Honeythief
Chapter Thirteen

)O(

Robin watched Raven storm from the ballroom, face flushed with anger. The chandeliers overhead trembled with the dregs of her powers; she was going to break something if Robin didn't stop her. This whole thing was getting out of hand. He hadn't intended on completely uprooting everything he had built between him and Raven, it just seemed to be the after effect of his jealousy. And good god, did he have jealousy. Robin hadn't even realized how red his vision could get until he saw Roy sweet talking the one woman he regarded as more than a friend. It felt like Roy had his hands inside Robin's chest and was slowly breaking everyone of Robin's ribs.

Robin tried to pretend everything was all right. He even tried to listen to Karen talk about whatever it was she was talking about, something about fall colors and dresses, but then she mentioned Raven's dress and all bets were off. He couldn't take it much longer. Raven kept flickering in and out of his mind. Was she alright? Was she crying? Had Roy chased after Raven to comfort her? That thought was enough to make him hurl.

Robin stood up and said something polite to Karen, shutting her up, before retreating to the exit. He felt Karen's shocked eyes follow him, but didn't turn around. Let her think whatever she wanted, that was the least of his worries. Through the forest of people dressed in black and muted jewel-tones, Robin caught Roy's figure standing by the bar, chatting it up with some blonde. Stupid womanizing ginger better stay over there and as far away from Raven as possible, or Robin would not hesitate in ruining Alfred's party with an all-out fist fight. And blood and smashed furniture would be involved. Robin was itching for a fight tonight.

Bruce was walking into the ballroom and brushed passed him, snagging his arm. They stared at each other for a moment, as if silently communicating possible outcomes. Bruce blinked a few times and whispered, "Just be gentle with her." and let his arm go. Robin stared at his friend and benefactor with mild confusion. Color flooded his face and he hurried for the exit again. Did everyone seem to know something he didn't? Was everyone involved in his personal life? He managed slip out of the ballroom in time, barely missing the beginning of Bruce's god-awful speech he gave every year.

Robin rushed into the foyer and saw Raven sitting on the bottom steps of the staircase, fidgeting with her empty martini glass. She glanced up at him and frowned. Robin could feel the pulse of anger permeate the room as she continued to glare at him. He opened his mouth and tried to speak a few times, but nothing seemed to come out. He didn't really have any excuse for what he just did, but that seemed to be the least of his worries.

Raven stood up and walked to him, and Robin could feel her desire to hit him wash through the room in waves. He cringed and took a step back. He couldn't blame her; he had just basically admitted to all their friends that they now had a serious relationship. That there was something more that had happened in these past few weeks than just a break from crime-fighting. And Raven was too private a person to let anyone know what was going on with her sandwich, let alone her love life. She could have been married to Prince William and the whole world would have continued to turn unaware. Robin frowned at that thought, the only one she was ever going to marry was… he tried not to finish that statement, and color flooded his cheeks.

"Is it really necessary to just vocally admit to everyone within a five-mile radius that we might have something going on?" Her hands trembled with the effort of not hitting him, and Robin took another wise and cautious step back. Raven stepped forward and filled his space, before continuing on with her tirade. "Really, Robin? Really? I wasn't under the impression that there was anything between us but friendship and now Karen is probably blabbering our whole story to some trashy magazine."

Okay, that hurt. She had made such a passionate and valiant speech out there on the balcony that Robin was sure there was something more going on between them. Something better than camaraderie. Something that invaded his dreams at night. And now Raven was denying that anything happened. That she hadn't melted into his kiss, that a whole damn pyrotechnics team hadn't set off fireworks when they touched. What was wrong with this girl? God help him for falling in love with an emotionally torn half-demoness.

"I don't know how much more of this I can take." Robin took a step forward so that their noses almost touched. He could feel her shock and anger, but she didn't move. Good. Let her think she had some ground, Robin was going to pull it out from under her feet anyway. "Make up your mind, Raven. Either you want something between us or you don't." He pointed to the outside. "You just spouted off a speech about how I don't know that you like me, about how you wanted something between us even though you're 'not my type', and now you say that there's nothing between us? Either you want something or you don't. You can't jerk me around and expect me to figure it out."

