Remember what I said about the story getting good? Well, I think this chapter and the chapters to come explain for themselves! Not giving anything away, not giving anything away, no matter how much I want to...
Also, heads up-speeding up the time a little bit, here.
The sun shined through the curtains of Robin's bedroom. The Titans had made it back at sunrise, and immediately poured themselves into bed.
Starfire, who was being spooned by Robin, woke up first. Her eyelids felt extremely heavy; she looked over at the clock on the bedside table, barely moving her head. She was able to read through her squinted eyelids: 9:18 a.m. She groaned inwardly. Sleeping in wasn't always so wise when you were a hero or heroine-better be wide awake and ready and alert than sorry.
But she really didn't want to get up. She was comfortable, and slightly stiff from dancing the previous night.
A black forcefield appeared, then faded into the ground as the empath entered the room. Raven pressed her fist up to her mouth and yawned. Her hair was all over the place, and she was wearing a royal blue t-shirt with black plaid pajama pants.
"Hello, friend!" Starfire whispered as softly as she could with enthusiasm.
Raven waved. "Do you feel like making breakfast?" She whispered back.
Starfire nodded. The boys always cooked; now the girls could for once. She had read some earth cook books in her spare time, and figured this would be a good chance to try them out now. Raven, Starfire thought, had probably read all the cook books known to man by now. The end of the world thing did not turn out well when it came to Raven's cooking. Hell, they were both horrible.
However, the Tamaranian believes that improvement is in order. She has learned many cooking skills and recipes from Robin, had she not?
"Give me a moment, please," Starfire suggested, and Raven nodded before leaving the way she came silently.
Carefully, Starfire slid out of Robin's grip and floated out of bed. Seeing that she hadn't wakened him, she tiptoed over to his dresser; cooking in just her bra and underwear probably wouldn't be so appropriate in front of her (male) teammates, with the acception of Robin of course. She wouldn't mind that, but this was a whole different story. Opening the right drawer, she pulled out his green and red plaid boxers and put them on; then, she came across a grey tee and shrugged it on too.
Starfire floated back over to the bed, and she leaned down, gently placing a soft kiss on his forehead. And just when she got up to leave, she felt his hand enclose around her wrist.
"Star...what'reyoudoin'?" Robin slurred, his face half-buried in his pillow. "Comebacktobed..."
"I have to go-oh!" Starfire began right before his arms constricted around her and pulled her down onto him, her back against his front. This was abrupt.
"No..." Robin said.
"No?" Starfire ran her fingers through his hair.
"Nuh uh." Robin hugged her tighter, more awake now. "Mine."
Starfire smiled.
"Please, Robin. Let me go just this once. I have to make the breakfast with Raven."
Robin fought a shudder. "Um...you sure about that?"
Starfire caressed his cheek with the back of her hand. "You won't be disappointed. Rest. You and our male teammates always do the cooking, which is not exactly customary on my planet nor yours."
"But Starfire-"
She cut him off with a kiss. Taking his dazed expression as an opportunity, she leaned in to kiss him again; once she was a breath away, and he was waiting for it, she zoomed out of his room.
"Tease!" Robin accused, and he heard Starfire giggle after his door slid closed.
TT
Cyborg and Beast Boy woke up to the smell of waffles, pancakes, strawberries, blueberries, smoked sausages, eggs, and biscuits. They met Robin halfway down to the Ops.
"Hang on a sec..." said Beast Boy. "If you're not cookin'," he pointed to Cyborg, "and you're not cookin'," he pointed to Robin, "and I'm not cookin'," he pointed to himself, "then who the hell is?"
"Uh..." Robin said, looking the other way, speeding up his walk.
Before Cyborg or Beast Boy could start protesting, the Ops doors slid open.
And the boys' mouths dropped.
