Chapter 9: Love on the Brain

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans, the song 'Undisclosed Desires' by Muse, or the song 'Love on the Brain' by Rihanna.

Previously:

"It worked." A voice spoke through the darkness. Robin.

A single flicker of light ignited, like a candle flame dancing to life in the distance from where the voice spoke.

I willed myself to the light, feeling my arms first and my hands form from the darkness. They appeared before as I got closer to the flame, and I could see where it led.

So, I took my first breath and stepped into the candle flame.

x X x

Undisclosed Desires

Chapter Nine – Love on the Brain

Jinx POV

"You did what?!" Cyborg exploded.

He hadn't even taken a full step into the Titan common room yet before locking onto me, his red eye glowing brighter than usual.

My eyes shot an accusing glance to Beast boy standing by the elevators, but his answering defiant frown doubled down. I sighed.

"BB told me everything Jinx!" Cyborg advanced, throwing his hands into the air, sputtering, "I don't-! How could you-! Gah!"

I glared at Beast Boy again, who seemed to finally muck up the courage to add a slight shake of disapproval towards me. I never had anything against Beast boy. I didn't know him very well but he sure knew how to pick a side.

"Cyborg-"

"-No! We welcome you in, and-and you have the audacity to-"

"-Cyborg-" I tried interjecting louder.

"-do something so reckless! If Raven is so much as breathing different-"

-"She's awake!"

Cyborg froze, the harsh crease between his brow unfolding in surprise. He looked to Beast boy for confirmation, but Beast boy had begun running toward the elevator the minute it came out of my mouth.

"Did he not know?" Cyborg asked, his face a mixture of shock and relief.

"He was too busy dragging Robin away from her. Then you called."

"Her vitals? They are also good?" Starfire asked as she walked into the common room. Cyborg's face relaxed.

I nodded, "Her heart is stronger and she's breathing on her own."

Starfire sighed with relief, her green eyes downcast and filling with tears before connecting with mine. A mixture of relief and an indiscernible emotion flitting across her features.

"And what of Robin?"

I hesitated for a moment.

Robin was in a state that I'd never seen someone in before. His face retained the thin strike where my powers tried to separate the demon from him. It looked like a single claw had dug into his skin and dragged upwards along his face in jagged motions. His heart was faint, but still pumping, and his breathing ragged. His skin had turned pallid and clammy and dropped a couple degrees in temperature. He should've died.

"He's in rough shape, but he's ok." I reassured strategically, keeping my face motionless, "After Beast Boy dragged him away from Raven's bed, Kidd Flash managed to get him into a hospital bed while I tended to Raven - that's when you called Cyborg." I looked to Cyborg, making sure he knew I was being as honest as possible. I could only imagine what Beast Boy said to him.

Cyborg put a hand on Starfire's shoulder as the tears pooled.

"Come on," I motioned for them both to follow, "let's go say hi."

We entered the hospital to a scene that I had ached for weeks.

Raven sat propped up by her inclined bed, her pillows adjusted to allow her to see everyone without having to move herself. Her head injury was still significant, and her hand still bandaged and purple. But the subtle color of life had returned to her face, and the deep purple bruises and swelling had gone down. She looked like she had only taken a rough tumble down some stairs versus colliding head-first into a cement wall.

Her bruised eyes fluttered open, dazed and unfocused, as they slowly scanned the room.

Beast boy stood close by her on her left, his fingers fluttering under what I could only perceive as anxiety. He murmured under his breath to her, trying to get her attention without seeming to appear fussy.

Cyborg moved closer to Raven, standing at the foot of her bed. Starfire stayed back, wiping tears from her eyes, and walking over to stand at Robin's bed. Kidd Flash sat nearby propped up in a chair with an ice pack on the back of his head.

"He is… okay?" Starfire murmured to Kidd Flash quietly. Kidd Flash nodded in response.