There was a long silence and Robin could see her lips trembling with the effort to keep from screaming. She took a deep breath and forced herself to look at him. "Think whatever you want to think, Robin. I'm not having his conversation here. I've got work to do. " Raven pushed him away started for the ballroom, but Robin grabbed her arm. His fingers dug deep and he could see the look of mild pain on Raven's face, but something inside him didn't care. She yanked him around far too much for him to care. He was going to get straight answers out of her tonight if it was the last thing he did.

"That's it, Raven. Damn the party, we are having this conversation right now or I swear I'll go insane by the end of the night." Without any other thought he yanked her down a side hallway. She struggled a little, but it was half-hearted and in shock. He walked until the noise from the ballroom had disappeared and there was the faint smell of expensive cigars. Robin threw open the door to the billiard room and shoved her inside. The dim lights seemed to avoid the dark corners in the room, and there was a slight smokiness that still hung in the air. He stood in the doorway and stared at her, she blinked up at him her mouth trying to form words. Robin took a step inside the room and closed the door with a final "thud" and "click" as he locked the room tight. "There. No one is here to bother us while we figure this… whatever it is, out."

Raven paled and she took a step back, her hand going to her chest. She was all spit and vinegar when she had the upper hand, but without the possibility of escape she was forced to deal with her emotions. Good or bad. And that thought obviously terrified her. Raven somehow managed to find her voice. "Now?"

"Now." Robin took a few steps forward and approached her until she was pinned against the table, eyes shimmering up at him. She looked like a trapped animal, and he could hear her sweet blood singing in her veins, her heart pounding against her ribs. She was scared. Good. "I can't think of a better time to discuss this than now, can you?"

"Yes!" Raven tried to step away, but Robin followed her steps, and she was stuck there against the billiard table. She shoved at his chest, but Robin didn't move and he just stared down at her. "Let me go! I don't have time for this."

"We have plenty of time for this. The party lasts almost six hours. You can share an hour with me."

"I promised Bruce." Her excuses were starting to sound feeble.

"So did I." Robin stood up straight, and watched her shock. She pushed at him again, but Robin still didn't budge, and she resorted to glaring at him. "Let me go."

"No. I can't take this any more." Robin took a small step back, giving her room to breathe but not room to escape. Her lips trembled and she stared up at him, eyes wide with shock. "I just want a straight, real answer. Every time you get backed into a different corner you give me a different answer, a different scenario. Sometimes I get the feeling that you want more from me than friendship, and sometimes I get the feeling you don't even want to be my friend. What is it?" He fought the urge to shake sense into her. "I want to give you what you want, Raven. I just need to know what it is."

Robin let the question hang, and Raven fidgeted. She rubbed her arms and looked away, as if ashamed with herself. Robin could feel her guarding her emotions, trying to keep him from figuring her out. Even when he had backed her into an impossible corner, she still kept everything from him. Robin sighed and tried a different tactic. He reached out and snagged her fingers with his hand. If being nice didn't help, nothing would at this point. "Raven… I'm not asking you for the world. I just… need to know the truth. I can't stand here straddling emotions and waiting for divine intervention."

Raven cringed and pulled her hand back as if she'd been hurt. There was another long period of silence and she looked away. Robin felt his heart nearly stop. Was that it? Was she just jerking him around because she could? His heart turned heavy and it fell into his stomach. He really didn't think it would have ended this way between him and Raven. They were best friends, close friends, who shared more than just camaraderie. At least, that was what Robin had always thought. Now he was beginning to doubt even that.

Robin took another step away from her, his head hanging. "Look, if this is the truth, and this mess of emotions is all we have between us, then fine. But at least let me know that. I'm standing here on the edge of the cliff waiting to jump as soon as you say the word."

Color flushed Raven's face and she turned away from him again. "I… I don't know if I can give you the truth… I don't want to damage what we have between us. We've always been good friends, best friends even. I don't want to tear down the walls we've built only to find something terrible on the other side. Something that destroys everything we have."

