Forward Motion
A Teen Titans Fan Fiction by Jacob McDonald
Opening Notes: This story is a sequel to the three chapter 'Falling Up.' While it is designed to be a stand alone piece, I highly recommend reading that one before this one. Following the format I set myself in the last story, this one will also have three chapters, but it will cover a much wider range of time. Enjoy.
Standard disclaimers apply. I don't own Teen Titans, because my girlfriend tells me I watch too many cartoons as it is.
Chapter One: Stalled Out
Dick Grayson walked across the massive expanse of floor that was the ballroom of Wayne manner, wading through the crowd of socialites and influential people from around the world. Bruce was having a New Years gala, and he had been expected to attend, so of course he had flown home to Gotham for the evening. He'd leave for Jump again in the morning, and be back in his cape by that afternoon, but for now he was simply Dick Grayson.
He still recalled the phone conversation that he'd had with Alfred when the old butler had passed on Bruce's wishes for him to attend the party. They'd chatted and caught up on old times, and at the end, Alfred had dropped the bomb.
"Master Bruce and I would also like to see you bring a date, Master Richard. Please have a female companion with you when you arrive."
It hadn't been a request, or a suggestion. It had been an order. Bruce wanted to keep up appearances, and Dick Grayson not acting like the playboy his guardian had taught him to be would look odd. Dick had to be as far away from Robin as possible, no questions asked.
But Dick had never been one to listen to what Bruce wanted, pointing out that the man seldom wanted what was best for him or anyone else. He didn't have much use for his identity as Dick Grayson out in Jump, and his team didn't seem to mind that he hardly ever took off the mask.
So he'd asked her to come with him.
She had seemed shocked at first, then had accepted with the same grace that she'd shown in countless other tasks throughout the time they'd known each other.
As he approached her where she stood on the balcony, looking out at the snow falling lightly in the darkened garden, he couldn't help but appreciate her beauty. Her black gown was slinky and left most of her back exposed, dipping low in the front as well to reveal the sides of her breasts which threatened to fall out of it at a moments notice. Her long neck was visible now that she'd pulled her violet hair up, which she'd dyed black for this occasion. The red jewel set into her forehead glinted in the half light that shrouded the balcony.
The perfect lighting for the dark beauty.
"Getting some air?" he asked softly as he stepped out next to her. She turned her head and glanced at him.
"Getting away from you. You flirt too much."
"I have to here. I'm a playboy, remember?"
"You've always flirted too much."
"Hey now... that's so not true..." he tried to sound offended, but couldn't really work up the energy to argue, "I hate having to act like this." Taking off his coat, he slipped it around her shoulders.
"Thanks." she mumbled, and pulled it tighter around herself, facing away from him, "You know, even back in Jump, you always make eyes at other girls."
"I guess. I only ever love you though."
She nodded, and they were silent for a time. After a moment, she sighed, "Why'd you ask me to come to this thing, Dick? I hate all those people in there, acting all high and mighty because they're rich and powerful, and warranted a invitation to Bruce Wayne's New Years Party."
"I thought you might enjoy it, and I needed a date." he scowled, "Sorry, guess I misread you again."
"You're always misreading me. I really don't expect to ever get it right."
"There you go again! I mean, emotional repression is one thing, Rae, but do you have to add sarcasm and spite to every word you speak to me?"
"Do you have to always take things so personally? Do you always have to have such a huge ego to bruise?"
"This is a pointless conversation." Dick threw his hands up, "I'm going to go find Bruce. At least talking to him is more like a brick wall. He doesn't talk back."
"You do that."
"Can I have my coat back?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I'm cold."
"So? Go get your own coat. You know where Alfred stashed them."
"No."
"Give it here, Rae."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Damnit Rae! Stop being a bitch!"
"Stop being a pompous ass."
He growled, "Ice queen."
She didn't even blink, "Ego laden jerk."
His eyes narrowed, "Emotional cripple."
Her eyes narrowed, "Muscle head."
