Chapter 9: First Date

Prepare yourself for a slew of dialogue and other fluffy tidbits!

Raven woke up a few hours later, still tired from her display of emotion, but head not quite so fuzzy anymore. She shivered a bit and pulled the blanket closer to her. It was surprising how peaceful the living room could be when the louder occupants of the tower were out. Robin was seated at the computer, quietly clicking away. He really didn't understand the concept of a day off. Though, she thought, there really wasn't time for one right now.

"I know you're awake." Robin's voice floated across the room to her and she finally sat up, stretching as the blanket fell away from her shoulders.

"Creep," was her response. She saw his shoulders shake with a small laugh. He tapped a few more things into the computer before turning around.

"Feel better? You look better," he said. Raven raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest.

"And what did I look like before?" Robin was saved from answering by his growling stomach. He looked up sheepishly and Raven smiled slightly. "Hungry, I gather?"

"Well, it is almost dinnertime. Want to go out?" Robin asked, surprised at how easy the words slipped from his mouth. Even if she didn't see it as a date, Robin sure would try his hardest to make it one if she said yes.

"That would be… nice," Raven responded. "I kind of want to get out of the tower." She rubbed her eyes, half hiding the blush she was sure she could feel on her cheeks. It wasn't like Robin had just asked her out on a date, after all. Right?

"Cool. Meet back down here in twenty minutes?"

"Alright," Raven said, forcing herself to actually stand up from the couch. She looked down to see she was still wearing her pajamas. Well that's embarrassing, she thought. Robin walked towards her.

"See you soon," he murmured, planting a quick kiss on her cheek before hurrying out of the room. She couldn't see his burning cheeks, but the waves of emotion radiating off of him sent her mentally stumbling backwards. Robin didn't know where the impulse came from, but it felt right, and he resisted the urge to either look back for Raven's reaction or sprint out of the room to avoid an explosion. Sometimes, the best thing to do was just pretend it was completely normal to kiss your teammate on the cheek after asking her out to dinner. He heard no explosions as the door swished closed behind him, and he walked the rest of the way to his room with a little spring in his step.

For her own part, Raven stood rooted to the spot, still processing what had just happened. It was one thing for him to show affection while she was an emotional mess (as much of a mess as she could be, that is), but quite another for this sort of thing. Her hand slowly reached up to her cheek, skin still tingling from where his lips had so recently touched. She looked around, but saw no damage done to the room. No explosions, no tendrils of black energy, no impending doom for any defenseless pillow.

"Huh," Raven muttered. She turned to walk towards her room, head still running through Robin's kiss. She felt… different. Somewhere between lunch and now, something had shifted in her mind. Raven entered her room and reached for the mirror on her dresser, but the clock reminded her she had only fifteen minutes before she was supposed to meet Robin back in the living room.

"I suppose a shower will substitute for meditation for now," she grumbled, replacing the mirror and stepping towards her bathroom.

...

Robin entered his messier-than-usual room with a sigh. Did he even have any clean clothes? He wasn't about to wear his uniform out to dinner, especially if he wanted this to be a date and not just two friends grabbing pizza after a long day. Robin rummaged through the small chest of drawers that held his civilian clothes. Something to impress, he thought. Pulling out a shirt and jeans, he threw them onto his bed and took a quick shower.

Slipping on the dark jeans and a navy and white baseball shirt, Robin paused to inspect his appearance in the mirror. It felt weird to be in something other than his uniform or pajamas, but he still had his mask firmly in place. Robin spiked his hair and, as an afterthought, grabbed his utility belt and buckled it on under his shirt.

…

Back in her room, Raven was still only in her towel, glaring at her closet. She felt like she should wear something other than her uniform, but her options were limited to what she should have thrown out years ago, things Starfire had randomly brought her from the mall, and a pile of black clothing. So now not only was she stuck on the issue of Robin and explosions, or lack thereof, but she had nothing to wear.

Azar had once said that only true love would clear the way for the freedom of her emotions, but Raven felt this was of little use to her. This was Robin, her best friend. Sure she had a crush on him, but 'true love' just sounded so… stuffy. She needed meditation, not a hot shower, for this one. Raven rolled her eyes and forced herself to return to the immediate problem: her wardrobe.

"This is stupid; it's just Robin," Raven said aloud, shaking herself into action and reaching for a pair of jeans. "It's just dinner."

