Here's the new chapter! Sorry it took so long to update. The stupid snowstorm knocked out my power, so that delayed the updating process. But now it's back on, so the writing may continue! Something that always bothered me about the show is that it really downplayed the spiritual connection formed between Robin and Raven during Haunted. At first, it seems like it wasn't a big deal until season 4 when Robin suddenly blurts out, "You've been inside my mind" which implies that it was a big deal. This story is really going to tap into that bond, and it will be extremely prevalent during the rest of the series. Just a warning, though, I'm totally making up the "bond rules" as I like to call it because the series gave no indication on what the bond was or the extent of it. Anyways, here's the new chapter! It features some very jealous Robin!

Spellbound

Part 1

For the first few days, it was absolute torture. Raven shared every single emotion with Robin, and it was terrifying. Everything she felt, Robin would feel in return. Likewise, she could feel all of Robin's emotions as well, which was not convenient in the slightest. She knew he was suffering from PTSD, but she never quite knew the extent of it until now. Before the bond forged, she thought the PTSD would surface whenever Robin felt an extreme layer of stress and that was it. She was wrong. It was constant for him.

She remembered one time in particular when the group was just eating dinner. All of a sudden, she felt her chest constrict in panic, and she couldn't breath. Somehow she was able to distinguish that these were not her emotions but Robin's. Still, knowing they were not her own did not stop the intensity of them. She could still recall how the team started badgering her with questions, asking if she was okay. Throughout the entire thing, Robin's expression was blank.

Eventually, he (they?) calmed down, and the panic attack was over. Still, moments like that happened throughout the next few days, and she could barely handle it. How had Robin managed to conceal such strong emotions? How had she never noticed? Well, she was noticing now.

Just like he was.

He constantly watched her, fully aware that she could feel his emotions. Whenever he looked at her, she could feel how hurt he was by her rejection and how determined he was to discover what she was hiding. It was terrifying, and she knew he could feel that. He could feel how worried she was about him or how stressed she was due to this bond.

A bond that she had not been prepared for in the slightest.

The monks often spoke of a bond being forged between two people, but they never went into detail about it. That meant she had to do the research on it. She dug up every book she ever owned, and she searched all of them for any details of spiritual bonds. She found one rather large book, and she began to read it.

As it turns out, bonds tend to be formed by people who want to share everything with each other. It starts out with one person entering the mind of the other, and the other person had to completely open their mind to allow the other person to explore. This would form an attachment between the two, and together they would have to expand the nature of their bond by exploring it.

Unfortunately for Raven, the bond was not on purpose, but it was permanent.

She sighed, rubbing her temple in frustration.

So far, she was not nearly finished even an eighth of that damn book. The only useful thing it taught her was the history behind these spiritual bonds and how to block the bond. That was an interesting experiment.

As it turns out, she can choose to close off her end of the bond whenever she pleased. That meant that Robin could not longer feel her emotions. Unfortunately, she could still feel his. He felt extremely betrayed by her blocking the bond, but it was what she had to do to protect her secrets. His feelings of betrayal still made her feel guilty though, and it just added to the stress.

"I need a distraction," she mumbled to herself. Closing the book, she glanced around the room for something, anything else to read. Her eyes fell on one of her rare fictional books, and she pressed her lips together. Why not indulge in some fiction for now? It would be a great distraction from the bond, which was giving her nothing but stress at the moment.

Nodding her head, she sat up and grabbed the book, opening to the first page. As she began to read, she slowly became more and more interested in the main character and his story. Slowly she forgot all of her fears and anxieties due to this new bond with Robin. For once, she was at peace, and she had the novel to thank for that.

"What's been going on with you, man?" Cyborg randomly blurted out.

Robin panted, turning around and raising an eyebrow at Cyborg. He had been in the middle of training when he suddenly heard Cyborg's voice. "What do you mean?" He wiped the sweat from his forehead. He was not in his uniform, which was rare for him especially when he trained. Instead he wore gym shorts, a t-shirt, and his mask.

"I mean you've been really quiet lately," Cyborg crossed his arms. "You don't go from having a freak out to just being okay. The visions with Slade must have triggered something! So talk to me. What's going on?"

