(This is a reworked version of The Day After. I had a few competing ideas when I wrote it, and I think this works better. As always, hope you enjoy it, and reviews are greatly appreciated).

~RavensMind~

An Escapist Date

Chapter 1: The Ace of Clubs

The sun was beginning to dip as Raven began her meditation on the roof of Titans tower. She took in a deep breath through her nose and exhaled out through her mouth. Long days like the one she had were best spent on the roof with a mug of tea and a good book. She didn't have either on hand now, so opted for meditation. Relaxation crept its way through her as she eased her emotions. Her friends had been doing a number on her this past week. Robin had been fighting on and off with Starfire, Terra wasn't speaking to Beast Boy, and on top of that – Kid Flash and Bumblebee were staying for the month while the Titans East tower was being updated and renovated, so Cyborg was focused on Bumblebee, and Kid Flash was irritating all the girls by constantly flirting with them. It was the end of their first week, and it already felt like it had been a month to Raven.

TGIF indeed, Raven thought to herself as she hovered above the ground. In her mind, Happiness gave Courage a high five and sat with the other emotions. She pictured her bed and imagined how comfy the pillows would be against her face. But she hadn't eaten dinner yet, she thought with a frown. Only that to get through and she would go to bed early. Her muscles relaxed as she imagined the soft, firm mattress beneath her. It would all fade away once she got to sleep, no more problems until morning.

It hadn't been more than ten minutes since she started meditating before Raven felt his approach through their bond. The masked team leader burst through the door to the roof and slammed it behind him. He approached Raven in quick, heavy steps with a strained expression on his face. Once at her side, Robin sighed and stared out toward the setting sun. Raven didn't acknowledge him, she knew better, he needed to be calm before she would even speak to him. Which she had made clear to him the last few times he had come to her like this. And so, she waited until she sensed his emotions calm. It was taking longer than usual for him to regain his composure. He didn't deserve the additional stress, he did so much, he should be relaxing like her.

"Who started it this time?" Raven asked, breaking the silence.

"She did, again. You think I spend enough time with her, right?" Robin asked.

"As far as I know, yeah. Is that what she wants? You to spend more time with her?" she asked.

"Not exactly. She...wants to take the next step in the relationship, but I don't uh, think its time. There's still a lot she doesn't get about relationships here. Things aren't the same on her planet," he replied.

"That's fair, so why is she pushing you?" she asked.

"I told her I needed to spend more time with her before I made that decision."

"So…what, she doesn't want to leave you alone?"

"Yeah."

"That figures. Should have phrased it differently when you told her what you needed."

"Oh, I know that now," he said with a chuckle, "I tried to explain it to her more and she didn't take it well. Said I wasn't being honest."

"Were you?"

He looked from the sunset into her eyes. She was glad she could tell how he felt based on what she sensed, because the alternative was to guess what his eyes were doing behind his mask.

"I think so, maybe, it's hard to think around here with all the stuff that's been happening. Seems like I can't get a minute to myself," Robin said.

"I know what you mean, this is the first chance I've gotten to meditate since this morning," Raven said.

"Can't have that. Tell you what, why don't you come with me for dinner and drinks tonight? Could use some time away from them for a bit," he said.

"Are you…asking me out?" she asked.

"It's not like that. I know I've been bugging you with this stuff between me and Star a lot, let me take you out as thanks for putting up with it, and…being a good friend," he said with a smile, "c'mon, I could use the company."

She sensed something else in his words and didn't like that is seemed so elusive, but the emotions she saw clearly were genuine, and she knew he kept her best interests at heart. It would be nice to get out of the tower for at least part of the night, and he was offering.

"Did you have a place in mind?" she asked.

"I do, it's a bar and grill club called 'The Four Aces.' Heard about it from one of the detectives at Jump P.D., they host poker tournaments sometimes, supposed to have great burgers," he replied.

"I'll go with you," she said.

