go anywhere on a whim huh?" She smiled, melting away at his heart.

He brought his face closer, "No, I don't get to stay long enough to really enjoy anything…" A moment passed then unexpectedly he pulled back; suddenly aware of their closeness he placed a nervous hand behind his head. She nearly sighed at his recoil.

"But I'll be back in Toronto in about a month. And… I was wondering… if you weren't too busy, if you'd like to join me again." She raised an eyebrow and took a step towards him, closing the gap that he had made before.

She tilted her head up, presenting a challenger, "As friendly colleagues?"

He met her challenge, regaining confidence. He brought his face to hers, lips a hair's width apart, "No, as a date."

She smiled up at him, "I think I'd like that." He grinned mischievously and pulled back, putting his gloves hack on. Opening the door he left a shocked Raven standing, blushing furiously at her boldness. She stood there, not turning her head as she heard the front doors open and close, then open again.

His head peeked in and with the same grin called to her, "Good bye Raven." She slowly turned her head, embarrassed, gave him a weak smile and raised a hand goodbye.

A/N: I was totally blocked for a while, but now I've regained my muse and started writing. First glance at theivery in this chapter, more to come...