Robin's heart had somehow found its way back into his chest and began pounding against his ribs. Was she suggesting…? His thoughts strayed into that possibility and it took a few more seconds before Robin found his voice again. "But what if it's something beautiful?"

Raven didn't know what to say to that, and she looked away. Another silence followed before she spoke again, her face still hidden by her hair. "What if we're wrong about everything and we destroy what we have? Everything that we know to be solid in our lives? I don't know if I can gamble on that."

"I can." Robin took a step closer and put his fingers under her chin. Her face automatically turned to him, and Robin could see the emotions spiraling inside her. She was scared. More than scared, she was terrified of what this conversation would do to their carefully built friendship. This friendship that had been compartmentalized so none of the emotions touched. He wanted to rip out the walls and see what the emotions would do when they were mixed. "I want to gamble on that. I don't want you to feel like everything is going to be destroyed because we have feelings for each other. I want you to trust what we have between us, instead of quarantining it off because it's different and unusual." Robin let his thumb feather across her lips. "I want this because, well… Raven… I…"

The words wouldn't come out, no matter how hard he tried to say them. He fought with his own fears and emotions, but the words stayed locked inside his chest. And so Robin did the only thing he knew he could do, he kissed her again. And it was just as passionate and earth-shattering as the last time. He felt his heart nearly explode out of his chest and he didn't want to stop. She clung to him and made soft, little mewing sounds that tore down all of his defenses. The scent of lavender and the taste of plums overwhelmed him and he pulled her close. Her fingers wound themselves in his hair, and she pulled him even closer. Robin's fingers traced the smooth, exposed skin on her back, earning an appreciative moan.

"Disgusting."

Robin and Raven stopped immediately and stared at each other, then to a cabinet in the corner. No. No no no nononononono! This could not have happened. Not now. Now when Robin had Raven wrapped up in his arms. Not when Robin was so close to finally tying up all the loose ends. He growled low in his throat and let Raven's small frame go with reluctance. Raven raised an eyebrow as he tip-toed to the cabinet in the corner. Silence. Robin touched the handle and threw open the door. A small body rolled out onto the wood floor, grumbling obscenities. His was expecting anything but this. He wouldn't have been surprised if Beast Boy was hiding out and spying on them, but a grumpy midget he did not expect at all.

"You little twerp!" Raven stepped forward and grabbed Gizmo with her black energy. He struggled against the restraints, but Raven held strong, her lips turned down in a frown. Robin rarely saw that look of mean determination in her eyes, but when he did it scared him. He took a small step away from her, heaven help him if he got caught in the crossfire. "What are you doing here?"

"None of your damn business, snot-nose demon!" Gizmo struggled against the restraint and glared at the couple. "At least I wasn't sucking face in a dark corner. You two should get a room and spare the rest of the world. Bleh!"

Raven's eyes flashed red and she turned him upside down. She gave Gizmo a good shake and a few nuts and bolts fell to the floor. Robin took another step back, before she started sprouting horns and spitting fire. "You shouldn't be here! What are you doing, Gizmo! If you don't give me an answer in ten seconds I swear I will banish you to another dimension and leave you there." Robin didn't doubt that.

"I told you, it's none of your damn business! Put me down or I swear I'll…" He tried to get to one of his gadgets, but his hands were bound tight. He growled at Raven, but she wasn't phased in the least. She just stared up at him, eyes glowing red.

"Or what, Gizmo? You're not exactly in the best position to start making threats."

Gizmo opened his mouth to say something rude, but all hell broke loose at the same second. The radio on his back crackled to life and Robin heard the one voice he never wanted to hear ever again. Jinx.

"Gizmo! I'm in the ballroom, are you headed down into the safe?"

Both of them were here. Gizmo and Jinx. Robin glanced over at Raven and he could see lines of strain webbing across her face. It must have taken all of Raven's concentration to keep Gizmo held up in the air and bound. Robin could feel and smell the anger flare up inside her and knew she really wanted to toss him to the ground and chase after the pink-haired wench. He didn't blame her. He wanted to chase after the stupid girl himself.