"Great, I have a couple things to finish up which might take me a while and then we'll go. Let's leave around nine, ok?" he asked.

"Sounds good to me."

"Okay. I'll let you get back to meditating, and I'll meet you at the tower's entrance at nine."

"See you then."

She watched him go before she turned back to the sunset and shut her eyes. It was easy to resume her meditation, but not as easy to calm her emotions. Despite her best intentions, Passion and Happiness directed her thoughts when she accepted Robin's invitation. It was because her emotions were trying to decipher his. She didn't need to look to know that Robin had glanced back at her before he re-entered the tower. She sensed his apprehension, nervousness, concern, and the last she couldn't place as he left before she had finished sorting through his emotions. What would he have to be nervous about? Maybe the conversation he'd be having with Starfire later? Her mind shifted from analyzing the situation back into meditation, content with the answer.

Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Arguing with Starfire for the fourth time in a day had stressed Robin out, and they weren't any closer to fixing things. He felt worse about the situation, and was doing his best to put it out of his mind as he concentrated on paying the last few bills for the Titans. Managing the team and their finances wasn't hard, but it felt as though he was struggling a lot lately. Was he letting his problems with Starfire affect his ability to lead? He hoped it wasn't true, though it was harder to give her commands to follow and not expect some impact on things between the two of them later.

He set his pen down and leaned back in his chair as he finished writing the last check. Now he just had to make it to nine and he would get a much-needed break from the tower. It was around seven already, he could handle another hour and a half. He'd just go play a game with Terra, or Cyborg, or Beast Boy. Last thing he wanted was to run into Starfire. No way was he having that conversation with her again, especially since Cyborg and Beast Boy were taking sides during their arguments. Luckily Terra hadn't joined in as well, though he was sure Kid Flash and Bumblebee would be right behind Cyborg and Beast Boy. Raven had been immune to the drama, until he dragged her into it.

If they were going to be drinking he probably shouldn't be driving them, which meant getting a cab or asking one of the others to do it. Taking a cab would cost more and he doubted Raven would like it. Whoever he asked had to be cool with not joining them for dinner, be cool about the two of them just hanging out, and not ask for any return favors. He would try Terra first and if she said no, then he'd try one of the others. Getting up from his desk, he left his room and went down the hall to the common room.

Robin walked in and glanced around the room Cyborg and Beast Boy were playing GameStation on the couch, Bumblebee and Kid Flash were talking and eating in the kitchen, and Raven was playing cards with Terra at the table across from the kitchen. He casually stepped over to the table and looked between the two girls. Terra glanced up from her cards and smiled at him, Raven's eyes found his and she gave a small nod.

"Hey Rob, wanna join in?" Terra asked.

"Maybe later, you got a minute?" Robin asked.

"Yeah, sure, don't look at my cards, Rae, I'll know if you do," Terra said as she got out of her chair.

"I don't need to look at your cards to know what you have," Raven said slyly.

Shaking her head at Raven's comment, Terra followed Robin out into the hallway.

"I have a favor I wanna ask," Robin said.

"Ok, shoot," Terra said.

"So, Rae and I are going out for dinner and maybe some drinks tonight just to get away from the tower for a bit, so I don't want to drive us or have her use her powers…just in case we have too much. Could you take us there and then pick us up later?" Robin asked.

"Wait, you're going out with Rae?! Did you break up with Star?!" Terra asked in surprise.

"No, I didn't break up with Star, and it's not a date, we're just getting away for the night!" Robin said.

"Oh, right. Sure I can drive you."

"Thanks. I'll give you the details when we're ready to go around nine, okay?"

"Cool. So, things with you and Star aren't going well, huh?"

"I don't wanna talk about it," he said with a groan.

"You should, it helped me deal with Beast Boy a little."

"No, I already have, I don't wanna keep going over it. You two still not talking?"

"Until he says he's sorry."

"That'll be a while."

"Yeah, I know."

