I4.6

Chapter 10: Requests

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Adult themes. DO NOT read if you are underage or dislike controversial things.

Author's Note: When I first brainstormed this story, I thought it would only be 10 to 12 chapters. Ha! Thanks for reading. Enjoy!

"Yes. Take me to bed, Rachel."

Richard smiles against the soft breasts beneath his cheek as he feels her body tense at his words. There is no harm in having a little fun on this damp Monday morning. The double meaning of his words were not lost on her. She may be inexperienced, but that doesn't mean she isn't knowledgeable about what happens between the sheets. She's read quite a bit and he's sure that she's indulged in a smutty book or two or many. He feels her arms loosen around his shoulders and gives them a gentle push as she mumbles to herself, "You're really out of it."

His arms are still securely wrapped around her waist, while she stands between his open legs. He is practically caging her in his embrace. An embrace that she willingly stepped into. Richard angles his face away from the comfort of her flesh and rests his chin betwixt the valley of her breasts and hums, "Hmmm?" He purposefully keeps his eyes half closed to give off the illusion of a sleepy man. The dark circles around his eyes and stress lines around his mouth and forehead just adding to the effect.

Rachel gently pats the top of his head and says, "You need sleep. Let's go. Do I have to carry you?"

The thought of such a petite woman slinging him over her shoulder and military marching down the hallway to his bedroom made him snort with a suppressed laugh. He's borderline giddy with the feel of her weight and warmth in his arms. But he knows what she means. She is a demoness, after all, and can easily maneuver him with her dark powers and float him to bed. If she does that, then he won't be able to feel her anymore and he didn't want that. Instead he says, "I'm a little dizzy, but I can make it if you let me lean on you."

She nods her confirmation and allows him to sling his arm around her shoulders as he stumbles for show and raises his hand to his head as though he is trying to clear away dizziness. She gently guides him to his room and swings open the door. He is thankful that he had enough sense to pack everything away when he got back. He came back to the Tower with important information, sensitive vials and a hypothesis he wants to test. However, he can worry about that later because Rachel is depositing his tired body on the edge of his bed. She is fixing to leave, but he doesn't want her to go just yet so he makes a request. "Rachel...could you help me with my shoes?"

Richard gestures to the complex laces on his standard combat boots. He looks down and pretends to sway forward. Not enough to fall off the bed because that would be overkill and she would know that something was up or demand that he visits the medic bay if he really is that unwell. He hears a sigh from his friend, but she is on her knees before him and Richard leans back so he can enjoy the view. His beloved is kneeling on both of her knees and her slender fingers are tugging on the laces of his left boot. He can feel the pull as she works the knots. He allows his eyes to drink her in like a predatory bird eying its prey. She isn't paying attention. Does she even realize the kind of danger she's in right now? Or did she brush it off like with his earlier comment?

Richard glances at the lace she's working on and sees that she's struggling with the knot. His eyes rakes itself up her flexing wrists, up her slender forearms and appreciates the toned muscles of her upper arms. She's a healthy balance between physically fit and soft flesh. She feels so good when she's pressed flush against his body that it almost seems like a sin. Her breasts felt like heaven when he rested his tired head against them. Those same breasts are semi visible through her thin, black summer t-shirt. His 20/20 vision can make out the line of her bra and the way that it is straining to contain her flesh. The thought of that fullness in his mouth and filling his hands is enough to make his pants feel tighter than before. He shouldn't let himself fall too deep into this rabbit hole with Rachel still very much on her knees before him. Her head bent forward and revealing her neck to him. That elegant neck that can fit so snugly in his hand. That he can use to pull her close or hold her still.

He felt a sudden urge to see her face, but couldn't because her short, shoulder length hair is falling forward and covering it from his prying eyes. Before he can stop himself, both of his hands are shooting out and burying themselves in her silky hair. Firmly pulling it away from her face like a curtain. Fisting the strands at the crown of her head. He is desperate to reveal her face like Dorothy was to reveal the wizard of oz. This little woman...this little, unassuming, petite witch is jerking all of his levers and pulling strings he didn't even know he had. His emotions, body, mind and soul wouldn't be in such a free fall if it wasn't for her. He wouldn't feel so out of control if she didn't bewitch him by just being. It made him angry and frustrated. It made him want to dominate the one who is throwing him off balance. Her startled expression to his intense gaze eggs him on and he almost hauls her to his mouth but she pulls away with "What the hell, Dick?"