"And you are, as well?" Starfire murmured, looking to Kidd Flash's ice pack.

"Right as rain." Kidd Flash chirped, his eyes finding mine and smiling gently. A look that told me I was instantly forgiven. I returned a meek smile to him.

"Welcome back Raven." Cyborg started warmly, his tone gentle.

Raven didn't respond, but her eyes slowly traveled their way to Cyborg's face, and she smiled lightly. Beast boy twitched silently, looking as if he wanted to scoop her into his arms and hug her tight but denying this desire.

"Raven needs rest." I stated to the room, "I don't want her speaking yet until her doctor takes a look at her tonight."

"Will they tend to Robin as well?" Starfire asked, her hands lingering near the foot of Robin's bed.

"Yes, I'll make sure-"

"-Why?" Beast boy interjected, his question pointed directly to Starfire and me. He didn't notice, but Raven flinched when he spoke.

"Keep your voice down." I warned him gently, earning a disapproving look from him.

"He nearly killed her. He needs to be put in a padded cell!" Beast boy remarked, his hands twitching. Raven's eyes closed as Beast boy shouted his response, her eyes grimacing in pain.

I took a deep breath, and stated calmly, "I'm going to tell you one more time. Keep. Your. Voice. Down."

"But it's Robin…" Starfire murmured gently, her eyes brimming again, "he's our friend."

"You didn't see what happened, we're lucky Raven is breathing right now." Beast boy spoke at a lower register tone, but still too loud for my liking. Raven stopped grimacing, but her eyes closed. Her lips parted slightly, her breath turning soft. She'd fallen asleep.

"Beast boy's right, this was a close call. And we almost lost both of them." Cyborg nearly whispered, his eyes scanning Raven and Robin.

"It wasn't Robin's fault." I countered, my voice raising in it's whisper, careful not to echo and wake Raven.

"No, it was yours too." Beast boy quipped, his voice louder than the rest of ours.

"Beast boy. Shut up." Kidd Flash muttered in a low tone.

He adjusted the ice pack so he could look up and make sure Beast Boy listened. Beast Boy glared at him, his jaw set in a stubborn frown, but he acquiesced.

"I took a chance," I spoke in a low register, just slightly louder than a whisper, "I'd been studying Raven's books and I devised a plan. Robin agreed, but I didn't tell him what I was going to do. I take full responsibility for what happened."

Cyborg sighed, "It was reckless Jinx."

"I know. But it worked."

I looked to Raven for a moment, watching as her chest rose and fell on it's own, "I knew Robin was the key. He has her powers somehow, and he didn't know how to tap into them. But then I realized I was asking the wrong person…. Or thing."

The room fell silent, and Starfire moved to Robin's bedside, taking a wet cloth and wiped at Robin's clammy forehead.

"What did it say?" Cyborg asked after a moment.

"Not a lot… honestly." I murmured as I watched water bead across Robin's forehead, "Cryptic things - but that's typical of demons."

"What?" Starfire dropped the washcloth from her hand, her eyes connecting with mine, "How did Robin acquire this demon?" She glanced at Raven and continued without waiting for an answer.

"How do we get it out?"

"-Wait, how do we know it's a demon?" Cyborg interjected.

"He was probably messing with Raven's stuff." Beast boy grumbled out loud in response, his green eyes glaring at Robin, "I bet he was the one in Raven's room…"

The room fell silent, waiting for Beast Boy to elaborate or explain his mutterings. Instead, Beast Boy frowned and he glared down at his feet, sullen.

"Someone was in Raven's room?" Starfire asked, her hand absently searching for the washcloth she dropped.

A beat of silence passed.

"BB?" Cyborg asked in a way that highlighted all our confusion from his statement. We all shared glances at each other trying to see if one of us knew.

Beast boy didn't reply.

"Why would Robin be in Raven's room?" Starfire asked, her brow creasing.

More silence, uncomfortable silence.

