I4.6

Chapter 26: Sandman

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Adult themes. DO NOT read if you are underage or dislike controversial things. |Robin is about to get hella creepy in this chapter|

Author's Note: I appreciate the in-depth feedback that this story has been getting. I'm glad that you all are thinking as deeply about this as I am while I write this.

The smell of fresh coffee permeates the air as Richard releases a yawn. He can feel the slight ache in his jaw from the way his mouth stretches to release his breath. The small tears beading in the corner of his eyes are wiped away without a second thought. He doesn't quite understand why he is still so tired even though he slept like a baby in the wreckage of his bedroom.

He pours himself a fresh cup of coffee as he contemplates the things on his to-do list today. First and foremost is speaking with Cyborg. The confrontation that happened in the park yesterday evening helped him identify alliances and clarify the team members that he knew he could trust and those who have ulterior motives. The only wildcard in all of this is Cyborg...the jovial metal man who may or may not have feelings for Rachel. Richard's earlier conversation with his beloved about lust still replays in his mind from time to time. There's a good chance that he may be over reacting and that what she had told him about spikes in a person's sex drive as they think about someone else are normal. He would like to convince himself that Cyborg and Rachel are just friends who feel comfortable enough to share deeper conversations with each other. That everything is as innocent as it seems on the surface.

Richard has to actively work to stifle his jealousy at that thought. He knows that he's being overly sensitive since Cyborg is the other male in the Titan Tower, but he also knew that that's how it starts.: with innocence. He hadn't always looked at Rachel through the eyes of a man. At first, he saw her an employee; just anther member of his team. How much he valued her depends on how useful she would be to the "team's," or really his, goals. Eventually, he realized that there was more to the sullen girl than just her gothic exterior and mighty demonic powers. It wasn't long before he noticed her intellectual prowess and marveled at her wealth of knowledge, even though she wasn't from this planet. He had noticed very early on that Starfire preferred to experience this world, the people and the places in it, while Rachel would rather learn through reading. The minute she joined the team, she began voraciously reading whatever she could get her hands on. She started with the classics and worked her way up to more contemporary works of literature; both fiction and nonfiction. That's how a majority of their non-work related conversations started. She would come to Richard and ask his opinion about something she read or researched. She would seek his advice on the validity of the things that she was learning and that made him feel more powerful than anything he had ever experienced before. The ability to shape someone's mind so that is mirrors your own is intoxicating. Slowly, but surely, he was able to influence her thought patterns and inform her opinions on major concepts like crime, justice, life and death among others. That doesn't mean that she passively absorbed everything he told her and what she read. She clearly argues back because her brain is always working to make sense of the world. Even though she is portrayed as this dark and pessimistic member of his team, she actually has higher hopes than he does. She views people in a much brighter light than she views herself and dares to dream of a better future for humanity. Richard felt proud of the fact that he was able to influence that. That he was able to walk her away from her darker, more depressing thoughts and bring her closer to the light.

Somewhere along their long history together, Richard began looking at Rachel through the eyes of a friend. He recognized a kindred spirit in the young woman who was taught to keep all of her feelings at bay before it brings about the end of the world. He could relate in a much smaller, less apocalyptic way. When Bruce took a young Richard under his wing, he learned very quickly to conceal his real thoughts, emotions, and desires. He perfected his contagious smile in the mirror and practiced responding to tense situations with the "right" words of a leader. He learned that there are vultures circling everywhere and they are ready and willing to take advantage of him, just like there are villains who are ready and willing to take advantage of her. Is it any wonder that the two found each other? Latched on to each other? Spent long nights just sitting in silence while gazing at the moon and stars? Engaged in heated debates that climaxed with loud voices and ended with them breathless, wearing silly smiles? They bonded over their shared traumas. For the longest while, their conversations remained in the safe zone of the world, their community and everything outside of themselves. However, when Rachel realized that Richard would not run away from her or her demons she began leaning on him in a more personal way. She started sharing deeper, more private stories that shook even him to the core. Made him want to wrap her up in his arms and squeeze all the pain and sadness right out of her. Saving a child Raven from hell was the real turning point in the way that he valued her. She was more than just a teammate; she was his dearest friend. The hole that she had left behind would have swallowed him whole if Slade didn't share what he knew. The moment he thought there was a chance to get her back, he had risked it all…including his team.