"The safe!" Robin glared at Gizmo, fighting to keep his own anger in check. His finger's itched to reach out and strangle his tiny, fat neck. Stupid boy was making his life ten-times more difficult than it was already. Like being a vampire wasn't hard enough. "So, it is you stealing technology from everyone in Gotham! I should have figured as much."

"No! And I almost pegged you for someone smart." He stuck out his tongue and rolled his eyes. Raven gave him a shake and he said something crass and rude to her. "Who else could have snuck into Bruce's magical and exclusive party he throws, every year. Not some butthead dorks like you." There was a moment of silence, as if something clicked in his head. Gizmo stared at the couple. "Speaking of which, why is the stupid demon here anyway? I didn't think you were interesting enough to hang out with trailer-trash, let alone someone like Bruce, and his precious little Richard."

Raven paled and she lost enough concentration to let him drop a few inches. Robin felt heat creep up into his face and he took another step back. This was bad. Very bad. He was going to figure this out a lot quicker then most people would. Stupid boy-genius. Raven opened her mouth to say something, but was cut short by the crackle of Gizmo's radio.

"Gizmo, are you in?" Jinx's high-pitched voice called out over the static from the radio. Robin saw Raven tense again and he frowned. Raven wasn't taking this well, not that he blamed her. Jinx called out again. "Come in, Gizmo. Are you there?" She sighed. "Gizmo, if this is a sick joke, I swear I'll beat you so hard you'll shrink another inch."

Raven and Robin stared at each other, waiting for a decision to be made. Robin shook his head and motioned for the door. "Go on, Raven. I'll take the midget, you get Jinx."

"I am not a midget!"

Raven pretended not to hear him and nodded in agreement. She picked up her skirt and started for the door. Robin watched her go with a bubble of pride in his chest. That was his little demon, always ready to jump into the fire. Her fingers paused on the handle and she turned back to him, a frown on her lips. "Will you…"

"I'll be fine, Raven. Go get Jinx!"

Raven let Gizmo drop and she threw open the door and ran into the hallway. When the sound of her heels clicked into the distance, Robin turned to glare at the boy who was crawling to his feet. Gizmo glared back and adjusted his massive pack of techno-gear. Robin crossed his arms over his chest. "You're a pain in the ass."

"Pft. So are you." Gizmo snapped his goggles over his eyes and glared at him. "Well, at least I'm not the one falling in love with a demon, so I must smarter than you!" Robin reached forward to grab him and knock some sense into him, but Gizmo jumped out of the way and shot a rocket at him. Robin managed to roll out of the way, but he could hear the crack of fine wood behind him. Robin cringed at the sound. God damn it. Bruce was going to be pissed over the antique billiard table getting smashed. The grumpy midget was going to get one healthy beating tonight.

"You're slow." Gizmo shot out the open door and raced down the hallway, and his rockets left the pungent scent of sulfur in their wake. Robin was sure he would be smelling that odor for weeks. He let out a low grown and chased after him, that little menace better not go into the ballroom, otherwise Robin would have a bigger mess on his hands. Like a being a vampire, destroying his benefactors house, and munching on his best friend (possibly girlfriend) wasn't enough, let's add ruining Alfred's party and exposing all the heroes sitting in the ballroom to the list. Robin followed him down the hall and into the foyer.

"I swear I'm going to rip the pigtails from your head you little snot!" A smile almost touched his face when he heard the spit and vinegar from Raven's lips. He turned the corner into the foyer and saw the pink-haired menace being followed by his little demon. Her skirt had been gathered in her hands and she had kicked off her shoes for speed. "You get back here, Jinx! I am not done with you yet and I'm going to wipe that smile from your face before the night is through!"

Jinx was about to same something rude, but she stopped as soon as she saw Robin. She paused near the stairs, her face flushed and her scent weaving through the room. Robin frowned and his nose wrinkled. She didn't smell quite so clean and fresh as she had two weeks ago. Now, Jinx smelled sickly sweet, like rotting flesh on a hot day. Robin felt his stomach churn as Jinx started toward him. He took a small step back, surprised that he felt no desire to even look at her anymore. There was no need to jump her and sink his fangs into her neck. What had happened to him?