"Who helps you with him?"

"Mostly I talk to Rae, sometimes Cyborg or Bumbleebee. Someone helping you handle Star?"

"Raven. Think I've been stressing her out with it lately."

"I think she's good, or she wouldn't keep helping. She knows what she wants, and I can't decide what I want sometimes, so it's good she can help me figure it out. That how she's helping you?"

"Kinda. I know what I want, it's just, I'm not sure what to do about it.."

"Tough one, "she said with a chuckle, "I'm happy to help too."

"I know, thanks. Guess I've kept you from your game long enough, c'mon," he said as he led her back into the common room.

No one else had moved from their places, save Raven, who was hovering next to the table, reading one of her books. Starfire was nowhere to be seen, but Robin knew she was in her room with Silkie. One of the things he didn't like, Star wouldn't confront him after a fight, she would avoid him and snipe until he came around – which he usually did when he was in the wrong, but he wasn't this time, and she knew it. He sighed and watched as Terra and Raven resumed their game at the table. Sitting in one of the chairs, he watched as they played.

Raven looked from Terra, then to Robin, as if trying to figure out what they might have talked about. It was the look Terra was giving her that tipped her off that it may have been about her. Throughout the game, Raven would get the same look from Terra, and every now and then Robin would flash Raven a wider smile than he normally did. Out with it already, Raven wanted to say, but if it was sensitive, they weren't the only ones in the room. Once she beat Terra and Robin joined in, Raven passed a card over to Terra and held onto it when Terra tried to take it from her.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Raven asked pointedly.

"Like what?" Terra asked.

"Like you know a secret of mine that you want me to admit to," Raven replied.

"Maybe I know you're doing something later, maybe I'm driving tonight," Terra said.

"What did you do?" Raven asked Robin.

"Figured she could drive in case we had too much," Robin said, "unless you wanted to take a cab instead?"

"That's fine. Wait…You put an idea in her head too, didn't you?" Raven asked.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"She's dying to ask me something," she replied.

"Do you think it's a date?" Terra asked bluntly.

If there was color that was redder than red, Robin's face may have shown it. He was awkward when it came to anything romantic, or suggestive. Which Terra would know by now, Robin thought. His eyes moved to Raven's. She was frozen in her seat, pink flushing her cheeks and her amethyst eyes wide. Terra giggled at Raven's reaction which was enough to knock the empath out of her frozen state.

"No, I don't think it's a date. Don't be absurd. If I thought it was, I wouldn't be going. Do you think he or I would hurt Starfire like that?" Raven asked.

"Okay, okay, I got it! I was just playing with you. Not a date," Terra said.

"Speaking of dates, why don't you take the changeling out to a movie? I heard it's kid's night at the theatre so you'd only have to pay for yourself," Raven said.

Terra laughed and caught herself before she let it go on too long.

"Funny, but you know I'm not talking to that green lump right now," Terra said.

"That's the best part, it's a movie theatre, you won't have to talk," Raven said.

"She's got a point," Robin said, picking up a card.

"I'm not going to sit next to him either," Terra said.

"Good news for your hygiene," Raven said dryly.

As the girls kept their banter going, Robin noted Raven's deflection. He knew that she knew there was no way Terra would be doing anything with Beast Boy, but it was a troubling topic for her so it got Terra to stop asking about the night out. It made Robin curious and he watched Raven more closely as they played cards, looking for hints that she might not believe what she had said. He didn't find much, though she did look over to him more than once with a question in her eyes. Could have just been about the game though. Her pale fingers grazed his gloved hand as they discarded at the same time and she quickly retreated. Okay, maybe it wasn't just the game, after all, he thought, if she looks at me right after that, it's not about the game. As she reached out and added another card to her hand, her eyes shifted to meet his gaze. Damn, it's not about the game.

rrrrrrrrrrRRRRRrrrrr

Ten minutes past nine, Terra dropped off Robin and Raven in front of the Four Aces, and waved at them before pulling away in the T-Car. A line of people leading out of the door and down the block barred any entry. Raven groaned and started to move to the end of the line. She was stopped by Robin, putting his hand on her shoulder and twisting her around, then he directed her to an alleyway. Robin led Raven to a door at the side of the building and knocked twice. It opened and a large, muscle-bound security guard loomed over them.