Starfire, Raven, and Terra-who had stayed the night, wearing a graphic black tank top and yellow shorts with her hair piled up on her head-were now piling the breakfast on separate plates, steam coming from every food. By the food were four acapulco pitchers filled with milk, orange juice, apple juice, and grape juice.
"Am I dreaming?" Cyborg said, his mouth watering.
"Or did the girls actually cook something..." said Beast Boy.
"Edible?" Robin finished.
"Wow. Girls love hearing that," Raven deadpanned, mirroring Starfire and Terra, taking off her apron. Starfire put them away.
"Please, come eat!" Starfire pleaded, coming back, her hands clasping together.
"Yeah. We worked our asses off," said Terra, pushing the boys in the kitchen. "So you're gonna eat this food."
After preparing their breakfast, the six Titans sat at the kitchen table together.
"May I just say..." said Cyborg after the first chews. "that this-is fucking-awesome!"
"Agreed!" said Robin and Beast Boy, BB with more enthusiasm.
"Good job, Star," Robin said, leaning over and kissed her cheek. "All three of you," he nodded to Raven and Terra.
"Thanks," the three girls said, Starfire more giggly.
"So, uh...now that the party is over..." Beast Boy said. "I guess we're back to tracking down Slade, huh?"
All the Titans looked at their leader for confirmation.
Robin nodded, now all serious, and Beast Boy and Starfire sighed. "Right, Beast Boy. Slade hasn't showed his face in a while. If time prevails, then I'll just assume for the worst. The more lack he shows, the more I'll infer that things are getting worse. We need to be ready when he strikes."
"We'll always be ready, Rob," said Cyborg, and Terra fidgeted uncomfortably. Robin caught that.
"I owe that Kitten a punch in the gut," Starfire growled.
"Malchior better not show his face again," Raven muttered.
"I dare Cheshire to come at me again..." Beast Boy grumbled.
"And Johnny thinks he's so badass 'cuz he's got a big gun and an army behind him," Cyborg said to himself.
Robin's stare was still on Terra.
"What?" she said.
Robin's eyes flickered in Raven's direction, his eyebrow arched. Raven looked at Terra, her senses reaching out to the blonde's for the unfamiliar. There was none. She shook her head at him, and he nodded.
"Something on your mind?" Robin asked.
Terra bit her lip. "Maybe...I don't know..."
"Just spit it out," Raven retorted.
"I don't know! I just...don't feel safe anymore," Terra said. "I mean, no one's safe-but when I'm back at my apartment, all alone at night..." She shuddered. "It would be so easy for him to snatch me up..."
"Good point," Robin said. "Slade can have anything up his sleeve, and I bet whatever he's planning includes you and maybe me. We'll have to be on guard for anything. Do you feel more comfortable here?"
"I'm not alone so...yeah. Why?"
Robin exchanged glances with each of his teammates, their reactions shocked and braced themselves for what he was about to offer.
"How would you feel about rejoining the team?" he said.
"Like, not be an Honorary Titan anymore? An actual Teen Titan and live here again?" Terra clarified.
Robin nodded. "Take it or leave it. We could use your help around here."
Terra smiled, and she and Beast Boy looked at each other, smug smiles on their faces and said at the exact same time:
"Duuuuuude."
Raven sighed quietly. Great, she thought sarcastically. Then her thoughts turned smug too. Maybe at training practice, I get to break her in...
"Friend Raven? Why are you having that smirk of evil on your face? It's...'just plain freaky'."
Raven giggled darkly.
TT
Months passed, and there still was no sign of Slade. Robin was getting angsty. Every time a call for trouble went out, the boy wonder went paranoid; Starfire was getting concerned, noticing her boyfriend's lack of sleep and kindness. He was turning into...well...not her Robin!
"I fear that our relationship might be ending if he keeps distancing himself from me!" Starfire sobbed into Raven's shoulder one day. "I h-have the neg-glected feeling!"