Now that Richard looks back on their history, he realizes that this moment was inevitable. Their future together is inevitable. That last night was the start of something twisted, yet beautiful.

Richard isn't a fool. He knows that what he's feeling isn't a pure, selfless love. This isn't something romantic movies are made of. If Rachel were to reject him, he would not accept it. If she tries to put space between them by leaving, he would hunt her down and drag her back to him. If she tries to leave him for someone else, it will not end well for any of them. That's why he is secretly pleased and eternally grateful that she has chosen to stand by his side instead of Beastboy's. Even though he and the changeling are not on good terms, he doesn't want irreparable harm to come to the younger man. They have spent years together, fighting crime, sharing meals and playing video games. It's not like their relationship had always been sour, but there was something about puberty and possessiveness that shifted the dynamics of their team. Both men have laid claims to the resident empath but the younger of the two just can't compete with the team's leader. Richard would like to think that he finally got the message yesterday, at the park, but only time will tell.

The truth is, the young leader is more interested in what happened after the park. Richard can still remember the scent of Rachel's hair as she worked to clean his reopened wounds. He can tell from the look on her face that she is deeply concerned about him, the state of their team, Starfire and Beastboy. He was a bit peeved that her sole focus wasn't on him, but it will be in time. He was touched, but not surprised, by her willingness to invest the dregs of her energy into healing him even though she was clearly tired herself. Most importantly, he finally got her to admit that she loves him. Again, Richard is not a fool. He knows that his beloved will walk back that admission with "like a friend" or "as a brother." She's not ready to recognize that their relationship has that type of potential. Richard doesn't really care because he knows that their future together is inevitable. Whether she realizes it today, tomorrow, or ten years from now, it won't change the fact that she is his. Where he goes, so will she.

"Yes."

So quiet, yet so truthful.

It was a good thing that Rachel fell asleep on his shoulder or else she would be picking up on some very questionable emotions. Her admission of truth had Richard standing there for several minutes as he tried to process everything that had happened and his beloved's confession. While he mind was racing, his body was reacting to having her full weight in his arms. He could smell her hair as her head rests on his strong shoulder. The feel of her even breath brushing against his neck made him feel more aware than he had before. Her slender arms were slung over his shoulders and loosely wrapped around his neck. Richard was painfully aware of the feel of her warm breasts crushed against his bare chest. Her bra and thin summer t shirt barely hiding her heat. The fingertips of his right hand traces over her back and glides over the clasp of her bra. How easy would it be for him to simply pinch the two ends together to unhook it? He could sneak his hands up the back of her shirt and open the offending garment. He's touched this part of her before. He can clearly remember how she squirmed beneath his fingertips as he applied the vitamin k cream to her bruises. The bruises that he gave her after finding out that she had kissed the changeling while he was away.

Those marks were long gone, but Richard is more than willing to replace them with something more...suggestive. But, he can't do that here. They were still in the chilly medic bay and he could feel the baby fine hairs on Rachel's arm start to rise. The best, and probably most dangerous, thing for him to do right now is put her to bed. She is exhausted and depleted. Besides, she's going to need all the rest she can get because there are turbulent times ahead of them.

Richard finally begins moving towards the hallway. He's normally very good a multitasking, but the sensation of Rachel's body pressed against his and the knowledge of where he is taking her has him swelling in his pants. How easy would it be to drop her body weight a bit lower so that her core rubs against his erection as he walks? How good will it feel when she's finally riding him in this position? The muscles in her thighs contracting and releasing around his waist as she tries to find her rhythm and set her pace with nothing to hold on to besides him. Her arms clinging to him for balance while she trusts him to support her weight...