The silence stretched on, and I could see Starfire's confusion hardening into suspicion. Her eyes shifted between Robin and Beast Boy, as if she was piecing together a puzzle that none of us had the full picture for. Cyborg's mouth opened slightly like he was about to speak, but then he hesitated.

I decided to break the stalemate. "I don't think it matters how Robin got tangled up in this," I said, my voice steady. "What matters is that we deal with the demon before it tries to take control again."

Starfire finally stopped fussing with the washcloth. "But we cannot ignore how this happened, Jinx," she said quietly, her eyes glinting with a mixture of sorrow and determination. "Robin would not… he would not willingly endanger Raven or anyone else."

Beast Boy let out a scoff. "Wouldn't he?" he muttered under his breath. His words were barely audible, but they cut through the room like a knife.

I saw Cyborg's expression darken as he glanced at Beast Boy. "BB, enough," he said firmly. "We don't know what happened yet. Throwing accusations won't help anyone."

Beast Boy's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. Instead, he crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall, his gaze still fixed on Robin.

Before anyone could say anything else, Raven's voice, soft but clear, cut through the air. "It's... not Robin's fault," she whispered, her eyelids fluttering as if the effort to speak was draining her. "He was... trying to help me."

Everyone's attention snapped back to Raven. Her eyes were half-open, and she was struggling to stay conscious. I moved quickly to her bedside, my instincts kicking in. "Raven, don't push yourself," I said, placing a hand gently on her shoulder. "You need to rest."

She shook her head weakly, determination lighting up her violet eyes. "No... they need to know," she insisted, her voice growing stronger with every word. "The demon… it came for me. It used Robin… but he fought back."

Cyborg frowned. "Are you saying the demon possessed Robin?"

Raven gave a faint nod. "In a way… it's Robin's inner demon," she murmured. "it's somehow taken over… because of me. He's absorbed some of my power… and it's trying to kill me."

The room fell silent again, but this time, it was a different kind of silence—one heavy with realization and a touch of guilt. Beast Boy's arms dropped to his sides, his earlier defiance melting away into a look of shame.

I stepped back, letting the information sink in. "Then we owe Robin an apology," I said, my tone leaving no room for debate. "He put himself at risk for Raven, and now it's on us to figure out how to free him from this demon."

Starfire, wiping a tear from her eye, nodded. "And we will," she vowed. "Together, we will help him."

Beast boy leaned against the wall in silence.

"He has to face it…" Raven continued, her face losing color with each breath, "Or it's going to…" And with a strained breath, she passed out.

The silence thickened around us, like a heavy fog settling over the room. Raven's words hung in the air, echoing in my mind. She had passed out before she could finish, but the implication was clear—Robin's life, and maybe Raven's too, was hanging by a thread.

I shared a look to Kidd Flash, meeting his blue eyes. In his eyes, I saw a look of acceptance and understanding. No matter what, we would stick together to find answers.

Cyborg finally broke the silence, his voice low and tinged with a hint of frustration. "So now what? We just wait around while Robin wrestles with a demon inside his head?" He shook his head. "There's gotta be something we can do."

I bit my lip, my mind racing. "Raven said it's because of her powers," I murmured, thinking out loud. "If Robin absorbed some of them, then maybe…" I hesitated, the thought forming slowly. "Maybe we can use Raven to draw it out of him."

"Use Raven?" Beast Boy repeated, a mixture of disbelief and anger coloring his tone. He pushed himself off the wall and took a step closer to me, his eyes narrowing. "You wanna put her through more after everything she's already been through?"

"I'm not saying we should just throw her to the wolves!" I snapped back, my patience wearing thin. "But we can't just sit here and do nothing, either. If Raven is the key, we have to at least try to—"

"No," Starfire interrupted, her voice unusually sharp as she stepped forward. Her expression was fierce, but there was a sadness in her eyes that made her seem almost fragile. "Raven has endured enough. We must find another way."