"It's okay, Starfire," Raven tried to reassure her. "You know how he gets. I know you're craving for his attention but-"
"You have to let him go through this annoying phase," Terra had said next, rubbing her shoulder, and Raven nodded in agreement. "I think he's oblivious, and he just wants the world to be safe and rid of the asshole."
"I won't let him tear himself up like this!" Starfire wailed, and Raven winced at the volume. "I just...I just c-can't..." She whispered. "I love him too much to loose him like this..."
Robin and Starfire's emotions were affecting Raven, nearly giving her headaches every day. Forced to feel Starfire's loneliness and Robin's bitterness, Raven soon became a big ball of stress. On a cloudy Thursday, she excused herself to her room, and Beast Boy soon followed after her in concern.
Ever since Robin and Starfire started to drift apart, the sunny days became cloudy and cold.
"This...is killing me!" Raven hissed, rubbing her temples as she walked into her room. She turned around as Beast Boy came in, and the door slid closed behind him. "Robin and Starfire need to get a hold of themselves or my brain is going to explode!"
"Easy, easy," Beast Boy said, grasping her shoulders. "What's up?"
"Beast Boy, it's their emotions," Raven explained, doing hand gestures in front of herself. "How the hell am I supposed to concentrate when everything's mixed up? If they end up breaking up I will end up breaking them. We can't let this happen." She huffed and crossed her arms. "They're too good for each other to break up because of Robin's stupidity. What if they do?" She looked up into his eyes. "What if it destroys this team?"
"Raven, you're taking this waaaaaay out of hand," Beast Boy said, waving his arms back and forth. "All we have to do is come up with a plan."
"What plan?" Raven sat down on her bed.
Beast Boy sighed. "Well," he sat down next to her, taking her hand in his. "Maybe...we can bring the old Robin back. Somehow."
"Like...?" When Beast Boy gave her a look, she said, "What? I'm not good at playing cupid."
He chuckled. "Anyway, we gotta...Huh." He rubbed his chin with his free hand. "Maybe if Cyborg and I got to talking to him, and manage to get him relaxed...?"
"That could work," Raven agreed. "Or we could hope that a situation occurs where Robin gets worried about Starfire."
Beast Boy shrugged. "That could work for Plan B." He pecked her lips. "I'll go talk to Cy." He stood up and made his way to the door, but he paused and turned on his heel. "Raven?"
Raven stood up too, walking over to him. Before Beast Boy could open his mouth, she cupped his cheeks and kissed him; and he returned the kiss slowly to make it last.
"I know," Raven said, breaking the kiss. "I love you too."
Beast Boy grinned.
"Now go. Get out of my room so I can meditate." Raven pushed him out, and Beast Boy laughed.
TT
"Okay, so remember what we have to do," Beast Boy whispered the next day, making his way down the hallway with Cyborg. "Play it cool."
"I don't know, man," said Cyborg. "If I'm getting a battle staff up my ass, I'm gonna take it out and shove it up yours."
Beast Boy made a face. "Duuude..."
The changeling shook it off when they made it to Robin's door.
"Roooobiiiiin!" Beast Boy called as he knocked. "It's me and Cy! Can we come in?"
No response.
"Oh, well-I take that as a yes," said Beast Boy, and he opened the door. Cyborg facepalmed himself and followed. "Rooooobiiiin! Where are ya, buddy?" He approached the open bathroom door and peeped in.
Robin was looking at his hair, which had grown more shaggy lately. He was in the midst of cutting it, strands of hair falling around the sink as he cut it with scissors. "What do you want?" His voice was flat. Emotionless.
"Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed again," Cyborg commented under his breath.
Robin didn't answer.
"Hey, uh...my hair's kinda everywhere too," Beast Boy said. "Feel like giving me a new 'do when you're done?"
Robin paused, looking at Beast Boy's reflection. "Really?"
Bingo, Beast Boy thought.
"Yeah, totally!" said Beast Boy, sitting on the toilet.
"Um...alright. Sure," Robin said as he continued to cut his hair. "Anything you have in mind?"