Richard is forced to stop half way down the corridor. His train of thought making it a little too difficult to concentrate on what he's trying to do; which is making it to Rachel's bedroom without fucking her silly on the hallway floor. He needs to move quickly before he runs into another member of the Titans. After everything that has happened today, there is no way that they won't catch on to what he's thinking and feeling. It has become increasingly obvious to everyone, but Rachel, that Richard's feelings are no longer completely platonic. Yet, no one suspects just how deeply perverse his thoughts are. How damaging his actions have been. In this moment, all he can do is shift her weight a little higher so that she isn't so close to his bulging dick. Both of his hands are resting beneath her warm thighs and he finds himself saying silent prayers for self control. They are unconsciously squeezing the plump flesh in appreciation as he moves forward in the hallway. Richard is trying his best to ignore how dangerously close they are to her core. Desperately trying to banish the thought of how ridiculously easy it would be to ghost his fingers over her cloth covered sex. Would she respond in her sleep? Squirm at his touch? Moan in his ear? So many questions that need answers!

He is thanking every deity that he can think of for making it to her door in one piece and without prying eyes there to ask unnecessary questions like "Where are you going with an unconscious girl?" Rachel was fast asleep by the time Richard made it to her bedroom. He had to shift her weight, again, so that he could free his right hand to open her door. He walked them both in and uses his foot to kick the door shut behind them. He turns around and stares at the knob and considers locking it. He shakes his head before leaving it alone. Let the uncertainty of that door be the thing that keeps him in check tonight.

Richard gently lays Rachel on her bed. There is a content sigh from the young woman as her tired body sinks into the soft warmth of a familiar mattress. He watches, with a gentle smile on his face, as she automatically rolls over on one side and begins rearranging herself to be more comfortable. That's when he remembers that she's still wearing her shoes. Dirty shoes don't belong on clean sheets. So, being the good man that he is, Richard decides to help her get comfortable. He is convincing himself that he has enough self control for this and that he is being a good caretaker as his callous hands stroke the velvety soft skin of her ankle. He is telling himself that this gesture is innocuous as his thumb grazes the anklet he gave her. He is pulling at the straps of her scandals and gently removing them. Rachel doesn't stir as he sits by her feet on the bed. Her left ankle is encased in his right hand as he marvels at the delicate bone structure of her foot. He admires the way the chain of his anklet compliments her skin and glimmers in the low light of the room. His eyes trace the arch in her foot as it makes it's way up to her toes. Toes that are painted a sparkly navy color. He's not surprised since her favorite color is blue.

A stray thought crosses Richard's mind that turns his gentle smile into a dangerous scowl. He should know better than to compare himself with someone else, but he couldn't help but to wonder if Beastboy got to see her peacefully sleeping face. The rage that he felt passing through him was dangerously irrational because he knows that everyone knew what each other looks like while sleeping. They've lived together for years. How could they not have caught one another sneaking in naps or passed out in the medic bay. The real issue is if the changeling has seen his Rachel sleeping so peacefully in the privacy of her own bedroom. He knows that they both have wandered in and out of each other's private space for many years. Neither of them minded the other being there, but that was just between the two of them. Or so he thought. How often has the green beast been in here? Has he laid in this bed with her? Curled his hairy body around hers and shared the heat of the moment? Ran the tips of his claws over her soft, velvety skin? Licked the space between her breasts before latching on to a nipple? Laid his sweaty and heavy body on top of hers?

Richard doesn't realize that his grip on her ankle has tighten to the point of being painful until he feels Rachel try to pull away. He quickly releases her and allows her to rearrange herself with a quite groan. She's probably picking up on his agitated state, even in her sleep. So, Richard takes deep, calming breathes and reminds himself that this is all just speculation. He doesn't know exactly how far the two had gotten before their relationship fell apart. He tells himself that it doesn't matter if it was just some kissing or foreplay or even if they did fuck. He tells himself this, even though he knows he's telling himself lies. It does matter to him because she is his and the thought of another man putting his fingerprints all over what is his makes him feel territorial.

He watches her sleeping form with angry eyes. She looks so inviting as she lays there on her bed. It would be so easy...so comfortable to just crawl in there with her and lay his head down besides hers. As it should be. As it will be. Then, he notices that she's still wearing her shorts. He couldn't help but think about how uncomfortable they look on her as she tries to rest. He reminds himself that he just removed her shoes so that she doesn't dirty her sheets. Maybe he should take off her shorts so that she can rest more comfortably? Isn't that what a good friend would do? What a good lover should do? You know what they say: practice makes perfect.