Her upset voice breaks his trance. Richard shakes his head and pinches the bridge of his nose. He needs to be rational. Acting too foolishly or rashly will only make it more difficult for them down the line. "Sorry," he supplies, "I just thought you'd be able to see better if I moved your hair."

She is frowning at him; not quite sure what to make of his explanation. He has been acting strangely the last few days. "Help me, please?" he weakly asks. There is a pause. She is assessing him and he lets her. He is extra careful with his slouching posture, tense shoulders and tired expression. He needs her to believe that he is unwell and not in complete control of his actions. He slowly blinks a few times before she responds.

"I will...as long as you don't touch me like that," is her reply. Richard doesn't want to agree, but he also doesn't want her to leave. The expression on her face is a mix of confusion, uncertainty and...was that caution? Her leader and friend is showing a level of boldness that she is not accustomed to. He knows that if he presses his luck now then irreparable damage will be done. He nods his head to her stipulation in a moment of defeat. Sometimes, you have to lose a battle or two in order to win the war. I will win this, he thinks to himself as Rachel slowly lowers herself into a crouch this time. A little further away from his body. The muscles in her thighs are clearly tense and ready to spring into action if he tries to surprise her like that again. She brushes her hair behind her ears before reaching for the laces again. Her violet eyebrows are squishing together in concentration as her fingers are attempting to undo the loops. Her full mouth is hanging open slightly as her head tilts to the side in frustration and a pink tongue is pressed against the corner of her lips. This was, by far, not her prettiest expression, but he found it endearing none the less. She is usually so stoic when engaging with the rest of the world that he was glad to see that she was still willing to show this side of herself to him. Even after their disagreements and him acting out of character.

There is a part of him that wants to take pity on her and just tell her to yank the boots off. There is another part of him that is sadistically enjoying her struggle, even if it is over something so trivial as a knot. As he is thinking these things, Rachel is able to loosen the knot and laces before slipping off his boots and socks. She is admiring his feet and he's thankful for that full body make over Alfred forced him to endure for the gala. He hadn't seen the point in sitting through the pedicure process, but it paid off. He wiggles his well taken cared of toes for good measure and sees a smile tug at the corner of Rachel's lips. "I thought they'd be crusty with hang nails and bunions."

Richard fakes an appalled gasp and places his fingertips to his chest. "I am thoroughly insulted, Rachel. I thought you knew me better than that," he replies in a haughty voice.

"You do pamper yourself more than anyone else I know," she deadpans as she works out the other knot, which is easier to unlace. She pulls the boots and socks off to reveal the other side of Richard's matching feet. Now that her task is complete, she begins to rise and he panics a little. He knows that she will try to leave, so he makes another request.

"Before you go, can you pass me a t-shirt and shorts from the middle dresser draw?" he asks sweetly. She nods and turns around to reach for his dresser. She bends a little at the wait so that she can open it and he admires her heart shaped ass in the process. The width of her hips further accentuates the narrowness of her lower back. He wonders what it would be like to wrap his hands around that narrowness and rock her back and forth on his erection. Slow and steady. No need to rush.

"Is there any one in particular that you want?" she asks since the draw is filled with shirts and shorts. She is glancing back at him as he sits on his bed, lost in his own wonderings. He snaps back into the present.

"Anyone will do," is Richard's reply. He refuses to be the only one hot and bothered in this room. He wants to see if he has some, if not as much, effect on Rachel as she does on him. When she turns around to chose the clothing that she likes best, he quickly slips his current shirt and undershirt over his head and drops it to the floor. He knows that he is an attractive man. He knows that he is physically fit. He knows that when he ruffles his hair and flexes his abs, women, and some men, respond in appreciation and lust. His beloved is a healthy woman with eyes that work. How would she react to seeing him half dressed? Would she swoon like so many others before her? Maybe her eyes would drink in the width of his shoulders and definition of his chest; causing her to blush and avert her gaze.

Of course, Rachel does none of those things when she turns around. Her eyes are met with his bare torso, but it is not his physique that she is appraising. It is his battle scars. Particularly the massive bruise on his shoulder. A reward for winning the last sparring session with Cyborg. He was proud of that moment. Richard Grayson, Robin, is a mere mortal man among the other Titans, yet he is able to hold his own. He had almost forgotten that that bruise was there. It actually looks worse than it feels, but she wouldn't know that. He is watching her face closely as her eyes move over the rest of his visible body. Taking in all of the other nicks, scars and bruises. There are too many expressions flitting through her eyes, but the one he focuses in on is worry. She is worried about him and for him. Richard is touched by that level of care. The last person to look at him like that was Alfred when he had cracked a rib in the middle of a fight.