"You tell me, Mr. Hair Gel."
Robin chuckled, almost silently. Beast Boy's eyes brightened when he saw Robin crack a smile.
"I haven't used hair gel in a while..." Robin started.
"Lie," Cyborg said, and Robin laughed again.
He's cracking, Beast Boy thought. Gotta keep it going, get him to lay back.
"Thinking about using hair gel?" Robin asked Beast Boy.
"I don't wanna go all spike-crazy, but sure," Beast Boy said. "Out of the two of us, you keep your hair up better than me. Cyborg doesn't have hair. He can't grow any."
"Hey, now," said Cyborg, and Beast Boy guffawed.
The two watched Robin cut some more, occasionally talking about video games or something random, up until Robin finished up. He looked at himself, twisting his face this way and that; after rubbing some hair off himself, he brushed the rest in the garbage can.
Robin gestured for them to follow him; he led the way back into his room. Walking over to his desk, he picked up a chair and put it down in front of Beast Boy.
"Sit," he said.
Reluctantly, Beast Boy sat down with a gulp.
Bye bye, hair, he thought as he felt Robin fluff it with his fingers. Robin's fingers left for about ten seconds as he went back to the bathroom, returning with a white towel and an electric hair razor.
"So, uh...how much hair cutting are we talking?" Beast Boy asked.
Robin didn't answer.
Great, now he's turning into dead Robin again, Beast Boy thought.
"Beep, beep!" Cyborg said awkwardly, backing away. "Oh, would you look at that? Bumblebee's calling! Bye!" He turned around and ran out of Robin's room.
Beast Boy growled under his breath.
"What's his deal?" Robin deadpanned.
"Iono," Beast Boy said, shrugging innocently.
Robin was silent after that.
TT
"Remember to use the right amount of hair gel," Robin said, hours later, handing Beast Boy a small container of the clear gloop. "Use too much and your hair would be all hard. Some days this hairstyle could go without using the gel, so don't use it everyday. Keep it up."
"Right," said Beast Boy. "Uh...thanks for doing my hair and hanging out with me."
Robin nodded curtly. "Anything else?"
"Yeah, about that...um..." Beast Boy avoided to look at Robin in the mask. "What's been going on between you and Starfire nowadays?"
The uncomfort on Robin's part was undeniable. He shifted. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"You know damn well what I'm talking about!" Beast Boy snapped, jabbing Robin in the chest with his index finger and advanced on his leader. He had a feeling he was going to regret it later. "You're hurting Starfire and I don't like it! Me and Cyborg are getting sick of your bullshit, and you're causing Raven to get headaches. And when Raven's involved in your problem, then you know that I've got a problem with it."
Even though Beast Boy couldn't see Robin's eyes, well...let's just say it was lucky he couldn't. Realizing how close he was to Robin's nose, he relaxed his balled up fists and retreated back a few steps.
"Get. Out." Robin's voice was deadly calm.
Beast Boy's eyes narrowed back at him. "No need to tell me twice."
He left Robin's room without a word. Without speaking to Cyborg or Terra on his way to his own room, he put his hair gel on the bathroom sink and sighed heavily. His girlfriend's face appeared in his mind, and he relaxed in the slightest. He was still tense as he exited his room and headed down to Raven's.
But he paused. Her scent was leading elsewhere.
Morphing into a small puppy, he followed her scent down to the boulders outside. Her back was facing him, her legs hanging over and hovering over the sea water. He remembered how their important talks used to always occur here, and Robin and Starfire always talked on the roof.
Robin...
Beast Boy huffed, morphing back into himself and walked over to her.
Raven felt Beast Boy's annoyance and turned around as he sat down next to her.
"Wow," she said, touching the nape of his neck. "What happened?"
"Robin happened," Beast Boy said. "I look like Edward Cullen with this 'do."
"I'd say more of a Stefan Salvatore, but Starfire would most likely agree with you," Raven said. "You don't like it?"
