Collateral

EXTRA SCENES

)O(

So, someone suggested I put all the other endings I had up, just so you could take a look at what I was working with. I thought about it for a while, thinking it was kind of a silly idea, but then I thought: Okay, why not? You deserve to see another ending. This scene takes place after Raven gets off the phone with Nikolai and heads to Titan Tower.

"Thank you, Cyborg."

"No problem, Rae." Nikolai's jeep bounced a little as Cyborg loaded the last into the backseat. There wasn't much in the few boxes she decided to keep. A few of her belongings, some music, but mostly her books. Raven couldn't leave without her books. There was a long awkward silence, where neither of them could really look at each other. It felt like they were cutting ties between them, even though Raven was just moving halfway across the city. She could see the tower from the flat, for Goddess' sake. Cyborg shifted his weight before he caught her gaze again. "You know, you really should wait for the others to come back to the tower. Robin deserves an explanation."

Raven felt color flood her face. "I know."

"Do you also know he's head-over-heels in love with you?"

Raven cringed at the term and she looked away, hiding her shame. "Yes." She forced her eyes up at him. "I know, Cyborg. I understand what this means, what happens to us as a team. What happens to Robin. It's just…" She sighed and looked out at the drizzle coming down from the heavens. "I like Nikolai. We're good for each other. He makes me… happy, I guess. Content." She sighed, wondering if Cyborg understood her. "I loved Robin. For years I tried to get him to notice me, to treat me like a woman and not like a team member. I wanted him to look at me the same way he used to look at Starfire. But he didn't."

"That's not Robin."

"We would have loved each other at first, but Robin would want…" Raven bit her lip and thought. "He would want roses and candlelight. He would want all the things I wouldn't. I don't want to be wrapped up in bubble wrap and fed jewels and pretty words. I want to stand eye-to-eye with you and know that we're even. That there's nothing between us we should fear, hate, or dislike." Raven grinned. "I want to know I can take him in a fight and he's not letting me win."

Cyborg laughed, although it didn't seem to reach his eyes. "That definitely would not be Robin." He paused and wrapped her up in a hug. "I just hate to see you go, Rae. You're like my little sister, and I just don't want you running off and marrying some stranger."

"Woah." Raven glared up at him. "There will be no marrying. At all. Ever."

Cyborg shrugged, unperturbed. "That's what you say. I get the distinct impression that one day Nikolai's gonna wake up and decide to make an honest woman out of you."

Raven growled, and Cyborg let it drop, but didn't wipe the smile off his face. Raven fingered the keys for a moment before she looked back up at him. "You should really drop by sometime… I mean… as long as you promise not to turn him in or anything."

"I'd love to. And don't worry, no one can turn him in."

"Oh? Why's that?"

Cyborg shrugged. "Nikolai returned the suit. Technically you're the only one who knows his other identity, and I doubt you'll divulge that information. Robin just guessed, and it would give away his identity." He shook his head and sighed. "It would never hold up in court, so Robin just put the thing back in the vault. He did say some pretty nasty things that day."

"Nikolai did what?"

The sound of a crate exploding in the distance made Cyborg rethink his thoughts. Perhaps Nikolai wasn't supposed to return the suit yet. Maybe he should learn to keep his big mouth shut, and stop getting people into trouble. "Er…"

"That… jerk! He is going to get it when he gets home."

"Ah. I take it he didn't tell you?"

"No." Raven hissed breath out between her teeth, trying to calm her nerves. "He told me he would be fine."

"Well, is he fine?"

Raven paused and sighed, knowing what Cyborg was getting at. "Yes."

"Then there's nothing to worry about."

"You, stop sticking up for him." Raven tried to keep the smile from showing, but it was to little avail. She grinned up at Cyborg and punched his arm. "You're as bad as he is."

"It's good to know some one is going to keep you on your toes." He hugged her before she climbed in behind the wheel. "I'll give you a call sometime soon."

"I'll see you later, Cyborg."

)O( )O( )O(

Robin felt stupid waiting for Raven to return. He'd heard from Cyborg that she visited the tower, and took her things with her. He didn't believe it at first. Would Raven really leave them? And for what? For Nikolai? Red X? A wanted criminal. But sure enough, her room had been cleared of all her belongings, and everything that belonged in the tower was neatly boxed up and placed in the closet. Robin felt tears come to his eyes as he looked at the strange apartment around him, filled with Nikolai's things. It was plain, bare and minimalist to Robin. Nothing exciting. So what did she find interesting about him?

