Little One, Little Danger
(The Revision)
Chapter 7:
"Back Home"
The next morning Robin awoke, alone in Raiden's bed a bit confused as to where he was. He then remembered falling asleep while he and Raven took turns in reading to Raiden last night. Not sure how the young girl found a children's book in Bruce's study. But…he looked around him…where were they now? Robin yawned as he got out the bed and left the room to head to his own so that he could shower.
Sometime later he found himself exiting the steamed bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. Though not too soon after he did, the door to his room flung opened.
"Good morning, Robin!" Starfire flew in and landed a few feet from where he stood.
"Morning Star." He shook off the feeling of being startled but then right after he realized that he was basically wearing nothing and became a little embarrassed. "Uh…maybe you should've knocked first."
The girl immediately turned red once she noticed his lack of attire, "Oh I am so sorry!" Starfire turned around as quickly as she could, "I did not mean to invade your privacy! I-I simply wanted to inform you that breakfast was ready."
"Hey, don't sweat it." Robin chuckled nervously to himself though he found it a bit cute that she was flustered. "Thanks for telling me. I'll head down once I uh…get dressed."
"Yes…yes okay and you are most welcomed." Starfire hurried towards the door hoping that the embarrassment would leave her by the time he made it down to join her and the others.
"Hey uh, Star…did Raven and Raiden make it down there yet?" Robin stopped her in her tracks.
Starfire could feel that ill feeling from last night rise inside her again; she shook it out and smiled weakly, "Yes, I believe they are." She made her leave.
~o~
As Robin headed down the staircase towards the dining room, the doorbell to the manor chimed and the young man heard Alfred call out from the kitchen about getting the door. "No worries, Alfred, I'll get it!" Robin shouted back and made his way over to the door to answer it. A young man stood behind it in wait who looked somewhat older than himself, but not by much. "May I help you?"
"Yeah uh, hi. I'm here for the retreat."
Robin raised a brow, "Retreat? What retreat?"
"It's one my friend Harry signed us up for."
"Who's Harry?"
The young man raised a brow confused, "Harry…Harry Osborn?"
Robin folded his arms across his chest, "Never heard of him. Who are you?"
I'm Pete, Peter Parker." He dug around in his backpack and pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Robin. "Harry said he signed us up for some spring break retreat and told me to meet him here."
Robin examined the paper and shook his head, "Uh…looks like you got the wrong address man. Not only that but the wrong town, city…just the whole comic universe\ itself for you is WRONG. What's 'Marvel'?"
"Ugh!" Peter groaned in frustration as Robin handed him back the paper. "You have got to be kidding me Harry!" He returned the sheet to his backpack and then shoved his hands into this jeans' pockets. "Thanks anyway uh…?"
"Name's Robin." He offered his hand and Peter shook it.
"Nice to meet you Robin. Guess I'll be on my way."
Robin nodded as the young man turned to leave, "Hope it all works out for you man." Pete lifted a hand to wave before Robin stepped back into the manor, closing the door behind him.
In the dining room, all the Titans were present along with Raiden and Bruce. They had already dug into the delicacies Alfred had prepared and Robin had finally entered to join them. Bruce addressed him, "Who was at the door?"
"Some guy name Peter Parker? Ring a bell?" Robin suddenly felt a pair of tiny arms wrap around his neck.
"Good morning daddy!" Raiden smiled.
"Morning." He nonchalantly returned her hug, "Someone has a lot of energy this morning." Upon releasing her, Raiden returned to her seat next to Raven. He shifted his gaze slightly to lock with Bruce's and the man gave him a grin.
"How did you sleep last night Dick?" Bruce took a sip of his black coffee.
Robin knew what he was trying to do so he counted to three in his head and mentally exhaled before putting on a smile, "I slept fine, thank you." He then piled a few waffles on his plate.
Within his peripheral vision, he saw Starfire staring at him and he couldn't help but turn in her direction. Though before he could ask her if anything was wrong, the girl lifted her fork towards him, a piece of sausage on the end of it. "Would you like a taste of the frying sausage that was prepared? I read that it is customary in some countries for earthlings to feed one another as a sign of friendship and caring."
"Plus Cyborg and Raiden have almost eaten them all already." Beastboy spoke with his mouth full of tofu eggs.
Robin looked at the contents on the girl's fork and then lifted his gaze to see her eager smiling face; so genuine and innocent. He couldn't help but smile and accept her offer, taking the piece of breakfast meat within his mouth and savoring. He probably released a satisfying moan because it had been awhile since he's had Alfred's cooking. The joy on Star's face was almost priceless and he didn't mind it until he turned to see Cyborg and Beastboy silently teasing him. He blushed and turned back to his plate, "T-Thanks Star." Robin then lifted his gaze to lock eyes with Raven which only intensified the feeling of embarrassment.