…

Raven entered the living room and saw that Robin was already there. She paused. There was something… just something about seeing him in civilian clothes. She shook herself and walked over to where he was leaning on the back of the couch.

It took all of his self-control to keep Robin's mouth from dropping open. He had been convinced she would be wearing her uniform, convinced she would be so opposed to this being a date, but here she was in civilian clothing, just like he was. She wore a simple black tank top with a dark blue cardigan, sleeves pushed up to her elbows, and a pair of jeans. Her usual belt was draped around her hips. Well okay then, Robin thought. Maybe it can be a date after all.

"Shall we depart, fair lady?" Robin bowed deeply, looking up and smiling at Raven.

"Certainly, dear sir. Where art thou noble steed?" Raven asked with a small smile, giving into the charade as she walked out the door with Robin.

"In yonder stable," Robin replied, leading her out to the garage. The only vehicle besides the T-Ship was Robin's bright red motorcycle. He glanced back at her face, which was surprised. "Does my steed not please the lady?" Robin asked, smirking.

"I'm certainly surprised. Didn't think I would be back on that thing so soon." Raven remarked dryly. Robin laughed.

"The night is young. Where do you want to go?" Robin offered, tossing the black helmet at Raven.

"Anywhere is fine. Surprise me. Let's go before I change my mind about this stupid thing," Raven said as she gestured at the bike, climbing on behind Robin after a moment's hesitation.

"Hold on," Robin said before gunning the bike. He felt on top of the world, speeding down the streets with Raven's arms around him. Whiffs of her shampoo kept finding Robin's nose, and any dinner ideas he had flew out of his head. Somehow, they ended up at their usual pizza place. Mental autopilot, Robin thought to himself.

"How's this?"

"Pizza's fine," Raven replied, stepping off the bike and taking off her helmet, glad they were someplace familiar. They walked into the restaurant and were greeted by the owner.

"Oh, I haven't seen you in the longest time! Are there just two of you tonight? Come, come, follow me." The cheery owner led them to a table for two. "Ooh is this a date? That is so cute! I always knew something was going to happen and when people told me it would be you and that Starfire girl I just waved them off and said oh no its going to be Raven, because I knew, see I knew! I'll send a waiter over! This is just so cute." The owner walked off still talking to herself before either Robin or Raven could get a word in.

"Do you consider this a date, Robin?" Raven asked, equal parts nervous and curious, glancing sideways at Robin.

"I don't know. What do you think it is?" Robin said, a bit of his cocky confidence sneaking back into him as he watched Raven.

"Don't know. Do you want to call it a date?" Raven eyed Robin suspiciously. At this a smirk made its way onto Robin's face.

"Maybe," he said. Raven's blush worsened and his smirk widened, but they were saved from further conversation on the topic as the waiter came over and took their orders. "One large cheese pizza please. I'll have a root beer. Rae?"

"Uh, the same, please," Raven told the waiter.

"Kay dudes drinks will be out in a sec, pizza will take few minutes. Enjoy!" The waiter said.

"So, Raven, what do you think of us?" Robin asked as soon as the waiter left. Of course he just had to bring the subject back up.

"I don't know Robin. This is so new to me…" Raven was interrupted by the arrival of their drinks.

"That's okay. We can talk later," Robin said, taking a swig of his root beer. "Want to do anything after we eat? Some good movies are out right now," Robin asked, feeling quite confident indeed as he settled back in his seat. This all seemed so… normal.

"If you really want to, sure," She replied softly. A smile erupted on Robin's face as the little Robins inside his head leapt around, punching the air in excitement.

"Here's your pizza, guys. Have an awesome date thingy," The waiter said with a wink. This time, neither Robin nor Raven made a move to protest the date comment. They glanced up at each other and smiled before starting on the pizza.

…

"Man, I thought days off were supposed to be relaxing," Cyborg said, flopping down on the couch.

"Ditto dude. I think I'm gonna collapse soon…" Beast Boy yawned.

"Umm, where are friends Robin and Raven?" Starfire asked, glancing around the room.

"'Out to dinner, be back in a little bit, Love Robin and Raven.' Guess they're out to dinner." Cyborg said, reading the note on the coffee table.

"Dude! Did he finally ask-ouch!" Beast Boy yelped as Cyborg kicked him, nodding his head towards Starfire. Beast Boy mouthed an 'Oh', seeing Starfire with a funny look on her face.