"You got eyes? The line's over there," the guard said.

"I'm a friend of Detective Harker's, he told me to tell you that I need a couple diamonds for two hearts, and then a king or a jack, whichever one you have tonight," Robin said.

The guard smiled and handed him a silver poker chip, then led them inside. Closing the door behind them, he directed the two Titans to a small stairwell.

"Head up those steps, take a left, second door on your right. Give the guy behind the counter that chip, and he'll take you to your table. Give my best to Harker next time you see him, and tell him this favor is good whenever he wants it," the guard said.

"Got it, thanks," Robin said.

"No problem, you two enjoy yourselves," the guard said before leaving them at the bottom of the stairs to resume his post.

Robin led Raven up the stairs into a small, dimly lit, lavishly decorated hallway. They took a left and went to the second door on the right as they were told, Robin opened it for Raven and they stepped out onto a balcony overlooking the rest of the club. There were booths all around the balcony in small boxes with large windows, effectively shutting out all other noise.

Raven walked over to the railing and looked out over the heads of the other patrons. Most were sitting at packed tables and booths below, all of which surrounded a dance floor and a full bar. Lights of blue, red, green, purple danced on the floor and walls as music bounced and echoed over the dance floor. She looked to her right and saw a more elegant bar stocked with what she could only guess were high-priced bottles and more. A small man behind the counter waved Robin over as her friend displayed the silver chip in his hand. The man led them along the balcony to one of the small boxed booths, opened the door, and let them enter. She sat across from Robin as the man entered and shut the door behind him. She was grateful as she could hear her thoughts clearly again.

"Welcome to the Four Aces VIP Lounge, my name is Cedric and I'll be serving you, would you like a moment to look over the menu before you decide on drinks, or do you know what you want?" the man asked.

"I think we'd like a few minutes," Robin said.

"Of course. I'll be just out there, when you're ready, press the button by the salt shaker there, and I'll be right over," Cedric said.

When the waiter left, Robin passed Raven a menu and began looking it over.

"Quite a place. How did your friend get the VIP favor?" Raven asked.

"He…you know, he didn't say," Robin replied.

"Suppose this place isn't legit?" Raven asked.

"What if it's not? We're not on patrol," Robin replied.

"Robin…ignoring potential crimes, what will the public think? Come to think of it, what should I think?" Raven asked.

"That I'm tired from fighting all the criminals in the city and I needed a break with my friend so I took her to dinner and drinks at a mob club because it was one of the nicest spots in town," Robin replied.

"It would make such a nice article," she said with a giggle.

"I think so," he chuckled, "so what are you getting to drink?"

"I've been dying to know what absinthe tastes like, and it seems this place doesn't care that it's still illegal here, so I'll have that," she said.

"Sounds interesting, I think I'll keep it simple and get a jack and coke to start," he said.

"Already planning for round two?"

"Yeah, aren't you?"

"Oh yes, especially with the week I've had" she chuckled, "why don't we settle on what we're eating too before you call the waiter back."

Once they settled on their food, they called the waiter back in and he took their order before leaving them in a rush. Alone, Robin and Raven got to chatting about what they had been missing out on while they were handling the team during the week. Raven hadn't made it through her book yet, and she wasn't able to make it to the mall to pick up a few things she needed for her expanding wardrobe. Robin didn't get to go to the movie he'd been waiting for a month to release yet, hadn't practiced a few new moves he had recently come up with, and couldn't get a moment to himself.

Their waiter swept back into the booth with their drinks. Raven took hers with a smirk and sipped at it while Robin eagerly took a gulp of his. Before the waiter left them again, he passed Robin a king of clubs.