Kidd Flash finally spoke up from his chair, his voice calm but firm. "We don't even know what we're dealing with here. If this demon is tied to Raven's powers, then it's not just some random spirit—it's part of her. Or at least part of the magic she's been using." He glanced at me, then at the others. "We need to understand what it wants, what it's after, before we make any decisions."

Cyborg ran a hand over his head, exhaling heavily. "And how exactly do we do that? It's not like demons come with a manual."

"Maybe not," I said quietly, "but Raven's books might." I turned towards the door. "She has texts on dark magic, possession, soul bonds—things that could explain what we're dealing with. If we can learn more about the nature of this demon, then we might find a way to weaken it… or even sever its connection to Robin altogether."

"Then we go," Cyborg said decisively. "Jinx, you know your way around that magic mumbo jumbo. Beast Boy, Star, you stay here and watch over Raven and Robin. If anything changes, you call us immediately."

Beast Boy opened his mouth to protest, but Starfire placed a hand on his shoulder, her gentle touch enough to hold him back. He sighed, nodding reluctantly. "Fine," he muttered, his eyes flicking over to Robin's pale form. "Just… hurry, okay?"

I didn't wait for further discussion. Cyborg and I were already halfway out the door when I heard Kidd Flash's voice behind us.

"Hey, Jinx." I paused and looked back. He was sitting up straighter now, the ice pack abandoned on the chair beside him. "Be careful," he said, a faint smirk on his lips. "Wouldn't want you getting into trouble without me there to save the day."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress the small smile tugging at my lips. "Just stay put, hero. I'll be back before you know it."

As we left the med bay and headed towards Raven's room, the gravity of the situation weighed on me. If Robin's life depended on facing his inner demon, then we were running out of time. And if there was anything Raven's books could tell us about severing a bond between a person and a demonic force, I was going to find it—no matter what it took.

Beast Boy POV

I didn't know how long I'd been standing there, but my legs were starting to ache. I kept my eyes locked on Robin, lying so still in that bed. It didn't feel right, seeing him like this—so helpless, so… human. He was always the one with a plan, always in control. Now he was just… lying there. And it was my fault. Well, sort of. I'd been too quick to point fingers, too ready to believe the worst.

Starfire hovered near Robin's bedside, her hands clasped together tightly as if she could squeeze the worry out of herself. "He is… still not waking," she said softly, her voice trembling a little. "It has been many hours."

I didn't know what to say. What could I say? I was the one who said Robin should be locked up. I thought I was protecting Raven, but now it felt like I'd just made things worse. "He'll wake up," I said, but the words came out too quick, too forced. "He's Robin. He'll get through this."

Starfire nodded, but the doubt in her eyes didn't fade. She reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair off Robin's forehead, her fingers trembling. "He is always strong," she whispered, almost to herself. "But now… I do not know if his strength will be enough."

The way she said it, so raw and vulnerable, made my stomach twist. I'd never seen her like this before, like she was holding herself together by a thread. "You think he can't fight it?" I asked, my voice low. I didn't really want to know the answer, but I had to hear it.

"It is not that," she replied, her broken English making her sound even more lost. "He is… fighting himself. The demon—it is not an enemy from outside. It is him." She let out a shaky breath, her eyes drifting down to Robin's bandaged arm. "If he does not find the will… then he will not return."

I swallowed hard, looking at Robin's pale face. This wasn't some villain we could punch or a monster we could trap in a cage. It was inside him. It was him. And he was fighting it alone. "There's gotta be something we can do," I said, almost pleading with her. "We can't just stand here and watch him… fade."

Starfire's gaze met mine, and I could see the hope flickering there, small but still alive. "Perhaps… if we speak to him," she suggested, her voice hesitant. "If he can hear us… maybe he will find the strength." She reached down and took Robin's hand, her fingers wrapping around his gently. "Robin… please. You must come back to us."

