Robin fell backwards with a thump onto his bed. The tower was quiet; it was around two in the morning, and Robin had been, not surprisingly, sifting through every tiny clue as to where Slade had taken Raven. Nothing new. Finally Robin gave into his exhaustion, but even now, lying on his bed, sleep evaded him.

With a sigh of frustration, he took his mask off, chucking it onto his bedside table. Sometimes he was extremely grateful for the mask that hid his bright green eyes; if the titans saw him without it, they would be able to see how worn out he was. Dark rings shadowed his sockets and the whites of his eyes were webbed with red squiggly lines. No doubt they would force a sleeping pill down his throat and tie him to his bed. But he couldn't have them worrying about him - it was Raven they needed to worry about.

Robin missed her. She was the sane one around here. Cyborg and Beastboy were great friends and so was Star, but they all got on his nerves eventually. Beastboy's endless lame jokes... Starfire's tiring enthusiasm... Cyborg's loud booming voice... in his sleepless state, Robin just couldn't help but get annoyed with them. He kept it to himself though, not wanting to hurt their feelings, but it just made him miss Raven even more. She always listened to him; she understood him and he understood her. Not many people really valued what she was like; they just judged her from what they saw of her. And Robin was glad that he knew her the way he did. She really was an extraordinary person. And he admired her. He missed her quiet companionship, her dry comments that never failed to make him chuckle, her soft thoughtful eyes. She was someone he could confide in. And now more than ever, he needed to talk to someone.

Frustrated, Robin got up and began to pace. It had been two weeks since Rae had disappeared. And Robin had a feeling that it was just the beginning of the wait Slade had in mind for him. Two weeks with nothing but snatches of sleep was already driving him crazy! He had to find a lead. He had to think of something.

He paced. Rubbed his eyes. Paced some more. Two-thirty in the morning... three in the morning... Robin ground his teeth as the smooth, masked face of his enemy seemed to loom in front of him, laughing scornfully. "You'll never find her... never get her back... never..." Robin squeezed his eyes shut, rubbing them vigorously with the tips of his fingers. "Yes... I will." He whispered.

Suddenly, he had an idea. Maybe he should have a look into Slade's background. It could help Robin to understand Slade more... how he thinks and what he would do... yes. That's what he would do. Robin felt an enormous amount of relief once he knew what he was going to do next. It was uncertainty that killed him.

Robin was so busy thinking about his new idea, that he didn't at first hear the footsteps coming down the passage outside his door. When his door started to open, he quickly whirled, his back to the door, his hand flying up to cover his eyes. "Who is it?" he said angrily.

"It's me, Robin." came Beastboy's voice. "Hey... aren't you wearing your mask?"

"What did you think? I sleep with it on?" he snapped.

"Well, I dunno... it's just... part of you."

Robin sighed. "What d'you want? Is something wrong?"

"Nah, I was just going to get a drink and I saw that your light was on. Can't sleep?"

Robin shrugged, his back still turned. "Chuck me my mask, will ya?"

Beastboy picked it up and gave it over reluctantly. "Don't you wanna give me a peek? We've always wondered what colour your eyes are. C'mon."

"Sorry." He replied as he turned around, mask in place. "I wear it for a reason."

"Ah c'mon! You suck, man! I was so close to a glimpse."

Robin shrugged again, smiling a little.

"Why do you wear it, anyway?" Beastboy asked.

Robin's smile slipped off his face. "Long story." He said shortly.

"I've got time. You can tell me."

"I don't want to talk about it, okay? It's no one's business but my own." He replied sharply.

Raising his hands in mock surrender, Beastboy replied "Okay, okay, forget I asked!" Turning to leave, he said, "You should sleep, Robin. You're not doing Rae any good by killing yourself."

The door clicked shut behind him.

As his footsteps trailed away, Robin was left standing in absolute silence. Beastboy was right. He had to sleep. For Raven. Perhaps that was the only thing that could get him to actually do it. Rae needed him, but not like this. She was always there for him, and now it was his turn to be there for her. He hoped she knew that she wasn't alone. He wished he could talk to her; tell her that he was going to find her soon. As soon as possible.

God, he missed her.