"This will get you access to the dance floor downstairs, show it to the DJ to request songs, and free drinks at the public bar." The waiter said.

"Wow, uh, thanks," Robin said, as he took the card and turned it in his hand, examining it as if it were a stunning, foreign gem.

"I shall return with your food when it is ready," the waiter said.

When the waiter left, Robin and Raven slipped back into their conversation. Her gaze never left him as he spoke, she took cues from him when he finished with a subject. It wasn't that he couldn't talk to her about it more, it was just that it could get into more intimate territory than he was willing to share with her. Why though? He wondered as he looked her over, taking another sip of his drink. She kept plenty of secrets, he knew, and he had already gone on about Starfire at length with her, maybe she could go deeper with him. Risks had to be taken and he was tired of hiding details from her.

Better to ease into it, he thought, hopefully the food is here by then. He took a sip of his drink and his mind wandered. Inviting her out had been a good idea, he was glad he had done it, he just hadn't expected the place would be so over the top. Not that he wanted to go somewhere else, it was a lot to take in. The private booth, the dance floor below, the VIP treatment in general said quite a lot, he was lucky she hadn't considered this a date – it was a place that would impress anyone he brought along. Still, he could tell she was different here with him, while the rest of her face hid everything, her eyes never lied to him. And they were trained on his.

Raven was in awe of the place, she hadn't thought he would bring her here. Her drink was perfect, their seats were peaceful while still letting them be in the middle of everything, and he was as sweet as ever. Things had been casual between them up until now. This had to mean something, right? Had she been wrong? Was this a date? If it was, he had outdone himself. Her emotions were straining against her control of them, trying to make her express any of them, but she wouldn't dare. Date or not, he was still with Starfire, and she had no right to try anything with him.

She took a long drink from her glass. If her emotions kept up like this, it would be a long night. Maybe the alcohol would help.

"Having a good time?" Robin asked.

"So far. Hope you're not about to ruin it and ask me to dance," Raven replied.

"No, I uh, haven't danced since I went with Kitten to that boat," he said.

"Star stole the last dance with you though," she said.

"Yeah, she did. Hasn't asked me to dance since either."

"Why? Did one of you step on the other's foot?"

"No, just haven't been in a place where we'd dance."

"Oh," she said, pausing to glance over the balcony at the dance floor, "but you are now."

"Huh?"

"Would you like to?"

"What? Dance?"

"I mean it um, wouldn't have to be with me, I just thought I'd ask if you were thinking about it."

"You'd dance with me? Wow, how much alcohol did they put in your drink?" he asked with a laugh.

"Look, I thought I'd offer, you brought me here and…I wanted to do something nice to repay you."

That wasn't the whole truth, but if Raven had said she was interested in dancing with Robin, he would have taken it the wrong way. She didn't dance, couldn't really dance, but knew he could, and hoped he would lead her. She figured that one dance was hardly going to make a difference for him or her. It was a surprise to her that she had asked, but the place inspired her. He inspired her. She watched as he swirled the liquid and ice in his glass, his head down as he did so. She set her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her palm, guessing as to what he was thinking. Clearly, he was torn, the why was probably related to Starfire – who almost never failed to come up in in some way during their conversations. It had gotten on her nerves, was getting on her nerves, and she did her best to seem relaxed. He lifted his head and smiled.

"I guess one dance after dinner would be okay, if it doesn't kill you," he teased.

"Careful, or I won't just be accidentally stepping on your feet," she said.

"I can take it, think I prove that every time we spar in the gym. Unlike some people."

"Oh really? I seem to recall knocking you on your ass last time."

"Only after you used your powers to fling a punching bag at me. Didn't count."

"It's still sore, isn't it?" she teased.

"Hey, have no problem taking you on again if that's what you want, and you'll be the one on your ass at the end."

"Promises, promises."