"OH, NO YOU DON'T!" Raven ran full speed into Jinx and tackled her into the staircase. The two of them went down in tangle of black, pink, and purple. Jinx yelled out something crass and loud. Raven snarled something back as she yanked at Jinx's hair smashing her head down with a hard "thunk". Jinx just growled up at her and shoved Raven off, making her tumble down four stairs to the foyer floor. Raven glared at Jinx as she scrambled to her feet.

"Get off me, you stupid demon! You smell like dirt!" Jinx kicked Raven's shoulder and started for the door, her heels snapping against the marble. Gizmo, shouting off obscenities, chased after her. Raven wasn't far behind, she hitched up her skirt again and tore after them into the main drive. Robin stood in the hallway and blinked as he fought back laughter. Did he really just see what he thought he saw?

"Did I just see…?" Cyborg's voice brought Robin back to the present. He saw Karen and Cyborg standing there as if they'd just witnessed an entire circus. Cyborg blinked a few times and let the ballroom door close, the faint sound of undisturbed conversation and music filtered into the now empty hall. Robin breathed a sigh of relief, he was safe for now. As long as they could get this taken care of as quietly and discreetly as possible, there was a chance that the world would never know that a Battle Royale was about to take place in Bruce's driveway.

"Yes. You just saw exactly what you thought you saw." Robin peeled off his tuxedo jacket and rolled up his crisp, white sleeves. "And if I know anything right now, there's a possibility Gizmo has some very expensive and very stolen technology on him, and Jinx is about two more comments from death. I think this is probably a good time for us to go check on our friend."

Karen shook her head. "Good God, girl. What have you gotten yourself into?"

"That's Raven for you." Cyborg rolled his eyes as they started for the door. "She'll find trouble no matter what."

Robin refused to comment as he threw open the main entry door and into the drive. In the distance he saw sparks of pink and black clash in sync with movements from his friend and Jinx. Robin tore down the steps and into the drive, feeling Cyborg and Karen close behind him. Thank God for their support, he was going to need it after this fight. Raven was going to be spitting mad. Robin slowed down as he approached Gizmo, who was just standing there, watching the fight with shocked eyes.

"I've never seen Jinx like this…" Gizmo glanced up at Robin and shook his head. "She's pissed." Raven yelled out a very rude comment to Jinx and threw black energy at her, but she dodged it easily and threw a spell back at her. Raven managed to roll out of the way. She got to her feet, growled, and launched herself at Jinx. "This is pretty amusing. I wonder what's got the snot-faced demon all riled up?"

Karen smacked him upside the head. "That's none of your damn business."

"Ow! Where'd the hell you come from?" Gizmo rubbed the back of his head.

Robin glared at him and crossed his arms over his chest. "What did you steal, Gizmo?"

"I didn't get anything, puke-breath! Your stupid make-out session stuck me in that cabinet, so shut up!" Gizmo took a step back, but he ran into Cyborg's body. He stood there and swore for a few moments before he twisted his neck to look up at Cybrog, growling. "You cheaters, ganging up on a little boy."

"You're a menace is what you are, Gizmo." Robin yanked his pouch off his back and rifled through it. Nothing but explosives and wires. He was telling the truth, for once, he hadn't managed to get his grubby little hands on anything belonging to Bruce. Robin let out a breath of relief. One less thing to worry about… now, Raven on the other hand… Robin turned back to the fight taking place on the grass.

"Should we help them?" Karen blinked up at Robin.

"Hell if I know." Robin shrugged.

"Do you want to get caught in the middle of that?" Cyborg looked down at the two of them, and Robin and Karen shook their heads as they watched the brutal display of violence and possession. Jinx threw another spell at Raven who dodged it and threw one right back.

"No."

"You are pissing me off!" Raven kicked Jinx's feet out from under her, and she went down like a sack of bricks. Jinx cradled her wrist, which looked like it was sprained, and shot another spell up at her. Raven dodged this one with more difficulty, her left ankle was starting to swell up, but she still managed to get a kick in before Jinx scrambled to her feet. Jinx reached out and snagged the pearl strand around Raven's neck and tugged. Pale, white pearls scattered to the ground like snow. "You aren't even the same species! What makes you think you can keep him, Raven! He's a vampire, and you're nothing more than a pathetic excuse for a demon let alone anything else."