I stepped closer to the bed, feeling a strange tightness in my chest. "Yeah, dude," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "We need you. Raven needs you." I hesitated, then added, "I… I'm sorry, okay? I was wrong. I didn't know what was really happening."

Starfire gave a slight nod of approval, then continued to speak to Robin in a hushed tone, "You are the leader. We need the guidance… the—" She paused, searching for the right word, "—the heart of you."

I wasn't sure if it was just my imagination, but for a second, I thought I saw Robin's hand twitch. "Did you see that?" I whispered, leaning in. "He moved."

Starfire's eyes widened, and she squeezed his hand tighter. "Robin… please, if you can hear us, show us. We are here for you. We will not leave you."

The silence stretched out again, and I found myself holding my breath, waiting for some kind of sign, any sign, that Robin was fighting his way back. But his hand didn't move again, and his breathing stayed shallow and uneven.

"It… it may take time," Starfire said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "But we must not give up." She turned to me, her eyes shining. "Promise me, Beast Boy. We will not give up."

I looked back at Robin, at the faint rise and fall of his chest, and I nodded. "I promise," I said. "We'll be here. We'll be here the whole time."

Raven POV

I drifted in and out of consciousness, my mind swimming in a thick haze.

Pain anchored me to reality—a dull, persistent throb that seemed to radiate from everywhere at once. My ribs ached with every shallow breath, and the pounding in my head made my vision swim. I fought to open my eyes, the dim glow of the hospital room filtering in through my bleary gaze. It took a moment for my surroundings to come into focus, and the memories returned in jagged flashes. The fight… Robin… the ground rushing up to meet me.

I tried to move, but the effort sent a sharp stab of agony through my back. I bit back a groan, my voice barely escaping as a strangled whisper. Starfire was asleep in the chair next to Robin's bed, her long hair spilling over her shoulder in fiery waves, while Beast Boy lay slumped against the wall near the hospital entrance, snoring softly.

The sight of them watching over Robin and me sent a flicker of warmth through my chest, quickly swallowed by frustration. I should be stronger than this. I should be the one protecting them, not lying here like some helpless patient.

Closing my eyes, I willed myself to regain some composure, to at least steady my breathing. The room was eerily quiet, save for the soft snores of Beast Boy and the rhythmic beeping of the medical equipment. But then I felt it—a faint shift in the air, like a whisper on the edge of my senses. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and a chill ran down my spine. We weren't alone.

My eyes snapped open just in time to see a figure emerge, phasing in and out like a shadow coming to life. I knew that teleportation trick all too well. And then he was there, standing by the window. Red X.

My heart lurched, a mix of anger, panic, and confusion flooding my veins. For a moment, we just stared at each other while I convinced myself that I must be dreaming. But there was something different about him, something that didn't match the cocky thief I was used to. His usual swagger was missing, replaced by a tension I didn't quite understand. Fear gripped me—was he here to finish the job? To make sure I didn't survive whatever had hit me?

"You're awake," he said, his metallic voice low and almost hesitant. "Guess that saves me the trouble of shaking you awake."

Starfire and Beast Boy both remained fast asleep, far enough away to not stir from Red X's presence.

I swallowed against the dryness in my throat, forcing out the words. "What… do you want?" I rasped, my voice barely above a whisper. "Or did you just come to gloat?"

He moved closer, his steps soundless on the tile, the expression behind his mask hidden. "No gloating this time, Raven," he replied, and the lack of sarcasm threw me off. "Just checking if you're still breathing. Looks like you are."

I narrowed my eyes, trying to push myself upright, but my muscles didn't obey. He walked toward me, faster than I expected him to.

He lifted his hand, and I watched as he dropped a single white cup filled with water on the table next to me, and then swiftly stepped back.

"I don't need you to check up on me," I said, though the effort it took to speak left me feeling even weaker. "If you're here to mock me, just… leave."

He stopped beside my bed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Believe it or not, that's not why I'm here," he said, his tone softer than I expected. "I may be a thief, but I'm not cruel."

