Robin sighed, looking in the mirror. It had been about three weeks since his birthday… and three weeks since he'd seen James. A frown creased his brow as he touched a bruise on his ribs. The price of one kiss… damn!
Slade walked up behind him and kissed his cheek, he looked away with an angry huff. The assassin just smirked "there there Robin, lets not be angry anymore, I've brought you your birthday gifts." He nodded to the bed "we'll be training tonight, so open your presents and come down to dinner."
Robin just sighed and nodded. There was never any use fighting with Slade, he always won, no matter what. Slade just smirked and left. The teen went to the bed and smiled at the present James had gotten him. It was wrapped perfectly, but with a child's excitement.
Ever so carefully, he unwrapped it and opened the plain white box inside, it gave away no secrets. As he lifted the lid, the light flowed in, giving light to a black shirt, made of cotton, with a red bird across the chest. He smiled and held it.
()^()^currently ()^()^
Raven had arrived at Wayne manner in the morning. A kindly old butler had opened the door, claiming that 'master Bruce' was at a meeting and wouldn't be back until late.
It was now eight thirty in the evening, late indeed. She unpacked the rest of her belongings. She'd bought a bunch of street clothes in Gotham's style. All of them dark, all of them flexible enough to fight in, if need be. Right now she was clothed in a purple pair of pants and a black turtle neck. It was inconspicuous enough to not draw attention… Bruce didn't need the publicity.
Suddenly the door opened "raven! Good to see you." Raven half-smiled and stood "her batman." He put a hand on her shoulder "please, call me Bruce outside of the costume." She nodded and looked around "how was the meeting?" Bruce grunted and sat down, taking off his shoes "wonderful… I think. I slept through it. Then I headed out to get a few drinks with a girl from work."
Raven's face went blank and she looked away. Bruce sighed "I know, it was not the best thing to do knowing I would have company over. But, think. How would it look if I turned down a woman and came home early to meet with my son's friend?" Raven sighed and shrugged "It's alright, really; you have a profile to keep here." She looked away "Alfred made some food; he said I could eat early, but I wanted to wait. Hungry?"
Bruce smiled and went into the dining room with her, and nodded to Alfred, who started setting out the plates. "Now, what made you come here?" Raven didn't meet his gaze "Things have been, uh, tense lately. She sighed. The man laughed softly, and a bit drily "Things change, a lot, when someone leaves." Raven just nodded, running a hand through her hair "yeah, tell me about it. Even beast boy and Starfire have lost their chirpiness, the tower's falling apart. It's been years, Bruce, but time's not helping, in fact, I think it's making it worse. We had all hoped that he would come back."
He gently laid a hand on her arm "it still hurts me, sometime, knowing that the boy I took in left me and my home too. No, time won't heal all, but, you know what? It will get easier, eventually." Raven offered a small smile and nodded maybe your right." The rest of the meal was eaten in a comfortable silence.