I'm updating quickly because you guys are so awesome. Your reviews are so fast and so in depth. I'm glad you enjoy my story and my writing style. Thank you loyal readers for following my story.

Oh, one last thing. I am a total comic book geek (freakily obsessed almost) and I know all the DC superheroes' backstories by heart but I have to adjust some and tweak facts to make my story's characters work.

Now back to the action.

Seven

It was about an hour before Robin would be meeting Raven for patrol that he heard a rap on his door. He frowned, wondering who would be disturbing him at night. The other Titans were making the best of their free time and he only expected to see Raven again.

"Robin, it's Speedy. Can we talk?" his bass voice sounded from the hallway and Robin's eyes narrowed instinctively.

He and Roy hadn't had a private conversation in years. In fact, the last time they'd been in a room without anyone else supervising them, they'd had a rather violent battle that ended with a cracked rib for Robin and a broken wrist for Speedy. It had been during the fall of the Justice League protégées and only days before Robin had finally packed his cape and tights to leave Bruce Wayne and the oppressing shadow of the Batman. Speedy had gone to knock some sense into him and ask him to reconsider leaving. Robin had been angry at the archer's words and his superior attitude, leading to said brawl. In the end, Robin left anyway, throwing away his past with a rumble of his motorcycle. He didn't consider Speedy a friend anymore and with recent events he was seeing him as a rival. Speedy may not be aware of Robin's sentiments towards but Robin was certainly aware of Speedy's romantic advances on the resident empath.

"I'm busy." Robin said curtly but as was already established, Speedy was nothing if not persistent.

"Yeah, but you always are and this is important."

When there was no response, Speedy added.

"It's about Raven."

Robin's door hissed open and he emerged with a grim expression.

"Come to ask for her hand in marriage?"

"To you? As if. I don't need your permission for anything. Besides, this isn't about her and I, it's about Aqualad and his oh-so-creepy fixation on her."

Robin raised an eyebrow and Speedy thought the action was oddly familiar.

"What exactly are you talking about?"

"May I enter your Fortress of Solitude, Superman? This is a conversation best done behind a heavily locked door."

Robin rolled his eyes but moved to let the taller man enter.

"Explain." Robin said, crossing his arms.

Speedy was meandering around the room, peering at newspaper clipping and strewn weapons.

"This suits you, Richie, it has just enough mystery and OCD to it to fit your personality."

"Get to the point, Roy, and don't call me Richie." He growled, dropping all pretenses of forgetting the past they shared.

Speedy was the only Titan who knew his true identity. Kid Flash and Aqualad had also been trained by Justice League members, but they'd entered at the tipping point of Robin's career and Batman so he hadn't know them enough to exchange names.

"Fine, Robin, I'll cut to the chase. I know how much you like those." He grinned and Robin snarled at him but didn't respond to the jab. "Did you know Aqualad used to be married?"

Robin's brow furrowed in puzzlement.

"No, I didn't know that. When?"

"A year before he joined the Titans. He was still swimming with the fishes in Atlantis, reigning as prince under his king, Aquaman. Well, Aqualad wasn't married yet, but he was betrothed and the wedding was set for like a week away. Anyway, King Arthur was called to the surface by a Justice League beacon. He was needed in Africa to defend Gorilla City with Wonder Woman and Superman, so he'd be gone for a while but he told Garth he'd be back in time for the wedding."

"Who was the bride?" Robin asked and Speedy shot him a look of annoyance.

"Will you let me finish the damn story?"

"Fine." Robin glared, quieting.

"Anyway, he'd been gone for two days with Garth ruling in his place and everything was fine. But, that night explosions woke Atlantis and Garth gathered the city's army, ready to defend the palace and the people. He wasn't expecting what he saw… Hundreds of ships with thousands of Black Manta's soldiers. They found a way past the natural force fields shielding Atlantis and he slaughtered most of Atlantis-from the elderly to the newborns. Aqualad's betrothed was a small woman named Tula with dark hair and dark eyes. She was incredibly smart and witty, playing Aqualad for months before she finally agreed to give him a chance. They fell in love faster than I can notch my arrows." He gave a brief smile before continuing. "Tula was not the submissive type of girl and even though Aqualad told her to stay hidden in the palace's lower rooms, she didn't listen and joined the fight, intending to help Aqualad retake Atlantis… Garth was busy with Black Manta's second in command and Atlantis' finest warriors were trying to keep the enemies back, so no one noticed Black Manta move with determination to the only woman in the battle. Garth hadn't even seen her enter the fight… Black Manta snuck up on her and before she had a chance to react, he slit her throat. When Aqualad finally finished his enemy and turned, what could he do but see his love bleeding to death on the throne room, inches away from the two seats he and his future queen would have taken after Aquaman stepped down. Garth went crazy, tried to kill Black Manta himself, but the Justice League had gotten wind of the attack and they arrived then. Aquaman restrained Aqualad while the League defeated Black Mantas' forces and put their leader in shackles. He was going to intergalactic jail, but he didn't care. He was laughing as he passed by Tula's dead body and Aqualad was so consumed with rage he punched Aquaman, knocking him to the floor and then rushed Black Manta. He cut his throat open the same way Tula's had been."