Richard spares a quick glance towards the unlocked door before he leans in a bit closer to her. He gently takes a hold of the ankle that he just abused and gives it an apologetic rub before releasing it. He knows that he needs to be careful with his actions because he doesn't want to wake her and be blasted into another dimension. That would be the opposite of progress. No, he doesn't want to regress; he wants to learn. Richard understands Rachel's mental terrain, but her physical one is something relatively new to him. They have shared hugs and touches in the past, but not quite like this. This is the first time that he is allowing his hands license to roam freely over the smooth skin of her shapely legs. He has always been amazed by the fact that someone so short could have such beautiful legs. The photographers love it. Pictures of Rachel's legs sell for a higher price since they are so seldom seen. Richard feels equal parts pride and disgust at the thought of what the media will do to their relationship once they go public. He wants the world to know, but also needs them to mind their own damn business.

None of that matters right now. They'll cross that bridge when they get there. Right now, the only thing Richard wants to focus on is the feeling of soft, smooth flesh beneath his hands. He is careful to keep his touch light as he makes his way up from her ankles and across her firm calves. A soft groan greets his ears when he gives them a firm squeeze and Richard can't stop the shit eating grin that stretches across his face. She shifts beneath him again so that she is sprawled out on her back. A lock of violet hair plastered to the side of her face. This position makes is more difficult for him to explore the backs of her legs, but he is content enough to trace the delicate bones in her knees for now. As he explores, Richard is mindful to keep his eyes trained on her face and his ears focused on the door. All of the what ifs and ways that this can go wrong only excites him even more. His pants were already tight when they entered the room, but right now they are uncomfortably confining. He toys with the idea of releasing himself, but the awkward thought of Rachel waking up to see him with his dick in his hand is enough to make him grit his teeth and bare it.

There will be time enough for all of that. Right now, he is more interested in learning what she likes, so he watches her face like a hawk while he plays with her body. Richard watches her sleeping expression change when he begins tracing intricate patterns across her inner thighs. Her breath hitches and he holds his. The muscles beneath his adventurous fingertips begin to twitch in response to the foreign touch. There is a low moan that escapes her throat as he runs the thumbs of both of his fingers dangerously close to her sex. Her hips are shifting beneath his hands, but he can't tell if she's squirming to get away from his touch or towards it. As much as he wants to push this envelop, he has to remind himself that he has a goal...to make her more comfortable.

Richard enjoys her whimpers as he pulls both of his hands off her responsive flesh and moves them closer to the buttons on her shorts. These particular pair of pants were double buttoned and he found himself silently cursing his luck. He gingerly unloops the first one before turning his attention to the second. He practically jumps out of his skin when he feels one of Rachel's hands land on his shoulder while the other has been thrown over her head. Richard finds himself frozen in action as he quietly waits her out. Will she wake up or continue sleeping?

He continues on his quest when he is sure that she will not wake. Ever so slowly Richard drags the zipper of her shorts lower. Every millimeter revealing more of her panties to his hungry gaze. He couldn't quite make out the color in the darkness of the room but he could tell that there is lace trimming involved. Cautious fingers ghost over the flimsy material that separate his curious digits from her sweet skin. The easy part is over, the hard part is working her shorts over her hips, ass and down her legs. All without waking her up.

Three calming breaths later has him firmly pulling the fabric of her shorts down. Even though he had carefully hooked his fingers into the fabric of her pants, with every pull, her panties followed. Richard couldn't tell if he was the luckiest man alive or not in this moment, but he does know that his heart stopped when Rachel jumped awake and bolted up straight.

His actions were frozen as she looked at him with unfocused eyes. This isn't the first time she's started awake after depleting herself of energy in a battle and/or healing her comrades, so Richard is careful to hold really still and only speak when spoken to.

She slowly blinks once at him and slurs, "Dick?"

Rachel's hand is trying to make contact with his face to see if he is real or if she's just dreaming of him again. When she finally touches his hair he answers with a quiet "yes?"