Don't look at me like that, you'll only make me want you more, Richard thinks to himself but he says, "I choose this life, Rachel. I have no regrets." Her gaze shifts from a small scar on his chest to his face. Her expression of worry is still there, but there's also a small sad smile touching the corners of her lips and slight nod of her head. She understands what he is saying, however, that doesn't mean that she will stop worrying about her friend. He holds out his hand, hoping that she will place hers in his. Instead, she hands him the clothes that she has pulled from the draw while she is still eyeing his bruise. He takes the clothes in one hand and gently closes his other hand around her wrist. Careful to leave his grip loose so that she can break free if she feels like she needs to. He wants to lull her back into that sense of safety that was just violated when he grabbed her hair. He is gently pulling her forward with her eyes still on his bruise.

"It looks very painful," she says quietly. "Do you want me to heal it for you?"

He doesn't really want it gone, but he finds himself guiding her hand to his shoulder. In this moment, he wants her touch more than he wants what that bruise represents. He whispers, "Could you do that for me?"

She nods her head as she lightly places her hand on his injury. The black, blue and yellow stands out against her pale skin. Richard allows his eyes to flutter close as he feels the warmth of her healing powers working to increase blood flow and soothe the impacted tissue. He is careful to keep his hands by his side as his tired head falls on her stomach while she works. Rachel doesn't back away from his weight bracing against her. She is too absorbed in what what she is doing. Instead, the other hand that's not working on his shoulder finds its way into his hair. Cradling the base of his skull as she also pumps healing energy to the ache in his head that he didn't realize he had. There is an intimacy to this moment that is dangerously addictive. Did she really think that she could hold him like this without repercussions? Did she think that she could care about him like this without him wanting more? Is this what receiving selfless love feels like? What do you want from me, Rachel?

"All done," is her soft, deep voice as she begins to pull away. The constant, dull ache in his shoulder is gone and the heaviness in his head has cleared. He's still tired, though, and could use some good sleep in order to fully recover. But, before she can tuck him in, he needs to change his clothes. Maybe he could get her to help him? He doesn't stop her when she steps away from his body that is still perched on the edge of his bed. Instead, he throws his upper body on the mattress so that his legs are still dangling down the side. This is a risky move, but it's worth a try, he thinks to himself as he reaches for the belt on his jeans. His large hands easily undo the buckle and pop open the button. He is pulling the zipper down on his fly when her voice hits his ear, "Dick...what are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm trying to change, but I'mma need help getting my pants off," is his reply. Now, Rachel looks flustered as she stands to the side of him. Healing a half dressed, injured friend is easy, but stripping him down to his underwear is not something she thought she would be doing this morning. It's not something that he thought they would be doing this morning. She looks uncomfortable at this change in events.

"If you need help changing, I could get Cyborg or Beastboy," she says as she averts her gaze from his crotch. He just caught her taking a peek at the black briefs beneath. Careful Rachel. Curiosity can kill.

"That'll take too long. I'm tired and want to sleep now," he responds while trying to hide his cocky smirk. He really didn't want either of those greasy gits she mentioned touching his body. He only wants to feel her flesh on his flesh. Even if it is just helping him to get dress. He can see that she is debating with herself on whether she should help him with this or not. This is something she has never had to do for him before and it is pushing the boundaries of their current friendship. That same friendship is what keeps her from backing away entirely. What kind of friend would she be if she wasn't willing to help him with something as simple as this? Rachel steels her resolve and pushes her shoulders back.

Got you.

With determination in her eyes, Rachel steps back between his legs. She's been spending quite a bit of time there, is what they both think as she reaches for the waistband of his jeans. They are fitted, but not aggressively tight. She is very careful to only hook her fingers into his pants and not his underwear before she begins pulling down. Richard keep his eyes trained on the ceiling while he lifts his hips to help her remove his clothing. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that this would be happening and he is trying his best to contain the stupid grin on his face. He knows that looking down will be dangerous, but he already lives a life on the edge. One peek won't hurt.

One peek had her back on her knees. This time struggling with his pants instead of his boot laces. She's working the material over his knees and down his muscular calves before finally pulling them off of his feet. She gives an adorable little huff of triumph and stands back up. There, before her, spread out on the bed, is Richard Grayson in his underwear. Most women would swoon at his sculpted body and all of the little imperfections that decorate it. Most women would quiz him about those scars, but Rachel, however, asks "Were you always this hairy?"

