Robin’s motorcycle zoomed through the streets as he desperately tried to find Raven. He felt more than guilty about kissing and touching Blackfire, but he didn’t see another way. And he didn’t even know why he felt guilty about it.

‘Is it because you’re feeling something for Raven?’

Robin shook his head, speeding up as his eyes darted everywhere. If he could find just one clue to where she might’ve gone, then it wouldn’t take long. But as the time continued to pass from one minute to one hour, Robin was afraid he wouldn’t find her. He pulled over nearby an abandoned warehouse,turning off his bike and getting off for a breather.

“Damnit, Raven… Why did you run? What is it you’re not telling me?!”

Robin kicked a rock, sending it inside the empty building. He sighed before leaning against his bike in defeat.

‘Maybe I didn’t have to kiss Blackfire… Maybe there was another way…’

He gritted his teeth, angered at Blackfire for forcing herself upon him, Raven for running off, and himself for not being strong enough to stop both events. Shaking his head, he grabbed onto his helmet to put it back on when he heard sniffles, freezing him in place.

‘Raven…’

He carefully walked into the building, looking around in the darkness. The last time he checked what time it was wasn’t so long ago, so it was heading right into midnight; probably the darkest time of night. The sobs had become clearer, as did the fact that there were objects flying around based on a box grazing Robin’s head. Robin took a few more steps inside the building before saying softly, “Raven… I know you’re in here… Please, come out.” She cries continued, but weakened. He took a few more steps before saying, “Raven, please. I’m worried about you. What happened out there… I did it to save you. I don’t know what her motives were, but I only had one. And it was trying to find and protect you.”

“You’re lying!!!”

Her voice rang out in anger and disbelief, catching Robin off guard. “Raven,” he said softly, trying to find her by following her voice, “I understand that you may have not liked her, but I truly have been looking for you for almost two hours, without the help of the others.” At first, she didn’t reply. She then quietly spoke up, “That wasn’t very smart of you…” He smiled to himself as he said, “Well, I didn’t want them to be around when I found you.”

“Why, Robin?”

“Because we have unfinished business, Raven. We need to talk. And be real about it. No more hiding and no more lying. Don’t lie to me.”

Raven hugged herself and said, “It wouldn’t make a difference if I did or didn’t, Robin!!” “Then tell me anyways,” he replied, walking closer to her location. She hesitated. She knew even if it didn’t make a difference, she would still get hurt from telling him. She didn’t want to risk it.

“No…”

“Tell me, Raven. If it doesn’t make that much of a difference, then just tell me.”

“No Robin, I can’t!!”

“Then that just means it is a big deal!! It would make a difference!”

Raven curled up against a set of rusty steps, holding herself tight as her eyes threatened to give way to tears. He was right, and she knew it. If she told him, he might never look at her the same or even talk to her as he would. But he was near, and he wasn’t leaving until he got an answer. Robin sighed softly before turning on a small flashlight connected to his keychain.

The light flashed in Raven’s eyes and she shielded herself from the light. Robin noticed the movement and walked towards her. She noticed and said, “Get away from me, Robin…” He shook his head. “You can’t say that to a person you forcefully kissed…” She looked up at him and said, “That… That wasn’t anything. I was emotionally unstable when Mumbo put that spell on me.”

“What if I told you I didn’t believe you?”

Raven looked up to find him outstretching his hand towards her.

She looked up at him and asked, “Why…?”

He smiled softly and said, “You’re one of the most difficult people I’ve ever met. But, I understand why. I also understand that I didn’t fully save you back then…” Raven shook her head and said, “But you did, Robin. You and everyone else.”

“No.”

Raven hesitated before standing up, glancing down at his hand. Robin said, “We may have physically saved you from him, but I don’t remember that last time anyone ever asked how you were feeling, Raven.” She scoffed softly, wiping her eyes and saying, “That doesn’t matter.” “It does,” he replied, reaching for her hand. Raven watched as he lifted her hand up to his mouth. He kissed her palm gently and said, “Call me crazy, but I believe you’re worth sitting down and listening to. So… Will you tell me? Or will I have to search the city for you again?”

