Disclaimer: *Looks around* Oh, I guess I don't have a plaque on my wall saying that I own DC Comics...but I should probably clean my room.

"It may sound absurd,

but don't be naive.

Even heroes have the right to bleed.

I may be disturbed

but won't you concede:

even heroes have the right to dream.

And it's not easy to be me."

-Five For Fighting. "Superman (It's Not Easy)"

Chapter 6: Meetings

-R-

He was not looking forward to this.

Instead of crawling back through his bedroom window he went in through the Tower's front doors. Even this far away from the common room he could hear Batman's booming voice lecturing the Titans. However, he was too far away to make out their words. He stopped halfway in the entry hall to listen, trying to mentally prepare himself before plunging into the fire.

You're going to have to talk to him sooner or later, Robin thought. Just get it over with.

As Robin walked into the common room the other Titans backed away from the television screen and fell into silence. They watched him with wide eyes, wondering what sort of chaos would ensue. His posture subconsciously straightened as he neared the screen. Batman's looming face stared back at him in obvious disapproval.

"Where were you?"

"Out."

A frown nearly identical to Batman's crossed Robin's face. The man lived on the other end of the United States! Why should he care now about where he went or what he did? He didn't have to ask to know that Batman was pissed that Robin didn't answer his calls. It also irritated him that Bruce never called for pleasant conversation, but called for emergencies like this. The Batman emitted a low growl from deep in his throat.

"You shouldn't have done that."

"There was something I had to do."

Robin held up the ticket stub from the circus. The others didn't know his past. It would mean nothing to them, but he knew that Bruce would understand. Batman's eyes flickered from the ticket stub back to Robin's face.

"Still, it was stupid of you to leave the Tower by yourself. You're smarter than that."

None of the others dared to speak. This was exactly the kind of confrontation he wanted to avoid. This was why he called Wayne Manor while the others were out. The tension between them was palpable, like a brewing electrical storm. He felt as though he was preparing for a Mexican standoff. Robin began to grind his teeth.

"I don't need you telling me what to do."

They glared at each other through the webcam.

"I'm merely giving you advice. You can take it or leave it."

Judging from his tone of voice, Robin suspected that Batman expected him to take it.

"I sent you Crane's files," Batman said. "Even though I don't think that they will help you."

"Fine."

It was about time. Robin was almost afraid that Bruce-as angry as he was about the situation with the dust-would declare that he would come to Jump himself.

"Tomorrow I'd like you to send me a sample of the dust from the mask, just to see if it did originate from Scarecrow," Batman said. "Flash will stop by to pick it up in the morning."

"What?" For a moment Robin thought that he had misheard. "We don't need the League's help."

"Yes, you do!" Batman growled. "You know that when one of us is attacked, then it affects all of us."

All of them. Not just the Titans, but all of the Metahumans across the globe. The bigshot heroes in Metropolis, Central City, Gotham, Opal City, Star City….everyone.

"I think it's a good idea," Cyborg said, "It would be good to double check. My scanners can't pick up everything."

Although Robin didn't want to admit it, it was a good idea. But for crying out loud, he had grown up with the League's most prominent members. True, he did love Clark as an uncle and knew some of the others pretty well, but still...

"Fine," he said. "We'll have it ready by tomorrow morning."

Almost at once he turned his back to Batman and began to walk back to his room. Bruce, however, wasn't finished talking.

"And Robin…."

"What?"

"Be safe."

-Rae-

Raven could sense Robin's simmering anger as he stomped back to his room. As he passed her she felt a tidal wave of wildly different emotions wash over her. She saw more images of Slade, but also pictures of Bruce Wayne, his parents, and a circus. But above all she felt a great and terrible sadness emanating from deep within him.

He had been crying.

"Both of them are nuts," Beast Boy said. "They fight like a married couple. Figures, since both of them are from Go—"

Beast Boy's comment was cut-of by a sharp rap to the head. There was a time and place for his annoying jokes, but Beast Boy never seemed to have the mental capacity to discern when to keep his mouth shut.

"Shut up," she said, her voice hard. "Robin's problems are just as bad as yours, Beast Boy."

Ignoring Beast Boy's spluttering reply, Raven pulled her hood over her head and drifted down the hallway. She could sense Beast Boy's own angst over Terra's death, but Robin was the one who needed help the most now. It was harder for her to relate to Beast Boy, who annoyed her most of the time.

Raven went up to his bedroom door and knocked.

"It's Raven."

She heard him moving about. A mental image of Robin scrambling to put his mask back on came to her mind. She stepped back as Robin opened the door just a crack.

"What is it?"

"May I come inside?"

After a moment's hesitation he stepped aside and let her in. Unlike his office, the walls of which were covered with newspaper clippings, his bedroom looked more…welcoming. But there were no personal effects in the room other than a bookshelf. Despite what Robin said about the Tower being his home, she knew that his true home was not the Tower but Wayne Manor. Raven knew better than to discuss his past with him. Mostly because he was under the impression that no one knew who he was and also because she didn't want to think about hers.

"You were crying."

Robin did not bother to hide the surprise in his face. Even with a mask on, his face showed a wide variety of emotions. He turned his head to the side, as though frightened to admit that he had been crying. When he responded his voice sounded faint and distant.

"It's just…it's been a hard day for me."

"It's been for all of us." She gazed at him with her violet-colored eyes. "Is there anything you want to talk about?"

She knew that there were several things he probably wanted to talk about, but she was going to let him talk about them first. Robin's shoulders slumped in defeat.

"I went to the circus," he admitted. "On a pure whim."

Raven sat down beside him. She hated seeing her friends in emotional agony like this and truly wanted to help Robin heal from his haunted past. Of course, she didn't know much about the other Titans' pasts, but she herself had experiences that would put the others' to shame. Her sixteenth birthday was less than a year away...the most she could do for the others was make sure that they were happy. Happy before that dreaded day arrived. One of her hands rested upon his shoulder.

"Who were those people falling from the trapezes?"

She asked cautiously, unsure of what his reaction would be. Even though she saw his memories she did not know the backstory behind them. He fell silent for a long time.

"People I love."

He wasn't going to talk anymore. Raven nodded silently and stood up. It was getting late. They should all be getting some sleep. God knows Robin didn't get enough the night before.

"Good night, Robin."

"'Night."

A/N: I like how Raven's POV came out. I'm more pleased with it than the first part with Robin's POV. And honestly, I can't wait to write the next chapter.

To everwild34 (and to everyone else as well, I guess): the chapters come out fast because I honestly have nothing better to do with my time. My work schedule is erratic, so I have lots of free time. I'm also so used to writing original fiction (which is actually grueling but pleasant work) that fanfiction comes a lot easier to me, since I'm writing in an already-established universe. And college has taught me to write fast, efficiently, and correctly. So the next chapter will hopefully be up soon.

As always, please review.