"So your Black Canary's protege? What are your powers?" Beast Boy said enthusiastically.
"Yes, what are your powers, Jaguar?" Starfire said stiffly, I smiled.
"Follow me," I lead them out the door until we were by the ocean. "Robin?" he smiled and stepped in front of me.
"Ready for round two, huh?" he said. I smiled at him and closed my eyes. I had learned a trick or two while I was gone. I moved a piece of earth to where he had to step closer to me.
"Oh, I was born ready. And don't even think about going easy in me." I said.
"Wouldn't dream of it." he tried to grab my torso but I neatly dodged it. I counter attacked with an air kick, and he flew to the other side of the island. He quickly got up and did some acrobatic thing to where he was in front of me. I raises my eyebrow and got water from the ocean and blasted him with it, then I froze the water. To my surprise he broke through the ice.
"Looks like my little Robin got some muscle. Even Superboy has a hard time breaking through it." I said, he laughed my favorite laugh and tried to knock out my knees, but I was too fast, I was on the other side of him in milliseconds. I kissed his neck, which distracted him long enough for me to knock out his knees. I pinned his arms and legs to the ground with earth. "Beat ya again," I laughed. I looked over at the others, their mouthed were all hanging open. I released Robin and helped him up.
"Cheater," he said playfully, i raised my eyebrow. "Its not fair when you seduce me like that." I laughed at him.
"Thats the name of the game, Babe." he wrapped his arm around my waist and we walked towards the others.
"You. Beat. Robin. No one has ever done that before!" Beast Boy said. "I think were going to get along just fine." He crossed his arms and gave me a weird smile. I laughed hesitantly, knowing I wouldn't be able to stay long.
"I've never seen you this... relaxed before, Rob. Was he always like this?" Cyborg said. I looked down, not wanting to remember what had happened to him while I was gone. Robin pulled me closer.
"It was different then," I said softly. "He wasn't the leader of the team, and we were still kids." I looked up at Robin.
"And I still had you." he said. I looked up at him and my heart broke. I couldn't bear to think how much pain I had caused him.
"But to answer your question, yes he was always like this. Superboy and Aqualad were the serious ones of the group. Kidflash and Robin were... not so serious." I laughed at the memories of them goofing off.
"They weren't feeling the aster." Robin smiled at me and he intertwined his fingers with mine. We walked back to the tower, and Cyborg and Beast Boy immediately started playing video games.
"Guess you have to be the serious one," I said and he smiled a little bit, but it didn't reach his eyes. I wondered if he regretted leaving Young Justice, if he missed everyone as much as I did. Which reminded me; I needed to talk to him about some things.
"Can I talk to you for a minute, alone?" He looked at me in confusion but eventually mustered a "Yea," and lead me into his room. I could feel him trace my figure with his fingers, trying to memorize me as if this were our last day together, and I suddenly wanted to be as close as possible. I lifted my eyes to find him staring intently at me. my hand touched his face softly and he kissed my palm. "Robin," I breathed and he hushed me with his lips. His hands went to my waist and he lifted me up onto his hips, my heartbeat was pounding in my ears. My skin burned where his hands touched, which was everywhere. He slowly lowered me onto his soft bed and took off my mask. He smiled and touched my lips with his fingertips. I reached up and took off his mask in return. He lowered his head and touched his lips to mine, passion and need breaking through his careful composure. I could taste his sweet scent on my tongue. He took off the jacket I was wearing and kissed down my neck, letting me breathe. I sighed and brought is mouth back to mine. God, how I wanted more, but a voice in the back of my mind was screaming at me to stop. I finally broke the kiss. "No, stop. We can't do this." he looked at me in confusion. I got up from the bed, crossed my arms and didn't speak for a few moments.
"Do you even miss them?" I whispered. I heard him shift his weight. I turned to find him looking at the ground.
"Of course I do," there was a trace of pain in his voice, which hurt me.
"Then why did you leave?" I needed to know the real reason he left when they needed him. I got aggravated when he didn't say anything. "What about Wally? He's your best friend, and you just quit on him! I know you missed me, and were having a hard time dealing with things, but you turned your back on them!" By the time I finished, I was yelling.
"You don't understand," he said quietly. That hit a nerve.
"Then please, enlighten me Mr. Grayson!" I was nearly screaming at him by now. I told myself to calm down, but it seemed impossible.
"They all forgot about you! They acted like nothing happened! And when I would even try and mention it to Bruce, he would tell me to forget. How could I forget about you! You're the best damned thing that has ever happened to me and he wanted me to forget you! Every time I would close my eyes I would see your face! Every night I would have the same goddamn nightmare! I couldn't forget the fact that I let you die. My heart couldn't let me forget that you died in my arms. Bruce is a cold and emotionless monster and I want nothing to do with him!" he was also yelling. I could feel the tears fixing to spill over and my voice was hoarse when I spoke.
"Which is what you were becoming," he looked up, his eyes were fierce. "when I would... check-up on you, you were a completely different person than the one I had known, now bitter and cruel. You were so intent on catching this Slade lost sight of yourself, of what matters. Batman didn't want you to forget me; he just didn't want you to live in the past." I touched his cheek, tears running down my face. "And I didn't want that either. How could I? Seeing you in that kind of pain killed me."
"They all forgot you," he repeated again, this time softly.
"They just moved on with their lives. They don't love me like you do, Robin." he pressed his forehead against mine. "Will you come back with me? At least make amends with them, set things straight." he nodded.
"You have to stay with them, don't you?" his voice was so soft, like a child's.
"I have to, there isn't any other way. But we'll figure out something, I promise." After dinner, everyone departed to their rooms. I walked over to the huge glass window that covered the entire side if the eastern tower, the moon was full and I could feel the energy coursing through my veins. Water bending had always been my specialty; I always felt a strong connection with the moon and water spirits. I looked down to see the ocean, now like black ink in the moonlight. As the waves crashed over the rocky cliffs, I was reminded if an old Chinese proverb; Twi and la, push and pull, life and death, yin and yang.
At that moment, Robin wrapped his arms around my waist. "Hello, my love," he whispered in my ear.
"Ciao amore mio, ti ho perso," I said and he chuckled.
"You know I don't speak Italian," I turned and kissed his cheek.
"Hello my love, i have missed you," his eyes softened as I said this.
"I could have guessed that."
"Im sure you could," I smiled and turned back to the water, enjoying the warmth of his arms.
"Come down to the ocean with me," he took my hand and we walked down to the sand. There was a warm breeze outside, and the stars were out. I loved the way the sand felt on me feet. Robin and I were both out of our costumes, which apparently was not natural, but we still had our masks on. I took a deep breath, taking in the salty sea air. I walked up to the water, to where the waves were just barley crashing over my feet. I looked at Robin, who was watching me, and splashed water on him. I laughed and ran away when he started to chase me. He finally caught me and we fell to the ground, laughing at our childishness. God, this was so cliche. I rolled on top of him, pinning him to the ground, and kissed his lips.