"They probably just walked to pick something up and will be home any minute, right, Beast Boy?" Cyborg said, elbowing Beast Boy in the gut.

"Yeah, sure, they'll be home any minute!" Beast Boy coughed out, rubbing his stomach where Cyborg elbowed him. Just then, Cyborg's arm started ringing.

"I bet that's them right now, telling us they're seconds away!" Cyborg said cheerfully, smiling at Starfire. He pressed a button on his arm, and Robin's face flickered up on the screen. "Hey, Robin, where are you and Raven?"

"Oh yes friends, where are you and will you be returning to the tower soon?" Starfire inquired, pressing her face up against the screen.

Robin stepped back a bit at seeing Starfire's nose squished up against the screen. "Clingy isn't' she?" He muttered out of the side of his mouth at Raven who was beside him. She gave a small laugh. "Don't know, Starfire. Raven and I just finished dinner and we're heading over to a movie. We'll be back later. Can I see Cyborg?" Robin asked.

"Oh. Enjoy, friends." Starfire quickly turned away and sat on the far end of the couch. She turned on the television.

Cyborg's smiling face appeared on the screen. "What's up?"

"If you lock up before we come home, can you leave the keypad out on the garage entrance? We're on my motorcycle." Robin said into the communicator. Cyborg chanced a look over at Starfire. Her jaw was clenched and she turned up the volume on the cooking competition she was watching. Beast Boy caught Cyborg's eye and shrugged.

"Sure dude. Can I talk to you real quick? Just you? I know you're listening Raven," Cyborg said with a grin.

Raven grabbed Robin's wrist and pointed the communicator towards her. "Can't fool you can I, Cy?" She asked with a smile. Robin laughed and gave her a small push.

"C'mon Rae, let me talk to him," he said laughing as she shoved him back.

"Only cause you're paying for tonight Boy Wonder," she said lightly, walking off.

"So Cyborg, what is it?" Robin asked, a smile still on his face.

Cyborg was still staring in disbelief at the screen. "Whoa! Dude what happened to Raven? She's smiling? Laughing? What?"

"I don't know!" Robin exclaimed. "Something just changed this afternoon. We talked, she took a nap, and then I asked her to dinner and here we are!"

"Way to go, man. Someone finally got ice princess out of her shell and laughing. Nothing's blowing up?"

"Yeah it's weird. And I don't think it's because she's still sick, either."

"Just go with it. I've seen the way she looks at you sometimes, just like how you look at her. Something's going on and I have a feeling you might find the answer soon."

"Thanks, Cyborg," Robin said. Cyborg heard Raven's voice calling in the background. Robin turned away from the screen. "One second!"

"Y'all sound like you're already dating," Cyborg laughed. Robin shrugged, trying and failing to hide the grin on his face. "Later!" Cyborg broke the transmission and turned around to see a small green fly behind him. "Beast Boy!" Cyborg yelled, grabbing the fly. Beast Boy changed back into a human and fell to the ground.

"I swear I won't tell, Cyborg!" he said, jumping up quickly. "Besides, now I won't make stupid comments around Star like earlier, cause I'll know, right?" Beast Boy said, wiggling his ears.

"Beast Boy, my friend, that was actually a good point." Cyborg said thoughtfully, looking towards the redhead. She was slumped down on the couch, a pillow hugged tightly to her chest as a six-foot tall cake tumbled to the ground on the television screen. "C'mon, let's go watch this with her." The two Titans leapt over the back of the couch to settle in on either side of Starfire.

"Friends! You have come to watch the competition of cakes with me?" she said, noticeably brightening.

"Of course, Star. Can't have you watching TV all by yourself," Cyborg said.

"You two are most wonderful," Starfire beamed.

"I'll make popcorn!" Beast Boy hopped off the couch and ran to the kitchen.

…

"Let's go!" Robin said, helping Raven off the bike in the movie theatre parking lot. "Action? Drama? Comedy? Cartoon?" Robin asked as they walked into the air conditioned lobby.

"You can choose again," she said, smiling. "I haven't heard of any of these."

"Action it is!" Robin declared, grabbing Raven's hand and running to the shortest ticket line.

Phew, that was a lot longer than expected. So it's only the second half of the original chapter 8, which basically means y'all get a whole extra chapter in this revamp. Lucky.