He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. Why had he waited so long to address how he felt? If had had been honest with himself, then Raven would have been his lover. And he wouldn't be chasing shadows in the dark. If he hadn't been so stupid. If he hadn't been so dense. He didn't realize how much he loved her until she was taken from him. Until he could no longer touch her. Until she told him to leave.

That hurt a lot.

The sound of the lock clicking made him pick up his head. There was a long pause as she stood in the doorway, watching him. Finally, she stepped into the flat and dropped her grocery bags on the counter and stood there watching him. It felt like an eternity before she spoke. "This is an unexpected surprise." She watched as he stood up and walked into the kitchen.

"You're back." Robin knew the words sounded stupid, but he didn't want to let her go. He didn't feel like he could ever let her go. She raised an eyebrow, staring at him for a long while before deciding to speak.

"I'm home."

Ouch.

"I see." Robin reached out and fiddled with something on the counter before she pulled it away from him. He looked at her and sighed. "And, there's nothing that can change your mind?"

"No." She sighed and began putting the groceries away, turning her back on the conversation. "What are you doing here, Robin? Surely you didn't have some convoluted idea that you would waltz in here and sweep me off my feet with your pretty words, did you?"

"No." Robin knew Raven could tell he was lying. "I wanted to see for myself. I wanted to see if you really decided to leave the team."

"I did." Raven's answer was blunt and to-the-point. She watched him for another moment before turning back around. "I figured it was time to move on."

"I love you." Robin cringed at the tone of his voice. It sounded desperate, even to his own ears. Raven stilled, her hands in the refrigerator. She turned and looked back at him as the air turned sour. Robin had made a vital error.

"I know that." Raven sighed and walked up to him, frowning. "I loved you too, once. But, Robin, you never noticed me." Her eyes bore into him until Robin felt like he was drowning in their amethyst pools. His heart leapt into his throat, and he turned away from her. "Goddess, Robin. Just once I wanted you to look at me as a woman, not a team mate. But you were so concerned with everything else around you. Slade, Starfire… just… not me. I gave up after a while. If you weren't going to bother, neither was I."

"How long?" Robin managed to find his voice again. "When… did you love me?"

Raven barked out a shred of a sour laugh. "When? Since the battle with Trigon."

She had loved him for that long? Through thick and thin? Even though he'd probably hurt her more times than he could think of, and "That was almost three years ago!"

"I know."

"You never said anything."

"I shouldn't have to spell everything out for you." Raven whirled on him, her eyes blazing. "You lost Robin. I'm sorry. Nikolai figured me out before you did, and it only took him a few days." She sighed. "A month ago I would have given every good thing in my life away to hear you say those words. But what do you want from me now? I've made my choice."

"You chose wrong."

"Get out of my house, Robin."

"Your house?"

"I live here now. It's as much mine as it is his."

"Selling your soul to the highest bidder?" Robin cringed, wishing those words hadn't come out of his mouth. Raven wasn't like that. He knew that.

"That's right, Robin. That's the kind of person I am. After nearly five years of being my best friend, my favorite companion, and leader of my team you know the inner most parts of my soul. And I am the kind of woman who would be like that." She pointed to the door. "Get out. Come make amends when your head clears of this mess."

"I won't ever-"

"Don't say it Robin. If you're ready to close the door on me and on your best friend since you were children… then, by all means, go head and say it. But if you value my companionship and you value Nikolai, I would go home and rest until he comes home tomorrow."

Robin took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I will see you tomorrow evening."

"And we can talk about this like civilized humans?"

"Yes."

"Good then."

)O(

The other scenes which I cannot find for the life of me, revolved around several different scenarios. One where it was six ears later and Nikolai and Raven come back to Jump City after living in Bali for years, and find Robin and Starfire married and blah blah blah.

The last scene, which I may still write, takes place after the last chapter (Wiser) and revolves around Nikolai coming home to find Raven there and she tells him what Robin offered and that she refused. Because she kinda, sorta loves him. Or something to that effect.

You don't have to leave a review, this was just to show you that I was working with other endings, I hope you enjoyed!

Xaph.