Just a sparkle of RobRae New Year fireworks… best enjoyed with some hot chocolate or if you're a billionaire Gotham playboy, champagne.

Please do not repost or copy/paste.

Raven trembled in the corner of the Titans Tower lounge. She had managed to convince them to stay as a team and Robin had christened them the Teen Titans… Cyborg, was struggling to accept his new self without sonic booming half of Jump City. Beast Boy, was a loud and obnoxious green being that could change into any animal. Starfire, was an alien princess who had enough energy to vaporise the earth and also had a massive crush on Robin… Robin, the aerobatic leader who was clearly dealing with his own issues… and yet despite all his internal turmoil, he still gave her everything she so desperately wished for, stability, a home, and the most precious of all his trust… would he still trust her when he learnt her terrible secret?

Raven's musings were brought to an abrupt halt as Beast Boy approached, "Yo, Raven! Stop being so creepy and join the party!"

She retreated from him her eyes widening, her body starting to tremble.

"Hey BB, leave Raven alone!" Cyborg boomed his voice loud, but somehow kind… and did she detect some… understanding?

Raven was starting to panic, her heart rate was accelerating and she was slowing backing away, muttering her mantra in her struggle to keep her powers under control, "Azarath Metrion Zinthos, Azarath Metrion Zinthos…"

"Friend Raven! Join us for the party of the year that is new!" Starfire popped up behind Beast Boy, waving a bottle of dijon mustard in her face.

Raven gasp caught in her throat as her back hit the wall. With a soft sob she disappeared into an inky black portal. Beast Boy's words to Starfire swept into the vortex with her… "She's so creepy."

Raven stepped out of her portal on the tower roof, she'd never seen New Year fireworks in this dimension before, but the New Year fireworks on Azarath had been spectacular, she hadn't been allowed to join the revellers, but she'd watched them from her window in Azar's palace. Perhaps she could watch Earth welcoming the new year from the roof instead of the living room.

She settled at the edge of the tower, assumed the lotus position, and muttered her mantra until her breathing calmed and her heart rate steadied.

Once she'd calmed down, Raven shivered slightly, feeling the cold, she was about to pull her winter cloak out of her pocket dimensional wardrobe when she heard the door swish open. She froze as her magic lit up her fists and her fight or flight instincts warred with each other… marginally relaxing when she recognised Robin's unique swirl of emotions.

"Robin…"

Although Robin didn't make a sound, Raven felt his surprise that he had recognised him without turning round. He stayed silent until he reached her, placed a warm blanket around her shoulders and sat down next to her, feet dangling over the edge of the tower. When he spoke his voice was calm and soothing… to the casual listener, it may appear to be almost detached, "It's cold out, wouldn't want to catch a chill."

Raven blinked at him, as she pulled the soft blanket around her, what were those emotions she could feel? She was distracted by the start of the firework display. She watched the fireworks, her mouth slightly parted and her eyes wide in wonder, they were spectacular… and through her soul self, she could feel the soft wave of Robin's joy and hope for the new year… which was even more speculator than the fireworks lighting up the night sky. His emotions gave her what she craved the most… hope.

Small print:

- Teen Titans/Nightwing are owned by DC Comics.

- Raven and Nightwing were created by the dynamic duo of Marc Wolfman and George Perez.

- Dick Grayson was created and introduced as Robin by Bill Finger and Bob Kane.

- This story takes characters from the awesome Teen Titans Animated Series and places them in an original work by me.