"Master Robin, there's a phone call for you on your cellular device." Alfred entered the area from the kitchen to refill drinks.
The boy immediately stood, anxious to get away from the way he was feeling at the moment, "Thanks Alfred, I'll get it right now." He hurried to the living room and grabbed the phone, which he rarely used, wondering who could be calling him. "Hello, this is Robin."
"Hey Robin, it's Karen."
"Karen, hey! How's it going?"
"Pretty good actually. Just thought I would give you a call to see if you were free Tuesday evening. I got the day off."
Wait…was she asking him out? Like on a DATE? "Oh, nice uh…I-I'd have to check my schedule, you know…city need protecting and all hehe." Ugh how cheesy could that sound?!
Karen giggled on the other end of the call, "But of course, a hero's work is never done. But…I'm sure you deserve a break every now and then. Especially if it's just having a little fun with a new friend."
"I just don't know I mean-"
"Come on Robin, what harm would it do? And if some rampaging monster attacks the city at the time, you can totally blow me off, no excuses needed."
Robin chuckled slightly as he decided to grab a seat on the couch, "Well when you put it that way, how can I say no. Just tell me where and I'll make sure to be there."
"Awesome! We're gonna have a great time, just you wait and see."
"Now you've set my expectations high." He chuckled again, "So, see you Tuesday?"
"Yep, Tuesday. See you then!"
"See you then." The call ended and Robin wasn't sure what to think about his newly added social outing. What was he getting himself into?
{ }
In the late afternoon Bruce invited Robin to the training room for a brief session. Since breakfast, the boy had kept to himself, barely saying a word and Bruce thought another one-on-one conversation was needed. They entered the specialized room, "What's going on with you?"
Robin began to stretch, "What do you mean?"
Bruce tied some tape around the palm of his hands and his knuckles, "You've been acting like a shut-in since breakfast, so I'm wondering why."
Robin was handed the tape for use, "Am I? Heh…I didn't notice. I guess I just have a lot of stuff on my mind."
"Stuff like what exactly?" Bruce positioned himself in front of one of the punching bags and begun to ease into his punches.
"Nothing that important." Robin found himself at the other available bag.
"Seems more important to you than you're letting on. So, tell."
Robin sighed, "Look, it's not a big deal. There's just this girl that I met at the grocery store—"
"What were YOU doing at the grocery store?"
"Shopping for groceries! But that's not the point here, okay. Karen, the girl I met…she was the one on the phone earlier. We kind of made plans to go out on Tuesday…like a date."
Bruce stopped punching his bag, "A date huh? Usually, boys your age are thrilled about going out with a pretty girl. Wait…she IS pretty, right?"
Robin rolled his eyes, "Yeah Bruce, but that would not be the sole reason I'd hang out with her."
"So the reason why it's weighing on your mind is?"
"I don't know…I just…I guess I'm—"
"Worried about how Raven might take it." Bruce nodded.
Robin stopped punching his bag, "Look Bruce, Raven and I are just friends okay and if I HAD to be worried about how anyone would take it…it'd be Starfire." A memory came to mind, "Don't want a repeat of the Kitten incident."
"Yes, but Kitten was a special case." Bruce folded his arms across his chest, "Well, answer me this, honestly…do you have some sort of feelings for Kori?"
"I…" Robin had to think about it. How did he feel about Starfire? "To tell you the truth Bruce…I'm really not sure."
His mentor nodded, "I see. So, I can only assume that it's the same with Raven."
"I didn't say that." Robin's response was like a reflex.
"Wait…" Bruce raised a brow confused, "…are you saying that you have feelings for Raven?"
"I-I didn't say that either!"
Bruce shook his head and sighed, "Then what is it that you're trying to say Dick?"
"Only that…Starfire and I are close and share some sort of connection. Raven and I are also just as close, if not closer and our connection is different than the one I have with Star…Raven and I we…we share this bond—"
"You speak of this BOND on several occasions and I can hear it in your voice Dick…but if you want to keep being immature about it and say that there's nothing more than that then fine."
Robin was taken back slightly, "I…I think I just like where things are with her. With both of them." He walked over to one of the benches and took a seat.
"And that's fine. But stop moping around like you're doing something wrong by going on a date. If you honestly don't feel anything more than friendship for Raven and Starfire, then just go on the damn date and have fun." Bruce headed towards the sparring ring, Robin in tow.
Robin stood across from him and grinned, "Not all of us can be the billionaire playboy Bruce." The two readied themselves.
"Don't patronize me, Dick." Bruce grinned before letting the boy make the first move.
{ }
Starfire sat in the living room alone, her thoughts clouded by the idea she had last night before drifting off to sleep. In order to get closer to Robin, she was going to ask him out on a date. The thought alone got her heart racing from nervousness. She planned to wait for him to return and then present the idea as quickly as possible before she got the cold feet. The sound of someone entering the room got her to jump to her feet, thinking it was Robin. However, when she turned around it happened to be someone else.