I studied him, the shadows of the room flickering across his mask. My eyes flickered to his peace offering and then back to him. "Then why?" I demanded, forcing more strength into my voice. "Why do you care?"

"I don't," he said quickly, but there was a hint of something else—something I couldn't quite place. "At least, not the way you're thinking." He glanced over at Starfire and Beast Boy, still asleep, and focused on Robin's sleeping form for a brief moment, then back to me. "I just… I don't like seeing you like this. And if Robin's going to keep chasing after me, I'd rather he wasn't distracted by trying to fix his mistakes."

I scoffed, though it came out more like a pained breath. "So this is about him, not me."

"Partly," he admitted, glancing to Robin again. "But there's more." His voice dropped lower, and he leaned in closer. "Something's going on with the Zynothium. I don't have all the details yet, but things aren't adding up. And now on top of being blamed for wounding a Titan, I'm being framed for a murder—an informant named Jerry. Sound familiar?"

The name tugged at my memory. "Jinx's informant," I muttered. "She's mentioned him." I looked at him, suspicion tugging at my thoughts. "You're asking… for my help?"

He tilted his head slightly. "You could say that. But don't get the wrong idea—I'm not here to make friends." He straightened up, his gaze still locked on mine. "I just thought you'd want to know what you're dealing with."

I held his stare for a long moment, trying to gauge the truth behind his words. He wasn't lying—even without my powers, I could tell he was being honest. But there was something else… a thread of sincerity that made me uneasy.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "And what do you get out of all this?"

He tilted his head slightly, the eyes behind his skull mask narrowing. "Like I said, I don't want Robin coming after me. And I don't enjoy being framed for murder. Call it self-preservation."

In that moment, he stepped forward and grabbed the cup of water, bringing it close to my lips. I thought about drinking it and spatting it back. I thought about trying to grab it and throwing it to the ground. But in the end, I pursed my lips and drank the cup of water with zero fight. I sighed as he crumbled the empty cup in his hand and couldn't help but laugh internally at the irony.

"Right," I whispered, shaking my head. "You may not be cruel, but you're still self-serving."

He was already stepping back, his form beginning to blur as he phased into the shadows again. "Maybe," he said, his voice fading with him. "you're not the only one who wants to find out the truth."

"Fine," I said, my voice steady despite the weakness in my limbs. "I'll look into it. But don't think for a second that this changes anything."

He gave a half-shrug, as if he'd expected nothing more. "Wouldn't dream of it, Hero."

And with that, Red X was gone, leaving me alone in the dimly lit room, my mind buzzing with questions I didn't have the answers to.

I thought about trying to make a noise, wake up the others before he could get away further. But his words rang a chord with me.

As Red X vanished into the shadows, his words and actions lingered, haunting my thoughts. Framed for wounding me, accused of a murder he did not commit. The lines between enemy and ally blurred, and I found myself questioning everything.

I sank back into my pillows, closing my eyes, letting the quiet wash over me. The room was a sanctuary of stillness, the only sounds the soft breathing of my friends and the rhythmic beeping of the medical machines. Red X's unexpected visit had left me with a strange mix of confusion and clarity. He sought help, not harm. An unusual alliance forged in the crucible of necessity.

Dawn's light crept into the room, gentle and unyielding. Time moved slowly, minutes bleeding into hours as I drifted in and out of consciousness. Starfire's presence was a constant, her silhouette framed by the soft glow. She moved with a quiet grace, her attention unwavering as she tended to Robin.

When Starfire stirred, her eyes fluttered open, and her movements were immediate. She checked on Robin, her touch tender and precise. She adjusted his blankets, wiped his forehead with a cool cloth, and whispered words of encouragement that floated on the air like fragile promises. Her care was a balm to the turmoil inside me, yet it also stirred a pang of something unmentionable.