Robin sighed. "Nothing," he mumbled. "I'm just…"

Experiencing a weird mental connection with Raven that exposes me to all of her emotions until recently when she decided to cut me off somehow?

No, he couldn't tell Cyborg about that. "I'm just trying to distract myself I guess," he answered, patting the punching bag as proof. "You know me. I'm not the biggest talker about my feelings."

"Something you got from Batman?" Cyborg snorted.

Robin shook his head. If anything, Batman always encouraged him to tell his mentor what he was thinking and feeling. "Look," he sighed, "I'm just going through a rough patch. Again. I'll get through it like I always do."

"Until there's another rough patch," Cyborg narrowed his eyes.

"There won't be another one," Robin insisted. "The last one was chemically induced and technically not my fault."

"I'm just saying, man, you're not emotionally stable."

"Thanks," Robin rolled his eyes, his sarcasm evident.

"I just…" Cyborg was trying to figure out what to say. "I just want you to talk to someone. I don't care if it's not me. Maybe try calling Batman? Did you even tell him about what happened to you?"

Robin bit the inside of his cheek. That was answer enough to Cyborg, who lowered his head in disappointment. "I'm working on the whole talking to someone thing," Robin replied. "Alright?"

"Oh yeah?" Cyborg snorted. "And who is that?"

"Can't tell you," Robin shrugged. "Part of the whole secret identity thing."

Cyborg laughed bitterly. "Of course it is," he mumbled.

"But hey if you're in the mood for talking about feelings maybe we should talk about Jinx," Robin deadpanned.

Cyborg flushed and shook his head. "I'll see you later," he waved, walking away from the team leader. Robin sighed and turned back to the punching bag. As he started to kick it, his mind flashed to all of the times Cyborg insisted on him talking about his problems yet was never willing to discuss his own. Perhaps they were more alike than he thought…

Clenching his fists, he continued to attack the bag. He couldn't focus on Cyborg right now. It was Raven he needed to think about. She knew everything: his parents, Batman, Barbara, and even the Joker. All of his deepest secrets that he worked so hard to protect were out in the open for her to see, yet he didn't mind. She still loved him regardless of his past (a fact that astounded him). Now the only difficult part was having her admit that she loved him. He knew she accepted it a long time ago. There was just something in the way, and he had to figure it out.

But first she needed to stop blocking him! He had no idea how she did it, but she somehow discovered a way to conceal her emotions from him. After days of feeling nothing but her, he felt a sudden emptiness without it. Whenever he would have a mild panic attack, he would automatically feel her comfort and sympathy that would help calm him down. Whenever he was happy, he could feel how she was mildly pleased at that. Her presence was always with him, and it felt wrong that he was suddenly without it.

The alarm suddenly went off, and he paused.

Maybe he should think about this later…

When the alarm went off, Raven nearly cursed in frustration. The book was amazing, and she was just about to find out what happened with the dragon! Still, she had a duty to protect the citizens of Jump City, so she flew to the crime scene with the rest of the team.

Cardiac, a giant mechanical heart, was terrorizing little kids. The team automatically started fighting, but there was something different about this battle. Robin's emotions continued to mix with her own, and she could feel his determination to take this villain down, his frustration when their efforts were not working, and his concern for the children. Coupled with her own emotions on the battle, it was extremely distracting and giving her a headache.

When Cardiac knocked Cyborg off of Beast boy, who was a T-Rex, she growled. "That's it!" She clenched her fists in frustration. Closing her eyes, she started using her powers to tear apart Cardiac. It took some effort, but she finally ripped all of the mechanical tubes off of his main body. His parts scattered around the playground, and the battle was over.

She lowered herself to the ground, and she flinched when she felt overwhelming pride and love fill her chest making her automatically glare at Robin, who just cheekily grinned back. Rolling her eyes, she stomped to the car, put on her seatbelt, and waited for the rest of the team.

Beast boy immediately sat next to her. "That was awesome!" He grinned.

"Can we go now?"

Raven immediately dashed to her room, not bothering to listen to her teammates' protests. She slammed the door shut and grabbed the book. The sorcerer of the novel was close to defeating the dragon, and her breath hitched as she continued to read.

Only to be interrupted by a knock.

Rolling her eyes, she opened the door and immediately regretted it. Robin was standing there with his arms crossed and his eyebrow raised. "Hey," he stated.