"Oh, it's you friend Raven. I thought you were Robin."
"Sorry to disappoint you Starfire, but our fearless leader ran off to run some errands with Bruce."
"Oh, I see. I guess he will not be back for some time then." Her plan would have to wait.
"Yeah, but he did say that we should all be prepared to leave the moment he gets back. So, I suggest you go pack up." Raven turned to head in the direction of the stairs.
"Um…friend Raven?" Starfire took a step in her direction.
"Yeah Star?" Raven looked back at her.
"Do you think…I mean…that…Robin would-"
"Mama!" Raiden ran from around the corner and jumped into Raven's arms.
"There you are. I had been looking all over for you. You weren't bothering Alfred, were you?"
The little girl shook her head, "No, I was playing hide-and-go seek with uncle BB." She wiggled a little in Raven's arms. Starfire found her heart aching at the sight again, just like last night.
"Uncle 'BB' huh." Raven sighed, "How about you go and tell him to pack his things because we'll be leaving as soon as Robin gets back." She put the girl down.
"Okay!" Raiden ran off in excitement.
Starfire noticed that Raven had watched the little girl leave, a faint smile on her face. "You do not mind her calling you mother?"
"What?" Raven turned to her, "Oh, that." She shrugged, "There's only so many times you can correct kids. After a while it just becomes a pain so she can call me whatever makes her feel at ease. So long as it's nothing derogatory."
Starfire lowered her gaze with a nod, "That is understandable." A thought then crossed her mind, "Does Robin…share the same viewpoint? Being okay with her calling him her father?"
"Don't know." Raven shrugged, "But, going back…you were going to ask me something about Robin before Raiden interrupted, what was it?"
Starfire blushed, because she was going to get Raven's advice on her idea of asking Robin out on a date, "I-It was nothing! Really hehe…do not worry about it but thank you for asking." Star soon excused herself leaving behind a slightly confused Raven.
{ }
Sometime later…
Robin and Bruce arrived back at the manor, carrying in several bags to the kitchen and placing them on the counter. Cyborg trailed behind them, "You guys went shopping?"
"Just a few essentials for the tower and the training room." Robin helped Bruce empty the bags, "Do you know where Raiden is?"
"Oh, she's-"
"Right here!" The little girl flew into the kitchen and right into Robin's arms.
"Whoa! Since when do you fly?" Robin sat her on the counter.
"That's not all I can do you know." Raiden giggled.
"Well you're gonna have to show me later because…Bruce and I have a surprise for you."
"A surprise?!" Both Raiden and Cyborg reacted in amazement getting Robin to look at his friend a bit dumbfounded. He then shook his head and focused his attention back on Raiden.
Bruce chuckled, "A surprise indeed."
"Can I have it, can I have it!" Raiden bounced up and down.
"Not yet, but when we get back to the tower." Robin assured her.
Raiden suddenly frowned, "But…why?"
"Hey." Robin rustled her hair, "It's worth the wait kiddo, promise." The girl's frown slowly became a smile and she gave him a nod.
"Robin, you have returned." Starfire entered the kitchen with a smile, still feeling slight butterflies in her stomach.
"Took you and Bruce long enough." Raven too, rounded the corner into the room.
Robin grinned slyly, "We got held up because Bruce here ran into some old 'friends."
"I thought you said Bruce didn't have any friends." Raven raised a brow.
Bruce turned to Robin who's face nearly dropped, "Is that so?"
"W-Well uh…I guess we should be on our way." Robin was the first to head out of the kitchen."
Starfire flew behind him, "Robin?" The two stopped several feet from the living area.
"Yeah Star?" He turned to face her.
"I…" She could feel her nervousness coming back, "…when we get back to the tower…I would like to discuss something of importance with you. I-If that is alright."
Robin raised a brow, "Sure Star, is everything okay?"
"Yes!" She couldn't help how loud her response was, "S-Sorry hehe…but everything is fine."
Bruce emerged from the kitchen with Raven, Cyborg and Raiden whose belongings were already situated within the living area of the manor. "We're all ready to go man." Cyborg walked past him and Starfire, "Just waiting on—"
"Sorry I'm late you guys. I was taking a nap by the pool!" Beastboy ran into the room from the staircase, trying to catch his breath. said out of breath from running.
Robin nodded, "Guess I'll head up to—"
"No need Master Robin." Alfred came around the corner with the young man's things in hand.
"Always a step ahead of me Alfred." He smiled and then turned to Bruce, "Well Bruce, I guess this is goodbye for a while."