He can see that she is desperately fighting to stay awake as she slurs, "Umm...glad yo... here."

Richard holds still as she pats his head twice before rolling over on her stomach. As she moves, he quickly pulls her shorts over her firm ass and down her shapely legs. Rachel is so out of it that she doesn't realize what he is doing to her. He breathes an audible sigh of relief as he watches her settle herself in...this time without her pants. She is clutching one of her many pillows as she buries her face in it. Within seconds, she's snoring away and feeling much more comfortable without being restrained by the hem of her clothing.

As she peacefully sleeps, Richard was desperately trying to stop both of his heads from exploding.

Last night just proves how dangerously Richard likes to live. If Rachel hadn't overexerted herself by trying to heal as many teammates as she has been (he knew he wasn't the only one she used her powers on), then he would have been a dead man. It would have been worth it, though. He had learned a lot about her body. The places where she likes being touched. What to squeeze, where to stroke, how to touch her. Of course, he needs more research, but that will come later...hopefully with her wide awake and actually participating.

Needless to say, Richard barely made it back to his own bedroom in one piece. It's difficult moving efficiently with blue balls and an erection that would not go down no matter who he thought about. His fantasies where one thing, but nothing can compare to having her there in the flesh. Hearing her soft sighs, low moans and adorable whimpers just fuel Richard's fires even more. Now, he wants to know what it will feel like to be inside of her. What she'll sound like bouncing in his lap. Lick the sweat off of her neck as he fists her hair and forces her head to face the ceiling.

He came twice in rapid succession last night before he was finally able to lay down, but even then he couldn't quite quiet his mind down long enough to sleep for very long. Rachel is the source of his daydreams and material for his nightmares; all wrapped up into one. He knew he was hooked. Not only does she compliment him intellectually, but the level of sexual attraction he feels towards her is something he hadn't wanted to acknowledge before. This level of willing recklessness is not something he has ever experienced; not with the busty women of boarding school or even with Starfire.

Richard can feel his face split into a grin that would scare even the most fearless of heroes. He knew he should be getting his thoughts, feelings and hormones under control before someone walks in on him, but he couldn't help himself. He idly wonders how much Rachel remembers from last night. She had been unconscious as he was exploring her legs, but there was a brief moment when she jumped awake. Had she been in the process of awakening even before she bolted upright? No...that couldn't be. Then she would not have fallen back asleep so easily and more importantly, he wouldn't be here right now. Maybe she'll write it all off as a strange wet dream? He'd be fine with that, if she did. It's about time she started looking at him through the eyes of a woman and not as the young boy she once knew or the leader that she has grown up with.

"Yo!" startled Richard enough to choke on his coffee. He had been patiently waiting for Cyborg to arrive, but had allowed himself to be lost in his own thoughts.

"Good morning, Cy," he sputtered in response while trying to wipe away some of the coffee that dribbled out of his mouth.

"You doin alright, man?" the metal man asks as he passes his leader some napkins.

"Yeah. I'm good," Richard replies as he watches his teammate head over to the coffee machine. He pours himself a nice strong cup before making his way to the side of the fridge to pick up his apron. Even though Cyborg is trying to put on a "normal" front, he can tell from the set of the older man's shoulders to the heaviness of his footsteps that his friend is exhausted. As much as Richard wants to bring up the subject of Beastboy attacking him and stealing his laptop, he doesn't have the heart to ruin this one moment of normalcy. So, he just sits back and watches as his friend tries to carry out their daily routine.

Eventually, Cyborg turns his head to the side and asks Richard "Do you want your eggs sunny side up or a cheddar omelet?"

Was this a peace offering or was the older man trying to prime the road for the difficult conversation that they are going to have? Richard couldn't tell, but he didn't care because Cyborg's omelets were some of the best that he's ever had. "Cheddar omelet, please."

"Sure thing," he confirms sans the finger guns. This is how Richard knows things are bad. He can only wonder about the kinds of conversations his friend has been having with the changeling. There's no way to know unless one of them shares and it definitely isn't going to be Beastboy.

Richard watches Cyborg work for a few minutes before he asks, "How's he doing?"