"Whore."
"Slut."
And they grabbed each other and crushed their mouths together, kissing and exploring one another's bodies as if the world was ending in ten seconds.
The chanting from inside counted down from that ten seconds, to one, and the two Titans continued to make out for the first several minutes of the new year.
"Three!" the crowd in Steel City chanted in the middle of the cities largest park.
Bumble Bee zapped one of the ski mask wearing men robbing the electronics store across from the park while there was no one around.
"Two!"
Cyborg hurled another of the looters into the side of their get away truck, and then turned his sonic cannon on the last one, who was fleeing the scene.
"One!"
The two Titans turned to each other and grinned. Bumble Bee leapt into Cyborg's arms, and they kissed passionately as the crowd cheered, "Happy New Year!"
Starfire pulled back from Beast Boy where they stood in Jump City Central Square. They smiled warmly at each other and then shared another quick kiss as the large crowd around them began singing.
"Let's get back to the Tower." Best Boy said into her ear over the loud singing, "Robin wanted us to keep track of things while he and Raven were out of town, and now that Cy's gone, there's bound to be something for us to do."
"Of course." Star gave him a megawatt smile, and they both flew up into the night sky, her with a soft tinkling noise, and he in the form of a falcon. Cheers from the crowd below followed them half way to the Tower.
Two hours into the new year found Dick propped up on one elbow in bed, watching Raven as she sat at a vanity in one of the manors many rooms. He was still naked, covered to the waist in expensive sheets, but she was wearing his dress shirt, attempting to brush the kinks out of her hair.
"You're such a brute, Dick. I have no idea how you mess my hair up so much."
"It's a talent."
She finally sat the brush down and sighed at her reflection. She'd have two new hickys in the morning, "We shouldn't have done this again..."
Dick nodded, "It really sucks that the best sex is always make up sex." she glanced at him, and he elaborated, "Because it's always proceeded by the fighting."
"Yes, well, we certainly fight enough."
"I guess that's why we've always had such great sex, huh?"
"No," Raven shook her head as she stood up and gathered her discarded dress and heals, "That's why we broke up in the first place." he sobered up as she leaned over him and planted a light kiss on his forehead with a sad smile, "I'll see you in the morning, Dick." and she left the room.
The next day found Dick sitting at the breakfast table in Wayne Manor, reading the newspaper and sipping coffee. Alfred set a tray of waffles down in front of him, and pushed the paper down to look him in the eye, "Eat, Master Richard. You've been avoiding my cooking ever since you arrived two day ago." the aged butler arched an eyebrow, "You don't remember it as being that horrible, do you?"
Dick smiled, "Heck no, Alf. Just... preoccupied is all."
"A tendency you share with Master Bruce." Alfred shook his head, "Eat." he ordered.
With a sigh and a light grin, Dick sat aside the newspaper and helped himself to a plate of waffles. As he was drenching them in syrup, Bruce walked in and sat down at the other end of the eight person table. "You left the party early last night." he commented as Alfred swooped down on him with a plate and orders to eat.
"Yeah, Rae and I had some stuff to talk about."
"Uh huh." Bruce nodded with a straight face, "Stuff."
Dick narrowed his eyes, "What exactly are you insinuating, Mr. Wayne?"
"Nothing much at all, Mr. Grayson. Just that you brought that young woman up to one of the guest rooms last night and had relations with her for several hours before she left you for her own chambers." Dick's mouth dropped open, "Is there something you want to tell me, Dick?"
"Were you like, standing outside the door or something?" Dick demanded, "Jesus Bruce! Pry into my personal life a bit more, why don't you!"
"You know perfectly well that every room in the manor has security cameras." Bruce leveled a glare at him, "I didn't watch, but I did check the time stamps."
"When did you find time to review the security footage from last night? Have you even slept yet?"
Bruce ignored him, "I thought the two of you were 'just friends.'"
"We are." Dick looked away and mumbled, "We broke up almost four months ago."