Raven blushed softly and said, “No… I guess not…” Robin smiled and let her hand go, backing up slowly and walking towards the entrance. She hesitated before taking a step or two forward. By the time Robin had made it to the rusted doorway, Raven had taken about fifteen steps. He turned and sighed, smiling softly as he reached his hand out to her once more. She looked down at his hand but didn’t budge. He smiled and said, “You can trust me, Raven. I’m not going to push you away.”

She hesitated before reaching out to his hand. He gripped her hand gently and pulled her out of the warehouse. Raven walked with him and then gasped as he pulled her to him in a tight hug. Robin held her tight with no intension of letting her go.

“I can’t tell you how long I’ve wanted to hug you like this.”

Raven blushed hard as he gently brushed her hair with his hand. Moments later, he let go and got on his motorcycle, turning it on and revving it up. She waited hesitantly until he said, “Get on with me.” Raven opened her mouth but Robin rose up a hand and said, “I don’t want you flying around. Come sit behind me and hold me.”

She nodded quietly, placing his helmet on him and sitting behind him, blushing as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

He revved up and took off. She asked, “Where are we going?” He grinned and said, “Somewhere peaceful.”

Raven nodded, burying her face in his back. It was almost too good to be true for her; for him to go as far as searching for her and pressing to know what’s troubling her dumbfounded her.

Raven started to believe that maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea to tell him, even if he did reject.

At least then, he’d know. At least then, she could free the pressure building up deep inside her.

~

Robin drove her to the edges of the sand, where the waves softly splashed on top of. She tossed a rock, watching it splash and sink under the dark waves. He watched her and smiled. “Not bad,” he said, walking up next to her and picking up a rock, “Feeling at ease yet?”

She nodded.

He grinned, tossing the rock far out, causing a big splash and ripple in the waves.

For a moment, they both were as silent as true birds would be at night. The silence didn’t last long; however, as Raven said softly, “I’m sorry… For acting the way I did about Blackfire. I had no right to.” “I understand,” he replied, “But I believe you did have a right to.” She looked at him in confusion and he sighed softly, saying, “Raven, for a while now, me and Starfire… Well, we’ve been at odds. She and I have cuddled and held each other, but I’ve never gotten that full love from her. And I know she’s already seen Aqualad more than a few times too.”

Raven blushed at the sound of his name, but it went away quickly as her thoughts wandered back to Robin. “So,” she said softly, “what does that have to do with the Blackfire situation?” He sighed and said, “You and I… We’ve both had it pretty rough for the longest. And whenever I feel down, I think about how you feel, how you’ve felt, and I somehow feel a bit better.”

Raven blushed and smiled softly, saying, “Should I be flattered?”

He blushed hard and looked elsewhere. “Not if you don’t want to be,” he replied.

Raven allowed herself to smile wide and enjoy the moment as it came. Both went quiet once more as Robin fumbled for the right words. Despite the wide area around them, them being close was intimate enough. Robin cleared his throat, grabbing her attention. He said, “Well… I don’t know exactly how to say this, but I feel… I feel relaxed around you. I feel like I can kind of be myself, without worrying about having to explain what I mean, not to offend Starfire.”

“So what you’re saying is,” she said softly; mindlessly as she stared out into the dark water, “you feel something for me.” Robin took a deep breath and said, “Yes… Yes, I do.” Raven trembled as she looked at him.

‘I could say it.’

He looked down at her, breathing easy and watched her movements.

‘I could tell him right now. I could end all of the pressure and pain inside.’

She watched as he slowly lowered his head down toward hers with the intent of kissing her.

‘Raven, tell him!!!’

He was less than a foot; than an inch away. She could feel his breath up against her lips.

‘Don’t…’

Raven quickly pulled back, turning elsewhere as she hugged herself. Robin sighed softly as he watched her try to keep her composure. “Something tells me you feel the same way, Raven,” he said softly, reaching out for her. She noticed and said, “Don’t touch me.” His hand froze. He didn’t understand. She shook her head and said, “So, that’s how it is? Because you and Starfire aren’t working out, you come to me, your second choice?” “Raven, no,” he replied, grabbing her shoulders and turning her around, “You were never a second choice. It’s not like that. I’m not looking for a replacement, Raven; I would be perfectly happy on my own.”