"Robin—" she said warningly.

"Not my name."

"Dick," she narrowed her eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"To confess my undying love for you so we can ride away in the sunset together forever," he answered sarcastically. "You know why I'm here."

"I don't want to talk."

"Well I wouldn't know considering I can't feel you anymore," he narrowed his eyes.

Raven sighed, "The effects have worn off. Whatever bond we forged, it's gone."

He snorted, "I can tell you're lying. I can still feel the bond, you know. I can feel you actively trying to block me. It's still there."

"It doesn't need to be."

"Yes it does," Robin insisted. "I've accepted it. Why haven't you?"

"Leave it," Raven hissed, and promptly backed up, allowing the door to slam on him. She was about to smile only to cringe at the immediate sorrow that filled her chest. A sorrow that was definitely not hers.

Dammit Robin.

Sighing, she went back to her bed and opened up her book once again. She opened the book and focused on what the sorcerer was doing, how he would kill that dragon.

Only to hear another knock on the door.

Groaning, she threw the book on the side of the bed and clenched her fists. It definitely wasn't Robin behind that door. His emotions were still too hurt by her actions, and he didn't feel an ounce of determination, which he usually had when he wanted to talk to her. That meant it was someone else.

Sighing, she opened the door to see Starfire standing there with a bright grin.

"Raven!" Starfire beamed. "I noticed you have been rather sad lately, and I wanted to help! Is it about Robin? If so, you can always talk to me!"

Raven sighed, "No, Star, I'm just tired," she lied.

She tilted her head to the side. "Are you sure you do not want to discuss you and Robin?"

"There is no me and Robin," she emphasized. "Star, it was a stupid crush. I'm over it like you are."

Starfire's eyebrows furrowed. "What?"

"Goodbye."

She slammed the door in her face just like she did with Robin.

Raven immediately went back to her bed and picked up the novel once again. Losing herself in it's contents, she smiled peacefully. Now she could finally discover how on earth that amazing sorcerer killed that terrifying dragon—

Someone else knocked on the door.

Groaning, she walked towards the door and opened it. Unsurprisingly, it was Cyborg and Beast boy.

"Dude!" Beast boy exclaimed. "We just heard about how you're supposedly over Robin!"

"What's that about?" Cyborg practically shouted.

Raven scowled. Couldn't Starfire keep a secret? Well, she didn't inform the girl that it was a secret, but still! She shouldn't randomly blurt everything to her teammates. "Guys," she hissed. "It was a stupid crush."

"You were in love with the guy!"

"The guy who would never love me back, so I got over it. Like Starfire did," Raven reaffirmed, lying about how Robin would never love her back. It was true that Robin loved her, but he also was deeply in love with Barbara as well. He managed to get over his feelings for her, so he could extend the same curtsey to Raven.

"You're not fooling anyone," Beast boy huffed. "You are so in love with him and you want to get married to him and—"

She slammed the door in his face.

"Come on Raven!" Beast boy shouted through the door. "What's going on?"

Raven sighed, leaning against the door with her eyes shut. This was too much. Eyeing the book on the bed, she slowly moved towards it. That book had been a great distraction over the past few days, and she desperately needed to lose herself in the story once again. Picking it up, she was about to open it when the most peculiar thing happened.

"Hello."

She gasped, promptly dropping the book and backing up.

"Ow…"

The book was talking. The book was talking. What on earth was going on? Why was the book talking? Books couldn't talk. "Did you just…?" She said slowly.

"Speak? Yes. And then you proceeded to drop me on my spine."

"Oh," she could barely form words. "Sorry."

"It's quite alright."

The book was still talking. How was that possible?

"Um…" Raven's hands were shaking. "Books don't usually talk."

That probably didn't sound too intelligent.

"I know, but I am no book. I am a man," the book continued to speak. "Malchior of Nol at your service!"

"Malchior?" Raven whispered. "The man who faced Rorek the dragon?"

"The man who defeated Rorek the dragon," the book, or Malchior, corrected. "But that dragon placed one last curse on me. I have to remain in the form of a book until someone can free me from this spell. Raven, I believe you can."