"So you were dating her." Bruce frowned, "For how long?"
"Almost a year."
"And you didn't tell me why?"
"Didn't know it was a requirement of the job."
"It's not. But I'm your guardian Dick. I'm your friend."
Dick glared up at him, "Which is why you chased me out of the cave, right?"
"You left of your own volition."
"You were smothering me and you know it!"
The door to the hallway opened and Raven stepped into the room, wearing a light blue top, dark jeans and no socks. Just as she entered, Bruce replied to Dick, "I was trying to protect my city! You were getting too rebellious!"
Raven turned and started to walk back out.
"I was fifteen!" Dick shouted back at Bruce, standing up, "Of course I was rebellious! Just because you didn't know jack shit about raising a kid doesn't make it my fault you freaked out! And don't you go anywhere just yet, Raven!"
Raven paused, almost out the door, and cursed silently. Turning back around, she glared, "What?"
"I just thought you might want to know that Bruce has security footage of us having sex last night. I'll take you to the cave so we can destroy it."
Raven looked over at Bruce, "Don't get out of the cowl much, do you?" she looked disgusted.
"Wait a second! Dick's making it sound worse than it is!"
"I bet." Raven turned on her heel and marched off, "Dick! Show me where the cave is!"
"Coming." Dick threw a nasty smile at Bruce, then hurried after his ex-girlfriend.
Bumble Bee walked stiffly into the kitchen at Titans Tower East wearing a fluffy, light yellow bathrobe with matching slippers, and immediately staggered to the coffee maker, "Sweet... life giving... caffeine..." she murmured as she poured a mug.
Speedy was flipping pancakes, wearing a white apron and a chefs hat that had little crossed arrows embroidered into it at his forehead. He looked ridiculous. "The hydraulic penis extension strikes again, eh?"
Bee turned and hurled a salt shaker at him. He dodged it deftly and came up grinning, "Thought so."
"Shut up, Roy."
"Seriously though," Speedy turned to a bowl and started mixing more batter, "You and Cy are getting pretty serious, aren't you?"
"I guess. We never really officially started 'dating' but we've been seeing each other every month for at least a few days at a time for the past year now..." she shrugged, "It's a long distance thing with him in Jump and me out here, but it works for us."
"I guess so." Speedy shrugged, "You're twenty in two months, aren't you?"
"Yep."
"And Vic turned twenty this past year..."
"Your point?"
"I hear wedding bells." Speedy smirked at her and ducked to avoid the pepper shaker that came his way a second later, "Seriously! You two are good for each other! I don't see why not!"
"You're a jerk, Roy. Get a life and stop prying into mine." she huffed as she stalked over to the main computer, fluffy robe wafting about her shins and coffee spilling out of the large mug she toted.
She sat down and brought up the City Security Report for the night before, but only got a few sentences in before Speedy was standing next to her again, still mixing batter, "Come on, Karen..." he said in a serious tone that was upset by the fact that he was wearing a white apron over his uniform and mixing pancake batter, "I've lived with you for almost three years now, and I'd like to think I know your moods. Talk to me."
She sighed and closed out of the report. Turning to him she took a sip of her coffee and looked up at his masked visage, "Vic and I are getting serious, but I don't know if I could leave the team for our relationship to go to that next level." she shook her head, "He's important to me, and really, I'm scared to death that he might pop the question soon."
"Hey, if he does," Speedy winked at her with a grin, "say yes. I can lead the team just fine, and the two of you could head off to Metropolis or somewhere and start a life. There's tons of young heroes out there that would love to be Titans..." he smiled a bit more gently, "Not that you're really replaceable, but we'd make due."
She smiled back up at him, "I'll think about it." Standing up, she punched his arm lightly, "You're an alright guy, Roy."
"Yeah, I can be." he grinned again, "Now go get Cy and the speedy wonder twins up... Garth isn't back yet, but I have no qualms about starting breakfast without him!"
Starfire sat up in bed and stretched her arms over her head. With a yawn and a smile, she looked over at Beast Boy, who was curled up under her purple sheets still.