“Then why,” she said, challenging him, “why say this now? Why tell me this?” “Because I’m starting to realize how much of an idiot I am and was,” he replied, “I’m not asking you out Raven, I’m just… I just want you to know how I feel, which is better than saying nothing, like how you’re doing.” Raven tensed up and Robin realized he had just said the wrong thing. “Wait, that came out wrong,” Robin started to say, but she held up a hand and said, “No… You’re right…” He looked at her, his heart beating more than it should.

‘Tell me Raven. I’m right here. Just tell me.’

She turned around and looked at him, tears developing in her eyes. “Robin, ever since what happened with Slade and with my father… I’ve… I…”

‘I’m right here for you. Don’t stop talking.’  

She took a deep breath and said, “I’ve wanted to get close to you… Ever since then… I’ve wanted to believe that all that you’ve done for me was merely because I was a part of the team. But my mind won’t let me think that way. Not anymore.”

‘Let every word flow out, Raven. You won’t regret it.’

She looked up at the sky before saying, “Robin… I think… I think I love you.”

Robin blushed furiously, watching her as she cried quietly. “Raven…”

She sniffed and wiped her eyes as she said, “I didn’t say, because I thought you and Starfire were a real thing. I didn’t want to believe that I didn’t have a chance, but I knew they were merely fantasies. But now…” He looked at her, aching to grab her and end the loneliness she’s been feeling. He said quietly, carefully, “But now…?” She turned and stood before him, toe to toe as she looked in his eyes. “Now, I need to know,” she replied, “if what you say is true then… Will you…?”

Robin hesitantly reached and caressed her pale grey cheek. “If you want me to be yours,” he quietly said, “then I’ll happily comply. If it makes you happy and it gives you better dreams, then I’ll say yes… Is that what you want to hear?” She nodded, pressing her cheek up against his hand. “It’s not about not wanting to be alone… I just don’t want to be without you, Robin. You’ve cared for me, put up with me at times. You’re the leader everyone adores and cares about; I didn’t really want to turn into one of those people.”

“But I admire you,” she continued, pressing herself up against him, “I admire you and respect you and feel confident in almost every mission we do. You were the one who found me and cared for me when Trigon got free. You were the one who tried to defend me against Slade, even…Even when…” Robin held her close, gritting his teeth as he thought about what happened. “I’ll never let anyone do that to you again, Raven. I wasn’t as strong as I am now.” Raven wrapped her arms around him, holding his body close to hers as she relaxed and let the tears flow.

Surprisingly, there were no objects floating. Raven was at peace.

Robin lifted her head, holding her hands firmly as he said, “I’ll never hurt you, Raven. Not like I have.”

“But it wasn’t your fault…”

“Maybe it wasn’t… Maybe it was… But I have you now, and that’s what matters, right?”

A wide smile appeared on her face, as it does every so often, and she didn’t hesitate to kiss him gently. He kissed back, holding her to him as tight as he could. He had never felt so much peace and solidary with Starfire as he felt with Raven. He could only hope she understood, as he wanted to be Raven’s and Raven’s alone.

They parted lips to look at each other. Raven hesitated before reaching for his mask. For the longest, she wanted to see what he looked like without them. He allowed her, feeling like she deserved to know. She took his mask out and found he had blue eyes that were staring into her soul.

She lost her breath and shakily placed the mask back on his face.

He smiled sheepishly and said, “Weird isn’t it?” Raven smiled and said, “Only a little… Can we go home, Robin?” He nodded, leading down and kissing her once more, only deeper than before. “Yes,” he breathed, barely parting lips with her.

“We can go home, Raven.” 

~

Wow, quite a positive reaction with this short fanfic. Thanks so much for the views! And once again, this is a warning. I will be posting the chapter that's just extra, but it's Lemon. Mature. R-Rated. Just warning those who will be able to read it, because I will be ranking it as Mature. But other than that, this is the true last chapter.