The man nodded as the Titans gathered their belongings and headed in the direction of the front doors. Bruce and Alfred walked them out, standing some feet from the driveway, "You know where to find me, when you need me." The T-car soon drove off with Alfred waving as the vehicle exited through the front gate and out of sight.
{ }
[Titans Tower]
The titans got back home late that night, extremely exhausted from their brief trip. Raiden had fallen asleep in Cyborg's arms while Beastboy basically had to drag himself across the way to his room. "Hey Cy, do you mind taking Raiden to her room?" Robin plopped down on the couch.
"Sure man…*yawn*…I gotta go that way anyway. See y'all in the morning, goodnight." Cyborg made his way down the hall.
Robin noticed Starfire walking pass, "Star, you said you had something important you wanted to discuss right?" He yawned while slouching more into the furniture.
"Yes but…*yawn*…" The girl stopped briefly before continuing on, "I have decided to wait until the new day comes."
He nodded, "Sounds good. We'll talk tomorrow; goodnight." Robin gave her a wave as she leaned towards him from behind the couch to place a innocent kiss upon his temple. She was then on her way to her room. Not too long after, he let some moments pass and just as he was about to dose off, a rattling sound came from the kitchen. He quickly sat up, only to see a figure emerge from that direction. Robin sighed in relief and relaxed back into the couch, "Didn't know you were still up Raven."
The girl approached the couch and took a seat on the cushion next to his, "It shouldn't surprise you, though I could ask the same about you Robin." There was a mug of herbal tea in her hands.
Robin shook his head, "I still can't understand how you can drink that stuff."
"It calms my nerves." She took a sip and sighed in satisfaction, "Besides, don't knock it till you try it is how the saying goes, doesn't it."
"Fine, I'm game. Give me a sip then." He sat himself upright again.
Raven looked at him from the corner of her eye and then closed both of them, "Alright." She passed the mug to him and he examined the contents cautiously. "It's not poison Robin, just take a sip."
"Don't rush me Raven, I have a process here." He slowly brought the cup to his lips, getting a whiff of the earthy aroma that was somewhat appealing if he had to admit.
"Your process is irritating." Raven sighed, though in a slightly joking manner.
"Okay okay…one…two…" Robin counted until Raven suddenly tilted the mug with her powers, causing a third of the tea to enter his mouth by his surprise. He turned green and had no choice but to swallow, opening his mouth afterward to waft at his tongue that was scorching. Robin turned to Raven, who was grinning his way before sipping on the hot drink and narrowed his eyes at her.
"Sorry, but you were prolonging the inevitable."
"What the hell?! At least give me a heads up before pulling something like that, sheesh." His tongue was finally cooling off.
"What did you think?"
"Well, if I look past the boiling lava temperature of the stuff…it's actually not bad. Especially if it's rushed down your throat."
Raven nodded, "Drink it often enough and you'll get used to it. Almost like an acquired taste." She stood and headed back towards the kitchen as Robin leaned back into the couch, gaze at the ceiling above.
"Raven?"
"What is it?" She reentered the living room.
"The bond that we have…how strong do you think it is?"
Raven sighed, "Did Bruce have another heart-to-heart with you?"
"Wh-What? No!" He chuckled nervously and after a few moments it died down, "No I…just thought I'd ask you since we uh…haven't talked about it in a while."
She raised a brow a bit confused, "Okay. Um…" Raven thought to herself briefly, "…I'm not sure if I'm honest. What do you think?"
"I don't know, why do you think I'm asking you."
"I can't always have the answers for you Robin." Raven sighed as she approached the couch, "What do you expect me to sa—" The girl's feet collided with a lump within the rug, causing her to trip and fall on Robin. Her immediate reaction was to lift herself slightly, though cursing beneath her breath, and her gaze ended up lock with his. It was like the startlement and shock had come and gone, replaced by this sense of comfort.
"I expect you…to say, yes." The tone in Robin's voice was so soft and almost alluring. Raven could feel her heart beginning to race in her chest and the fact their faces were mere inches apart did not help. Her arms were resting around his neck, hanging over the couch behind him. His arms wrapped around her waist, hands resting on her lower back. Suddenly, like a lightning strike, reality hit and the two realized the position they were in. Raven quickly removed herself from upon Robin and backed away from the couch, straightening her leotard and cape.
"Y-Yes…to what?" Raven could feel her cheeks burning as she faced the opposite direction.
Robin got to his feet and stepped around the couch, heart racing and face flushed in a blush as well, "I-I uh…don't know."
"It's been a long day. I think I'll head on to bed. Goodnight, Robin."
"Y-Yeah…night Raven." Robin watched her teleport from in front of him and off to her room. What the hell was that? He shook his head as he ran his hand through his hair, though soon afterwards he felt that, now all too familiar, unusual inner growth sensation. Robin smiled softly to himself knowing that Raven probably felt it too.