Beast Boy nodded. "I guess. Something I have to get used to..."
"It suits you. Shorter hair is always better. Long hair always gets in the way, especially during a battle. That's why I never grew my hair out in the first place."
"But...you're growing it out now-and I think you're rockin' the 'long hair, don't care' look."
Raven rolled her eyes blut smiled a little. "Thanks."
Beast Boy looked at their reflections in the water, then up to the moon, and sighed again. He reached over and laced their fingers, bringing her hand closer to himself, and rested it on his knee.
"Robin didn't come through?" Raven asked him.
Beast Boy shook his head. "Can't believe I'm saying this, but he really is a dick."
"Funny."
"Seriously, Raven! Nothing's getting through to him! Even I can't get him to take me seriously when I am serious. I told him off-told him how he and Starfire affect each and every one of us. He acted like he didn't care and kicked me out of his room." He looked over at her. "How's your head?"
"I'm better," Raven reassured him.
Beast Boy sighed in relief. "Good. 'Cuz I don't want you to be-"
"I'll be fine, Beast Boy. Just as long as I get some alone time, that's all..."
"Oh. Do you want to be alone then? I could go..."
"No. You stay."
Beast Boy grinned. "Good." Raven rested her head on his shoulder, and he leaned his own head up against hers. "How's Starfire holding up?"
"She's a little better, but she prefers to be left alone in her room unless there's a call for trouble. I swear, she's turning into me."
"Is...that a bad thing?"
Raven shook her head. "Hard to tell. She tries to block me out-tries to feel emotionless so she doesn't bother me. I tell her not to-because her emotions reflect on her powers, like me-but there are some differences." She sighed. "We might as well just stay out of this, Beast Boy. Let nature take its course. If we get involved, then that would mean that there will be drama in store for us." She gave his hand a little squeeze. "I don't want that."
"Me neither," Beast Boy agreed, and he wrapped his arms around her.
Raven rose her head, and his lips were on hers. Her hand reached up to cradle the side of his face, making the kiss last for a little longer.
"We still shouldn't give up on him. On either of them," Raven murmured after her lips were free.
"I guess you're right..." said Beast Boy. "Robin and Starfire are our best friends. If Slade wasn't around, then Robin wouldn't be acting like this."
Raven nodded. "Exactly. We'll do what we can, but we'll just let them handle their issues on their own. If they come to us for help, we'll...we'll be there for them."
"Roger."
TT
12:00 a.m.
Robin was sitting in the Evidence Room, back hunched, fingers tapping on the table.
"Slade," he growled. "Where the hell are you?"
"Talking to oneself can sometimes lead to insanity if you don't be careful."
Robin's back, which was already stiff enough, tensed at the flat, female voice that wasn't Raven's.
"Go away, Starfire. I'm busy."
There was a pause. A long, frightening pause.
"Busy? You're busy?" Starfire repeated. And she had enough. She couldn't take it anymore. Her emotions were everywhere, her weight had slimmed down lately, she hadn't gotten much sleep, and she was irritable and pissed off. She stormed over to where he sat, shoving all of the papers off the table.
Robin got to his feet. "What the hell is wrong with you?! I needed those!"
"What's wrong with me?! You have been acting like the ass for months now and I am the sick and tired of it!" Starfire shot back. "I've been waiting most patiently, and now it's doing the running on thin ice!"
"Well, so-rry for wanting to keep us all safe and defeat Slade!" Robin yelled.
"Yes, I understand that, but that's no excuse for the way you have been acting towards me!" She pushed him hard in the chest, and he staggered back.
"The way I've been acting? The way I've been acting? What about you, huh? Little Miss Perfect is having trouble in paradise?!" He advanced on her.
"You were my paradise!"
"Were?!"
"Yes, were! As in the past tense! Do you not understand your own language?! Okay, fine! Instead of being the Robin I once knew, you are turning into a gremplork and a klorbag varblernelk!"