"You're one to talk." Raven growled and went for her throat. Her nails managed to connect with Jinx's bare shoulder, leaving bloodied gouges. Jinx cried out and stumbled backwards a little, but Raven chased her down, refusing to give up. "At least I'm not the one breaking laws because I'm too pathetic to find a mate on my own. You can't even attract a male."

Jinx snarled at her and grabbed a handful of her hair. Raven cried out and punched Jinx in the stomach, she doubled over but refused to let go of Raven's hair. "You stupid low-life! You don't even have the right to those powers! You're just a bastard child pretending to be something powerful."

"SHUT UP!" Raven screamed and threw her shoulder into Jinx's chest. There was a sickening crack as her shoulder connected with Jinx's sternum, and this time she let go of Raven's hair, stepping back. Raven pushed her hair out of her face and growled. "You keep your mouth shut about my family. At least I had one and wasn't made." Jinx's face turned red with anger and threw another spell at Raven. But Raven was tired, and her left ankle had swollen to the size of a softball. She just couldn't manage to dodge this one, and it hit her square in the chest.

Raven teetered on her bad ankle for a second.

The world stopped moving.

Robin barely remembered what happened next. He saw Raven cough, blood spilling from the edges of her lips, and then she was down. Robin yelled out something unintelligible as a collective gasp was heard from his friends behind him. He rushed to her side. Blood spilled out of a gaping wound in her stomach and she lay there, blinking up at him. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. Her hands were cold and clammy, and her eyes lost their beautiful glow.

She was dying.

Panic sunk into Robin's veins and he grabbed her head as gentle as he could. Where was her blue glow? Where was the familiar surge of power when she healed herself? Robin felt his breath catch in his lungs and he stared down at her pale, bloodied body. The realization hit him like a punch to his face. "You're not healing."

"No… I'm not." She tried to move her hand into Robin's, but it didn't quite make it. She stared at her fingers for a second, as if contemplating something. "I think… I think I needed more time to regain my strength. I think… I made a bad decision." She took a deep, ragged breath and cringed. "It hurts."

"Shh." Robin moved to cradle her head in his lap. Blood seeped out and soaked his designer clothes, but he didn't care. He couldn't care. Raven was a red mess in his arms, and her life was fading quickly. "Shh, Rae. Just lay still. You'll be fine, I promise. I won't let anything happen to you." The words felt like a poisonous lie in his mouth. How? How in the world could she be fine after this. Half of her midsection was missing! He kissed her lips and blood touched his own, but this time it didn't taste sweet. It tasted dark and sick, like death.

Raven snapped his thumb with her fingers. "You know, I wouldn't blame you."

"Blame me for what?"

"If you turned me. I wouldn't blame you." Her eyes blinked up at him, looking dull and lifeless. "I would have done the same thing."

"I can't do that to you, Raven."

"That's your choice. I'm content to die or live. Whatever happens, it happened for a reason."

"You're not going to die!" Robin felt tears prick his eyes. This couldn't happen, not now! Not when thirty minutes ago they were on the verge of building a life together. Not when he'd finally found a light at the end of this dark cave. Raven had been in his arms, kissing him, nearly loving him. "Hush!"

"Mmm… you're so warm…"

Robin stood there looking at two roads, both leading to a similar place. He could hear Raven's heart begin to slow, her organs shut down… "I'm so sorry, Raven… please forgive me." Without another thought, he sunk his teeth into his own wrist and pulled. The pain was excruciating, and what little blood was left in his system spilled out and into her wound. Robin sat there, feeling his energy drain, feeling everything start to turn black. His friends were yelling at him, shouting at him, but he couldn't make out the words. He didn't care.

Raven was safe now.

Sort of.

)O(

Well, there's Chapter Thirteen. It ended up a little quicker and more brutal than I was expecting. Let me know what you think, I love to hear from you!