3

That night, after extensive and exhausting research, (fueled by two things, Robin's obsessive need to work, and an intense amount of coffee.), the Titans finally decided to turn in for the night, Cyborg slept in the Batcave, using an adapter to charge his battery, Starfire and Raven shared the guest bedroom. Robin and Beast Boy would have been sleeping in Robin's old room, but Robin stayed up on a laptop, to the extreme annoyance of Beast Boy, who decided 'screw it', and slept on the couch in the front room.
The night dragged on as the boy wonder, in a white t-shirt and black gym shorts. He clutched the bridge of his nose in frustration after finding no links between Metallic Chromium and other recent crimes. It was then he realized that he was still wearing his domino mask. He shut down his computer, and slowly pulled his mask off. He stared at his reflection in the screen for a minute, and started messing with his hair until it hung down in a 'bad boy' fashion... He slowly slipped into a memory, one distant but as fresh as if it happened yesterday.

The dynamic duo dashed through a warehouse, the two of them in pursuit of a long-time enemy. Robin wore a costume different from his current one, at least his mask was more rounded and his hair hung down rather than his spike. They rounded a corner, and their foe stood with someone at gunpoint. The person had a bag over her head, her assailant laughed like the maniac he was, grinning his sick perpetual grin on his clammy white face.
"C'mon now dynamic dumbos! Ya gonna take me down? Or let your little lady here accidentally splatter her pretty little brains all over this room?"
"Seriously, Joker, do NOT call us that... Reminds me of a time when I was too stupid to wear pants." Robin quipped, semi-glaring at his partner.
"You designed your costume, not me." Batman replied.
"Oh bats! You may wanna have a look over here!" Joker cackled as he ripped the bag off her head, it revealed that the woman was Barbara Gordon. Batman narrowed his eyes as Robin stood shocked and enraged.
"Ooh! Little mad bird boy? Hahaha! This little cutie your little squeeze?" Joker cocked the gun.
"Don't touch her!" Robin yelled, raising a Birdarang.
"Robin! Don't!"
"Don't!" Asked Robin, intense anger raising his voice. Dick and Barbara had been dating for months, Bruce knew it, and now he was telling him not to save her?
"Ooh! Looks like little Robin is having a temper tantrum! I think the kid needs some - ack!" Joker suddenly received an elbow in his gut. Barbara had worked her elbow out of the knots she was tied in, and had begun whaling on Joker. Dick only stared in wonder as Joker passed out and Barbara walked up to them.
"Well that was fun, now what?"
"We still have to get to the top of Wayne Tower, Joker's goons planted bombs there and if we don't stop it, innocent people will die."
Said Batman, tossing a pile of Black-and-yellow cloth to her.
"Figured you could use this." Bruce said walking past them, "Change, now, we dont have much time."
Barbara donned her cowl as Robin stood dumbstruck, a million thoughts going through his head. His girlfriend was Batgirl? How didn't he see it before? Batman knew and didn't tell him? The questions burned through his mind, blowing the already short fuse that was his temper.

Robin held his hands in his face as he thought, this place brought back too many happy and painful memories.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his door, "Who is it?" he asked, snapping his head up.
"It is I, Robin, may I enter?" Starfire asked through the door.
"Oh, sure..." Robin said, getting up.
Starfire walked in and Robin suddenly felt a bit tense, it was blatantly obvious she hadn't been sleeping much, beside that she wore naught but a tank top and boyshorts that Robin had lent her to sleep in.
"I could not sleep..."
"Why not?" Robin asked, sitting on the side of his bed.
"I was worried... About you."
Robin raised an eyebrow, "Why would you be worried about me Star?"
"Because I know you well enough to know that when you get on a course of action, you will refuse to rest until you have put it to rest."
Robin couldn't help but smile at how well she knew him. She sat down on his bed next to him.
"Raven told me your eyes were blue..." She said staring at his eyes. He felt a bit uncomfortable as she stared, but he didn't mind as much as he thought he would.
"You have beautiful eyes Robin, why do you not show them off more?" Starfire said cheerfully, Robin blushed a little, but she couldn't see it in the darkness.
"The mask protects my secret identity Star."
"Why would you want to keep your identity a secret? Does not everyone know your name is Robin?"
Robin smiled again, remembering that he was the only member of the Titans who kept his real name a secret.
"The reason I have the mask, is so the people close to me don't get hurt by my enemies should they find out my identity."
Starfire felt confused, "Robin... What is your real identity?" She asked, clasping his hand in a grip like a vice.
"Richard John Grayson."
Starfire paused as she looked him over, as if he had become another person entirely.
"Uh, Starfire... Are you okay?"
She shook her head and smiled, "I am better than okay... I like your name, Richard..."
"My friends call me Dick."
"Dick then..." She smiled and leaned in to kiss him, he did the same. They kissed for a minute, until Grayson pulled away.
"We need some sleep... G'night"
"Yes.." Starfire stood up and walked just outside his door, "Good night... Dick Grayson."