Robin's nostrils flared. "You will NOT talk to me like that!" He gripped her arm tight, and painfully.
"Is that an order then?!" Starfire's eyes started glowing green. "GET. YOUR HAND. OFF ME!" She smacked his hand off her, and hard.
Robin winced, flexing his fingers.
"You are just like him," Starfire snarled. "Just. Like. Slade."
Robin's teeth gritted. "What?"
Starfire cursed in Tamaranian, flipping a table, and stormed out of the room.
"STARFIRE! GET BACK HERE!" Robin stormed after her, going out into the hallway. And she didn't stop. "THAT'S AN ORDER!"
"WHAT'RE YOU GOING TO DO IF I DO NOT STOP?" Starfire whirled around, still walking backwards.
"YOU. WILL. NEVER. COMPARE ME TO THAT MONSTER EVER AGAIN!" Robin roared. "I'M NOTHING LIKE HIM!"
"I DISAGREE!" Starfire was now in tears, her eyes fading back to its normal shade of green. "You are strict and I cannot do the standing around you anymore! C-Can't you see that I l-love you?! I'm t-trying to h-help!"
A black field appeared from the floor, and Beast Boy, Raven, Cyborg, and Terra could be seen.
"I DON'T NEED YOU! YOU'RE IN THE WAY ALL THE FUCKING TIME!" Robin blurted out, and he froze when he realized what he had just said.
The other Titans exchanged worried and shocked glances.
Starfire's breath caught in her throat.
"F-Fine," she said. "If that's what you wish...then you won't have anything to do with me anymore."
"Star, I-"
"Don't," Starfire hissed, and she slowly started to break down, tear after tear coming down her face.
Raven was at Starfire's side in an instant.
"C'mon, Starfire," she murmured to her, and Starfire collapsed in her arms. Raven let her black shield engulf them, teleporting them to Starfire's room and on her bed.
"Let's go, Rob," said Cyborg, pulling him down the hallway, Beast Boy mirroring his actions. Terra drifted off quietly to her own room, hand over her mouth as she held back her own tears.
"But I-" Robin stammered, and he hung his head. "No...what have I done?"
NO!
Raven let Starfire cry in her shoulder, holding the redhead by her head and neck, occasionally rubbing her shoulder in comfort. Starfire's arms were around her torso, sobbing and speaking incoherantly.
"Everything's gonna be okay," she whispered to Starfire over and over again. "You'll get through this."
"I-I-I hate him," Starfire sobbed. "I h-hate him...I hate him, I HATE HIM!"
"No, you don't, no, you don't..." Raven murmured. "You're acting out on anger. You need to calm down."
Starfire sobbed harder, if that was possible.
"You'll be okay," Raven continued to whisper. "I know you will. Be strong. It'll get better, I promise." Her gaze flickered to the window, and she gazed at the moon. Her eyes shined with tears that she didn't let shed, completely affected by Starfire's emotion.
However, one tear managed to drop on her pale cheeks.
Robin never hated himself more than he had ever done in his entire life. He lost his girlfriend. He lost the trust in his friends. He felt like he had nobody, and if he kept this up then...
Starfire was right. He was like Slade. The only difference between the two was that Robin was good and that he had friends.
Now he felt like he had nobody. For the next two weeks, he was silent for everything and made secret phone calls and transmissions in the middle of the night. Starfire refused to look at him, or even talk to him; their chemistry during patrols was long lost. Cyborg and Beast Boy didn't talk to him either, however Robin had managed to get a few words from Beast Boy. Raven and Terra were the only ones who talked to him. Raven took some opportunities to give him soothing words when they were alone; otherwise, she ignored his presence. And Terra, who had friends turn on her before, was there for him 100%.
It still didn't help him.
On the third week, the five other Titans finally noticed Robin when he saw them coming in the garage, watching him strap his bags onto his R-Cycle.