Richard chuckles deep in his throat; causing his Adam's apple to bounce. Her eyes are taking in his body as though just realizing that her long time friend and leader is actually a man and not the boy of her memories. A realization that she has never really considered before today. Good. He is still laying there with his eyes closed and enjoying the feel of his firm mattress beneath his tired body when he responds with, "Puberty, Rachel, puberty. It gave me a deeper voice and a hairier ass."

He hears her little laugh and the flap of fabric as she shakes out his shorts. "Puberty was good to you, then. At least you didn't suffer through acne. You grew tall and can grow a beard," she says as she kneels back down to work his shorts back over his feet.

"You never had acne," Richard says as he sits back up.

"Not on my face, but I definitely had back acne when I was younger. It turned out that the fabric of my cape was irritating my skin. Stand up, Dick."

He nods and places both of his hands on her shoulder as he pushes himself off the bed. He didn't need her support for balance, but he is playing the role of an ill man and should see it through to the end. She is pulling his shorts up his thighs and his hands reach down to grab the waistband. He knew that she was politely ignoring the bulge in his briefs by looking anywhere but there. He is fighting to keep himself as calm as possible, but the faint flush on her face is making it difficult. His fingers want to wrap themselves around her delicate chin and guide her face to the problem that she created. Make her acknowledge that this is her doing. She is the reason why he is like this, after all, so she should be the one to fix it. Wrap her hands around it...her mouth around it. Ease this ache in his groin so that maybe he might be able to finally think about something else. He can feel himself swelling in response to these thoughts.

Richard hurries to pull his pants up over his rising erection and Rachel scrambles to her feet. His plan to tease her has backfired, but at least he knows that she is not completely immune to him as a man. She wouldn't have this kind of reaction if she was. Maybe she never considered that he would see her in that light and so never entertained the thought herself? Either way, it doesn't matter. He will make her bend to his will one way or another. Whether or not this will be a smooth transition is completely up to her. Robin may be a hero, but Richard isn't opposed to using one or two underhanded tricks to get what he wants.

Rachel's eyes are busy looking anywhere but at him, while Richard has his trained on her face. He is reading and memorizing every facial expression that she is making for later analysis. He wonders if he should apologize for the awkwardness of this situation, but decides against it. He has nothing that he is sorry for. The more intimate thoughts that he can plant in her head, then the easier it will become for her to see them together as more than just friends. Birds of a feather flock together. They are different birds, but they belong to the same team and by the time he is done with them, they will be two halves of the same spirit.

In the meantime, Rachel has snatched up his crisp white t-shirt and is holding it out to him. "Can you manage your shirt?"

He responds by sitting down, "Help me get my arms through the holes."

There is another deep sigh from her. She's not sure what to make of their current situation anymore. The tension in the air is charged in a way that she is unaccustomed to, but she's come this far so she might as well see it through to the end. That is what Richard is counting on. She is similar to him in that way. She likes to finish the things that she has started, even if they are uncomfortable for her. He wonders what is going through her mind as she is scrunching up his shirt to loop over his head. He bows his head towards her so that she'll have easier access. She is not very easy to read when her guard is as high as it is right now.

BANG! His bedroom door is flung opened and two familiar bodies march into his bedroom uninvited. Fuck. Should have locked it, Richard thinks to himself as he hears a rather loud and obnoxious voice say, "Oh Robin! I made you...tea…"

There is a trailing off of Beastboy's voice as he takes in the situation before him. The team's leader is sitting on the side of his bed, half naked, while the team's empath is pulling a shirt over his head. Richard half wishes that the changeling came in a few minutes earlier, when Rachel was on her knees before him and sneaking glances at his growing erection through his briefs. Maybe that moment wasn't completely lost on the green young man as he takes a deep sniff of the air. Could he smell the sexual tension with his sensitive nose? If he could, then even better. The sooner he gets the message, the sooner he will back away from his woman. If he wants to fight it out, then Richard is more than ready to comply.

"What's going on here?" comes a higher pitched feminine voice. Starfire walks around her teammate to get a better look at the situation

"I...I was just helping Dick...change," Rachel says in a placating voice. She doesn't want her only female friend to have the wrong impression about her and their leader. Everyone knows about the crush that the alien princess has on Robin. Everyone also knows that Richard is actively trying to distance himself from her. "He's really not feeling well, Starfire. He just needed a little help."