Raven numbly nodded and raised her hand only to gasp when pain shot up her arm. "I'm sorry," she immediately apologized. "The spell is too strong."

"I feared so," Malchior confessed. "Perhaps we can just talk then?"

Raven slowly nodded her head, "Alright."

"Tell me about you."

Tired, rundown, and stressed, Raven started confessing almost everything. She talked about her fears of causing devastation, her emotional connection with her powers, mourning the loss of her friend Terra, and the stress that came with the newly formed bond with Robin. The only things she left out were her destiny and her love for the boy she bonded with.

Malchior listened, offered advice, and even made her laugh at times. He was a perfect gentleman, and Raven already felt safe with him after only one afternoon of talking. When she started to yawn, Malichor reassured her that they could continue speaking tomorrow. He encouraged her to get some much-needed sleep, and she nodded in agreement.

Lying on her bed, she slowly began to sleep.

Raven opened her eyes to find herself outside. It was a warm day, and the grass felt nice under her feet. She took a deep breath and frowned at the strange smells that surrounded her. She looked deeper at her surroundings and noticed multiple tents set up as well as people walking around. She was about to explore the location, but the sound of giggling distracted her. Frowning, she turned to the side to see a little blue-eyed boy laughing with two adults. They were doing multiple acrobatic moves. The man picked up the tiny boy and threw him over his shoulder, joking about dropping him. The boy countered he would land on his feet, and the woman was jokingly criticizing John for being too rough.

They looked like they were having fun.

"I remember this."

Raven gasped and whirled around to see Dick standing there. He was wearing a pair of sweatpants and a loose fitting t-shirt. His blue eyes were focused on the scene before them. "You do?" She questioned. This must be a dream, she reasoned.

"It was a few weeks before we went to Gotham," Dick never took his eyes away from his parents.

Raven nodded, glancing at the Grayson family. "I've never seen a child so close with their parents before," she observed.

"They were my best friends," he confessed. "There wasn't really anyone else my age in the circus, so I spent all of my time with my parents and the other adults in the circus. I always liked how they never talked down to me."

Raven's eyes softened. "I'm sorry you lost all of this."

"Me too," Dick whispered before a small smirk appeared on his lips. "You know, this is definitely one of the happier dreams I've had this week."

Raven frowned. "You're dreaming?"

"Yeah? Since you're a part of my dream, I'm guessing you already knew that," he joked.

"This is my dream," Raven countered, feeling her chest start to constrict. No, this could not be happening.

Dick's eyebrows furrowed, and he glanced down at his chest. "You're panicking," he whispered and his eyes went wide with realization. "You're real. You're in my dream!"

"I didn't know we could do that," Raven replied weakly.

Dick numbly nodded. "I didn't either…" he mumbled. "Raven, we really have to look more into this. What else can we do with this bond? What if these new abilities start to show up at inconvenient times? We—"

"We don't have to do anything!" She exclaimed. "Dick, just let it go!"

He frowned but nodded slowly. "Okay," he whispered. "I will for now."

"Thank you."

He nodded, and his eyes drifted back to his family. "I miss them."

Raven bit her bottom lip. "I know," she murmured.

Dick turned to her, "Do you?"

She hugged her chest. "I didn't know them," she answered honestly.

"But you miss them," he stated. "I can feel you again, Rae. I guess you can't actively block what you're feeling while you're asleep."

That would be a problem. Instead of focusing on that, she paid attention to the first part of his statement. "They weren't my parents. I don't have the right to miss them."

"You have every right," Dick comforted her.

"Thank you," she whispered. He smiled before sitting cross-legged on the grass. Raven hesitated for a moment before she joined him, and together they watched the family of three play together in the sunlight. For the first time, Raven felt truly at peace. Even more so than when she was speaking to Malchior. Then again, that made sense. After all, she was in love with Robin.

She heard a soft chuckle from beside her and she frowned. Glancing at Dick, he turned and beamed at her.

"I love you too, Rae."

She couldn't help the blush that tinted her cheeks nor her heart beginning to race in her chest. She knew she couldn't run from this, run from him, for much longer.

But that didn't mean she wasn't going to try.

Thank you for reading the chapter! The bond will become more complex as the story continues. It will also be very prominent throughout the rest of the series. I hope you all liked the chapter! Let me know what you think!