"Where are you going?" Terra asked him.
"Personal trip," Robin answered without turning his back.
"Now? At a time like this?" Cyborg asked next.
"Ignoring me's easy for you guys." Robin turned around to face his team, not looking at Starfire. "So me being gone shouldn't be a problem." He decided to risk it, shooting a glance at Starfire. Starfire looked at the floor, one leg behind the other; she was arm-in-arm with Raven, leaning against her.
"Must be an important personal trip then," Raven said. "Where are you going?"
"It's none of your concern," Robin answered as calmly and respectfully as possible, considering the fact that Beast Boy could maul him if he did so much as look at Raven the wrong way.
"Okay, so it's none of our business," Raven continued, exchanging glances with the rest of the Titans. "How long will you be gone?"
"For a while-might range to about a few weeks. A month at the most," Robin said. "You all can reach me through my communicator if Slade attacks. I won't be far, so I shouldn't take long."
The Titans exchanged glances again.
"Alright, dude...uh...wherever you're going...Bon voyage?" said Beast Boy, and Cyborg nodded.
Robin nodded curtly. "Until then. Beast Boy. Cyborg. Ladies."
He swung his leg over his R-Cycle and started it up. Before he could take off, however, Raven was standing beside him. He looked up at her, arching an eyebrow.
Raven leaned down so that they were eye to eye, gripping his shoulder.
"Wherever you're going, don't do anything reckless," Raven told him. "Just because you're leaving, that doesn't give you an excuse to run away from your problems."
Robin opened his mouth to protest. "But I'm not-"
Raven's eyes flashed a bright white.
Robin gulped. "Right. Okay. See you later, Raven."
Raven stood up straight and nodded. "See you, Robin."
Robin's grip tightened on his motorcyle and he sped out of Titans Tower. The rest of the Titans retreated back inside to whatever else they were doing, and Starfire was the last to leave.
TT
Robin calmed his breathing, pulling up into the mansion after going through the gates. He found a good parking spot in the shadows and turned the R-Cycle off. Taking his bags in hand, he walked slowly towards the front door. He needed this. He needed this break. But most importantly, he needed guidance, and he needed somebody older to talk to.
Before he could knock, the door swang open, revealing an elderly, lean man with hair balding in the back of his head. He wore a black suite, dress shoes, and a warm smile on his face.
"Richard," he sighed blissfully.
"Hi, Alfred," Robin said, and Alfred hugged him, pulling him inside. "It's been a while. How've you been?"
"I've been well. Missed you, ol' boy," Alfred said, closing the door behind him.
"I've missed you too."
"I heard that you have been...troubled," Alfred picked up Robin's bags and carried them upstairs to Robin's room. Robin followed him.
"I have," Robin replied, feeling deep guilt. "The Titans are falling apart, and it's all because of me...and I lost the girl I love to a stupid fight and my big fat mouth." He hung his head. "I don't think we can ever be together again."
"My dear boy, when love is real, it finds its way," Alfred reassured, setting Robin's bags down beside his bed. "Always."
Robin cracked a smile. "Thanks for trying to cheer me up, but I-"
Alfred gave him a look.
"Shutting up now..." Robin muttured.
"Alfred?" a deep voice boomed from downstairs.
"Ah, master has returned," Alfred said. "Coming in a moment!" He called out then turned to Robin. "Come." He wrapped his arm around Robin's shoulders and led the way out. Robin was nervous.
They made a turn and appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Look who finally showed up, Bruce," Alfred said with a big grin, walking down the stairs with Robin.
Bruce Wayne, known by Gotham City and all superheroes as we know it as Batman, smiled a little bit. His attire was relaxed but formal, his hair greying on the sides. Despite being 40, he was in very good shape.
Robin slowly approached his mentor, his father.
And there was a long silence before Bruce finally spoke.
"Welcome home," he said, and he and Robin embraced.
"Glad to be home," Robin breathed.