Why does his beloved feel the need to defend herself so much? He and Starfire are not romantically involved. She doesn't have any claim on him. Not like he has on Rachel. Don't act guilty, baby. We haven't done anything wrong, Richard thinks to himself. But then he saw the look on Beastboy's face. Maybe she is also trying calm the changeling? He doesn't look too please, but what goes on between him and Rachel behind closed door is none of their business. Both of his subordinates need to understand where they stand with him. Richard eyes them both as lays his head against Rachel's arm. Slightly nuzzling it. Her bare arm is warm to the touch and he wants her to hold him again. "Rachel, I feel dizzy again."

She tenses with so many eyes on her, but she wasn't going to ignore her sick friend. She helps him lace his arms through the shirt and tugs it down.

"How did you get sick?" asks Starfire in a very anxious voice as she pulls back the covers on his bed so that Richard can lay down. He nods his head in thanks as he slips under the blanket.

"I think that there was virus going around at the event I attended over the weekend," says Richard in a voice that he hopes sounds weak enough. Starfire is tucking him in as Rachel picks up the clothes from the floor and putting it in his hamper. Beastboy is staring him down before offering the tea that he made. He was so proud of it when he almost broke down Richard's door. The team's leader takes a sip of the hot liquid and allows the flavor to fill his tastebuds. It's chamomile. Calming. Soothing.

"This is good. Thanks Beastboy."

"Thanks. Raven taught me how to brew tea yesterday. We spent all last night together, getting it right," the green man says in an even voice and slight smirk. He is still watching Richard and notices the way that he pauses before bringing the tea cup to his lips again. He also notices that even though the cup is pressed against his lips, Richard doesn't swallow. The corners of his mouth are turned down as though the tea now tastes bitter.

"Many tea leaves were sacrificed in the pursuit of learning how to make a good cup" supplies
Rachel as she walks away from his hamper and stands next to the green man. Starfire is sitting on the edge of his bed and reaching for his hand. Her hands were as large as his, but her fingers were distinctly slender and feminine. They didn't quite fit into his like Rachel's did. They don't bring him as much comfort as Rachel's does so he withdraws his hand from her hold and drags his blanket closer to his body. Starfire's beautiful emerald green eyes look so sad at the loss of his warmth, but he couldn't find it in him to really care. She is a beautiful woman. She will recover with a man who actually desires her. Right now, Richard's eyes are measuring the distance between the raven and the beast. They are standing too close for his comfort. She should be the one sitting on the edge of his bed nursing him back to health.

"At least you didn't destroy the Tower in the process," Richard supplies as he brings the cup to his lips again. And again, Beastboy notices that he isn't swallowing the liquid. Was Robin just trying to be petty? Can truly sick people still be petty?

"We should let you rest," says Rachel as she ushers a semi-willing Beastboy out the door. "Let me know if you need anything."

Richard watches them leave before turning his attention back to Starfire. He knows it will take more work to get her out the door. She wants to stay and baby him back to health like a good lover would, except she is not his lover and he has no intention of pursuing her. However, there is information that he wants from her. "Did you also learn how to make tea with Raven and Beastboy?"

She shakes her head no. "They looked like they were having too much fun by themselves. Almost like newlyweds so I didn't want to interrupt. You know that Beastboy likes her and I think she's warming up to him, too. Last night was the most amount of time that she willingly spent with anyone besides you."

Starfire looks giddy at the idea of her two teammates growing closer together. Was it because she thought that Robin would pay more attention to her with Raven out of the way? Or was it because she likes the idea of there being two couples in the Titan Towers? It doesn't matter because Richard would not allow something like that to happen. There is no other man on planet Earth that he would willingly give Rachel to. Not even her own father can take her from him. It wouldn't be the first time that he's been to hell and back for her. Literally. "I see."

"I'll tell you a secret," Starfire whispers as she leans closer, "They also spent a lot of time together on Saturday night."

"How do you know?" Richard asks. It doesn't appear as though Rachel told her comrades about the argument they had that night. She tends to be such a private person that she probably wouldn't willingly share that information with others because she would not want him to look bad in front of their teammates. His beloved is always protecting his reputation.

"Weeellll...on Saturday night Beastboy managed to convince Raven to go to a house party that a friend was hosting. I had nothing better to do, so I decided to tag along. It was so much fun! The music was good and the people were nice," gushes Starfire. Get to the point…

"What about Raven and Beastboy, though?" asks Richard. He doesn't have the patience for this right now. She blushes a little.

Starfire's eyes has little hearts flashing in them as she says, "I couldn't see too clearly because everything was dark and there were strobe lights flashing, but I saw them kissing!"

Sings: "Oh no...oh no...oh no no no…"