They both know who he is talking about, "He's...worried."

Worried? Richard was expecting something more complex and angry than just worried.

"If he's concerned about a 'punishment' then he shouldn't be," Richard begins, "I understand that the poison he ingested has had a devastating affect on him. I know that a lot of his actions weren't his to control. He…"

"That's not it," Cy cuts in, "He's not worried about himself or his place on this team. He's convinced that you're going to hurt Rachel."

Richard couldn't help the look of confusion that settles on his face. As strong as his feelings for his beloved are and the newly awakened sexual frustrations that he has, he doesn't overtly want to cause his love any pain. The team's leader cocks his head to the side as he replies with, "I don't know why he thinks I would…"

"I don't know either, man," the half man, half robot agrees, "he's convinced himself that you're to blame for everything. The poisoning, the trouble in the team, Raven, the reason why he didn't get hot water this morning."

"Ha," Richard huffs without any amusement in his voice. "That's a lot of blame for one person to take on."

"Listen, Robin," the other man begins, "I know that he can be a lot to handle and that he goes off of his hunches more than actual proof, but go easy on him. He's the youngest out of all of us and his puberty ain't anything like yours or even mine. Beastboy is just trying to find his place in the world."

"I get that Cy," Richard replies as the resident Titan chef hands him a plate with a freshly cooked cheddar cheese omelet on it, "I get it. I really do. I'm not trying to punish him. In fact, I'm really trying to think of ways to help him."

At this point, Richard knows that he needs to tread carefully. The way that he frames this situation can either make is sound like an exile or an opportunity.

"I think he needs a break. A change of pace," the team leader continues as he tries to sound as logical as he can, "Being cooped up here for so long and doing the same thing day in and day out can't be good for someone who needs to be a part of nature as much as Beastboy does. Being here in the city, the changes in his hormones, the poisoning and Rachel's rejection must have taken their toll on him."

Richard feels the need to make that abundantly clear to everyone in this house. Rachel had outright rejected Beastboy's feelings yesterday. There is no going back for them now; partly because she doesn't want to go back, but mostly because Richard refuses to allow it. He'd rather bury their bodies than let them fly off into the sunset with each other.

There is a slight frown on Cyborg's face when he asks, "What are you suggesting?"

Richard takes another sip of his coffee before replying with "There's another Titan group that has an injured member. They've been asking around to see if anyone can spare a teammate to help pick up the slack. The Titans East are located in Asia and are surrounded by jungles and an abundance of wildlife. It might be a good place for BB to get away from it all."

"For how long?" is Cyborg's sharp question. Richard can tell that his friend is worried that their leader is just using this an excuse to permanently kick the changeling off the team.

"About a month," Richard replies, "According to the request, that's roughly how long it will take their original member to recover from their injury."

"That's a long time, Robin," he pushes back, "Are you sure right now is a good time to send BB away? Especially with the poisoning of our members? We also need all hands on deck."

Richard nods sympathetically, "I've also thought of this, but the alternative is the complete breakdown of the team. Right now everyone feels as though they are at odds with each other because we don't know if we can trust one another. Feelings are hurt and trust has been broken."

"To be fair, Robin, a lot of that is on you," Cyborg says. Ouch. Richard should have known better than to just assume that Cyborg would agree right off the bat.

"I recognize that there are things that I need to do better," Richard says in complete leader mode, "I do want to do better and so I need to set the record straight. That's why I want us to have a group meeting so that we can discuss this as a team."

Richard's eyes are trying to gauge the older man's thoughts from his expressions before continuing with "I won't send him away if he doesn't want to leave, but if he stays...as he is right now... it could be harmful for the team that we've spent so long building. A little vacation from all of us could be just want BB needs to rest, recoup and come back stronger with a clearer head." It'll also give me time to officially put my plans in motion.

"So...you're trying to send him away," comes a deep drawl from the doorway of the kitchen. Both men turn their heads in sync to greet the demonness who is standing there with the morning sun surrounding her like a halo.

Richard feels his heart flutter and fingers twitch when her violet eyes meet his blue-gray ones.

What is you doin', Dick?! And Rachel...where is your sense of danger?