"Aqualad killed someone?" Robin gasped and Roy nodded gravely.

"The League was so angry, but Garth didn't care. He left Atlantis, left Aquaman and the League, and left his murdered fiancée behind."

"I would never have guessed Aqualad had such a brutal backstory." Robin admitted with a hushed voice, as if a louder volume would somehow offend the tragic events Speedy had retold. "How did you know about all that?"

"Green Arrow told me. He said he was there when Atlantis was almost destroyed and he saw what Aqualad did. Said he didn't blame him." Speedy shrugged. "I can't say I do either. If someone hurt Raven, I don't know what I'd do."

Robin was rudely reminded of what the issue was centered around.

"What does this have to do with Raven, Roy?"

"Think about the description I gave you of Tula. Darkly beautiful. Witty. Too smart and too stubborn for her own good. Ring any bells?"

"It sounds like… Raven."

"Exactly. Aqualad's trying to replace the woman he lost by trying to revive her in Raven. He's not fully stable, Robin, and he certainly hasn't gotten over how he left the League and what he's done. I'm not sure what he's capable of or what he wants from Raven."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Garth wouldn't appreciate us approaching him about this. Maybe you can get rid of him some diplomatic way."

"Get rid of him? He's a person, Speedy, not last week's garbage. If we can't talk to him about it, we should at least be more vigilant around him and inform the others."

"I tried talking to Bee about it but she shrugged me off. I don't think this should be announced to the whole team either."

"So we just wait for him to explode? To hurt Raven or try and force her into something?" Robin's voice was dangerously low and if Speedy wasn't as worried, he would have wondered why Robin was so emotionally invested in Raven, more than just a fellow teammate would be.

"Of course not! I was going to warn Raven about it, but Aqualad is still my friend and I care what happens to him."

"You wanted me to get rid of him."

"For his own sake. I don't know if he can be a Titan with all that's happened."

Robin sighed and ran a hand through his spiked hair.

"You can't have it both ways, Speedy. Either you care about him and try to talk to him or you don't care and suggest I excommunicate him from the Titans or something."

"Fine, you're right. I'll talk to him."

"I'll warn Raven tonight."

"Tonight?"

"We're going out on patrol."

"She patrolled with me last night."

This was news to Robin, who felt a bristle of jealously in his veins, but kept his face blank.

"And?"

"She deserves a rest, doesn't she? She's done excellent in all your training exercises."

"Of course she has. She's one of the strongest members on the team. Patrolling isn't a punishment. It's just our job. Do you have a problem with that, Speedy?"

The archer's eyes narrowed under his mask but he shook his head.

"None at all, Robin. I'll talk to Aqualad and inform you of anything that happens."

"Thank you."

"Yeah, sure."

After Speedy left, Robin was left with his thoughts and insecurities. Speedy was vocal about his feelings for Raven and if they'd patrolled last night, that would have given him the perfect chance to share those feelings with Raven. Robin had always envied Speedy that ease and self-confidence in his thoughts. Roy Harper never had trouble speaking his mind, no matter how inappropriate or rude that was. Richard Grayson did not have that luxury. He had to keep up an image, not only as Robin but as himself, the only heir to Bruce Wayne's massive fortune.

Richard's origins were darker than Roy's and the former had gotten the mentor with the deepest demons. Green Arrow allowed Speedy more freedom. Richard was eternally grateful Bruce had saved him from an orphanage and loneliness. He was thankful to be given the identity of Robin and all the training he received, but still a part of him resented Bruce for being so cold and withdrawn from him. Things might have been different if Richard had been mentored by a more normal man like Oliver Queen, who had a steady relationship with Dinah or Black Canary. But that had not been the case and Robin and Speedy had their variety of differences. That was just the way life had turned out. No use crying about it.