Robin and I had begun to grow close, the unspoken bond between us growing stronger with each shared secret, each stolen moment. We had talked of telling the others, of revealing our relationship and the dark truth of his inner demon. Now, watching Starfire care for him, I felt a tangled mix of emotions—jealousy, gratitude, resignation.

I sat silently and watched her, my heart a knot of conflicting feelings. I should be the one by his side, but here I was, helpless and bound to this bed. The pain was a constant reminder of my fragility, my weakness. I tried to shift, but the effort sent ripples of agony through my body, pinning me in place that sent tears to sting my eyes.

Hours passed in a haze of discomfort and unease. Starfire's vigilance never wavered, her dedication to Robin a testament to her love. Beast Boy lay slumped against the wall near the entrance, his soft snores the only interruption to the silence.

Eventually, Beast Boy stirred, his eyes blinking open groggily. He stretched and yawned, then looked around the room, his gaze finally settling on me. "Raven, you're awake," he said, his voice filled with relief and concern.

I managed a weak smile. "Barely," I replied, my voice a whisper. "But I'll manage."

He got up and walked over to my bed, his expression serious. "How are you feeling?"

"I've been better," I admitted. "But right now, we need to focus on Robin. He's the one who needs us."

Beast Boy nodded, his eyes flicking to Robin's still form. "We're not giving up on him," he said firmly. "We'll do whatever it takes to bring him back."

I felt a surge of determination and wavered for a moment. "We need to find out more about this demon and how to sever its connection to Robin. Also, I had a visit from Red X. He mentioned something about the Zynothium—said something's not adding up."

"Red X?" Beast Boy's eyebrows shot up in surprise, quickly followed by a frown. "He was here?"

I nodded. "He came to warn me. He claims he's being framed for hurting me and for Jerry's murder. As much as I hate to admit it, I believe him."

Beast Boy's expression darkened, suspicion clear in his eyes. "Are you sure? Red X isn't exactly trustworthy. He could be trying to manipulate you."

I could tell he wanted to say more, but he stopped himself.

"I know," I said, meeting his gaze steadily. "But I don't think he's lying this time. There's something about this that feels... different."

Beast Boy hesitated, clearly torn between his mistrust and the need to find a solution. "Okay," he said finally, though his tone was still wary. "But we need to be careful. It could be a trap."

"We'll be cautious," I assured him. "But right now, we need all the help we can get. We have to figure out how to save Robin."

I paused, drawing a deep breath. "Robin's demon is a part of him," I continued, my voice growing steadier. "It's his inner demon, something he has to face and accept. The only way to deal with it is to help him confront that side of himself. But this might mean entering his mind, and I don't have the strength to do that right now."

Starfire's head snapped up, her eyes wide with a renewed sense of urgency. "Enter his mind?" she asked, her voice a mix of hope and determination. "How can we do this, Raven? What do we need to prepare?"

I looked at her, her unwavering dedication giving me a flicker of hope and a sharp pang of jealousy. Her gentle hands, her tender care—each act was a reminder of what I could not do, of the love she still held for Robin. It twisted inside me like a brick settling heavily in my stomach, the knowledge that she cared so deeply, while he and I held our secret close, buried beneath the surface of our shared pain. She didn't know, couldn't know, the truth of us. And so, I hesitated for a moment, my heart a knot of gratitude and envy, as she gave him the care I longed to offer.

"We'll need to use my powers to create a connection," I explained, my voice calm but firm. "I can be a guide, but it will take a lot of energy. We need to prepare and I need time to gather my strength. This is not going to be easy."

Starfire nodded, her resolve unwavering. "Then we will do whatever it takes," she said, her voice filled with determination. "Tell us what we need, and we will be ready."

As I watched Starfire continue to care for Robin, a sense of resolve settled over me. We had faced countless challenges together, and we would face this one too. No matter how long it took or how hard it was, we would bring Robin back.

x X x

AN: Happy holidays!