"Hey."

The voice startled him and he heard her light chuckle at his jump of surprise.

"Raven, I thought we were meeting in the garage." He composed his features to meet her amused ones.

"We were. At 8. But you kept me waiting for twenty minutes so I decided teleportation will be faster."

"Wait, but I-

"Too late." She enveloped him in her dark aura and before he could fully process it, they'd appeared on the roof of some Jump City building.

Robin gasped as the open air invaded his systems after the warmth of Raven's aura.

"I still haven't gotten used to that." He admitted and she laughed again, a light sound that was hypnotic in its organic nature.

A year ago Raven's mere smile could have blown up the toaster, but this Raven was so much more in control and in turn so much freer to express her emotions.

"Where should we start? We could split the city and take each end then meet back-

"No." he cut her off. "I don't want to split up."

She blinked.

"Uh, okay. Together then?"

Robin grinned.

"Yeah, together."

It was about five minutes before midnight that Robin decided patrol was over. Raven yawned, tired by the day's events.

"Sleepy?" he smiled.

"Exhausted. Kicking your butt in the battle blitz took a lot out of me, but it was worth it." Her amethyst eyes twinkled in gest and he gave a playful scowl.

"Don't get used to it, Raven, it was a one-time thing."

"If you say so, Bird Boy. I'm not anticipating any failures in my future, though."

"It really wasn't fair. You and Star both fly and you have the most offensive style powers."

"Someone's a sore loser."

He rolled his eyes.

"Fine, you are the all-powerful Titan. Happy?"

"Very. I knew you'd see the truth." She smiled and a comfortable silence fell over them.

They were sitting on a park bench, watching the wind move the trees, tired but not exactly ready to go home. Robin wanted to ask Raven about Speedy and wanted to warn her about Aqualad but he couldn't bring himself to disrupt the serene air between them.

"What is it?" she turned to him, bringing him from his thoughts.

"Hmm?"

"There's something on your mind. It's clouding your regular aura and I sense it has to do with me, so spit it out." She almost demanded and he had to laugh at her tone.

"You're the boss now?"

"I've earned it, haven't it? I beat the boss in battle earlier so…"

"You'll never let me live that down, will you?"

"No, it's just too fun."

"Are you mocking me, Raven?"

"No, what would give you that idea?" she asked innocently.

"Do you want to hear what I need to tell you or is there some other joke about me you wish to explore?"

Raven tapped a finger to her chin.

"You might be colorblind and I suggest you find adequate help before your next outfit has purple tights and an orange cape. Okay now I'm ready to listen." She crossed her legs and looked at him obediently.

He wanted to keep his scowl but she looked so adorable he could only shake his head and laugh.

"All right then. Raven, when I began this training program I meant for the end result to be largely positive and help all the Titans grow as a team. I've been unfair with you, though, because I've ignored the fact that you are uncomfortable due to Speedy and Aqualad's advances. Aqualad, especially, is a case for worry because of his seeming fixation on you."

She seemed surprised at his knowledge.

"How did you know about that?"

"How did you?" he countered and she told him what she'd picked up from him earlier.

Robin told her a shortened version of Aqualad's story, leaving out the fact that Speedy had brought it to his attention.

"That's horrible. I feel sorry for him." She said.

"So do I, but that doesn't give him the right to pursue a fantasy with you. Tula's dead and you're not her."

She nodded, not knowing what else to say. Robin remembered the other part of what she'd told him.

"Wait, you said he felt a hate for me?"

Raven tensed at the words for a reason Robin didn't understand but gave a reluctant nod.

"Why me? Why not Speedy, who he knows is blatantly interested in you?"

Raven took a deep breath and debated within herself. Should she tell Robin the unexplained feelings she had for him?

"Rae?" his voice was soft and she turned her violet eyes to face his furrowed mask.

"I-I think that recently I've been feeling-

As if the fates had decided Robin and Raven could never find a chance to confess their truths to each other, an explosion sounded from the inner city and the Titans jumped up. Robin's communicator beeped and he flipped it open to Cyborg's serious face.

"What is it, Cyborg?"

"Robin, its Slade."

Raven and Robin shared a grave look.

"He's back." She whispered and there was fear in her voice.

"Not for long." Robin said firmly.

(That's right people. Slade has entered the story. You guys though Rae and Rob would have their talk, didn't you? Sorry, it's not time yet!)