"Wake up, Garfield. It is time to check the reports from last night and then start training."
Beast Boy grumbled something into the pillow he was laying on, then turned over to glare at her, "It's New Years Day, Kori. Can't we sleep in at least once?"
"I allowed you to sleep in at Christmas, and also the day after Thanksgiving." she pointed out, "There is no special significance to this day, aside from it being the first of the year. Is this not the time to begin anew, with many promises for self improvement?"
Beast Boy grunted, "My only New Years Resolution is to beat Cy in Mega-Super-Monkey-Kung-Fu-Slam-Fest-Seven." he rattled off the ridiculously long name of the video game without batting an eye, even though he was still half asleep.
"Well, my resolution is to make sure you get up on time each day, and to help you train yourself into a more effective crime fighter."
"Good luck with that." Beast Boy rolled back over.
Starfire smiled slyly, "Did I wear you out too much last night?" she asked, "While it is true Tameranians posses much higher levels of strength and stamina than humans, you have always managed to keep up in the past. Perhaps we should not have as much sex as we normally do."
Beast Boy vaulted out of bed, "Whew, buddy! I am so freakin' awake right now! Hey Star, you wanna start training as soon as possible?"
Star grinned, "Actually, I think I would like to make love to you once more before we venture to the kitchen for our breakfast. We can then begin our training."
"Oh." he smiled back at her, "Okay!" and he pounced on her, tackling her to the bed while she giggled.
"By Azar..." Raven squinted at the screen, "I didn't know I could bend my leg like that..."
"Hell, I didn't know I could bend my leg like that..." Robin squinted as well, and both of them were silent as they listened to the sounds of passion coming through the speakers.
"This system has some great sound pick up. Bruce really didn't spare any expenses, did he?" Raven reached over to Robin and grabbed a handful of popcorn out of the bowl on his lap.
"Well, he is one of the richest men in the world..." Robin blinked, "Oh, wait... this is my favorite part..." they both leaned in with identical grins as the Robin on the screen suddenly grabbed the Raven on screen and lifted her around her shoulders picking her up off her back and supporting her under her legs while he continued to work.
"Damn..." Raven leaned back and fanned herself, "Okay, three times is enough, Dick. Let's destroy this damn thing."
"Sure." Robin threw her a silly grin and popped the tape out of the recorder. He handed it to her and pointed to an incinerator across the cave, then set about deleting the digital copies of the tape stored on the computer.
With the hard copy and the digitals destroyed, the two of them sat in silence for a few moments, eating the rest of the popcorn and sipping the soda they'd brought down with them. Bruce had been avoiding the cave all day, wanting to stay out of the way of the two upset teens, so they didn't really worry about him coming down to find them eating and drinking around the super computer.
Raven broke the silence first, "We should really stop." she said with a sigh.
"I know." Robin nodded, "We broke up for a reason."
Raven fidgeted for a moment, then burst out, "But the sex is so damn good!" she threw her hands up, "When did I become such a horn ball? Damn it all!"
Robin chuckled, "Well, if it helps any, I think we have great sex too, and it has only been what? Six times since we broke up?"
"We only broke up four months ago!" Raven shoved his shoulder lightly with a scowl, "That's two and a half times a month!"
"How do you have half of a sexual encounter?"
"Quicky." she responded without blinking.
Robin nodded, "Guess so. Wanna have a half of a sexual encounter up in my bedroom?" he waggled his eyebrows at her.
"God, yes." she almost smiled, "But we can't."
"Why not?" Robin slumped back, and waved a hand absently, "It's just sex... not like we haven't done it before."
"We can't," Raven said, looking away from him, "Because you still love me."
There was silence in the cave for a solid minute, and Robin slumped down even further into his seat. He whispered back, "And you don't love me?"
Raven shook her head, "I don't know, Dick. I just don't know."
Robin just nodded, still looking away from her. He stood up slowly, and started towards the stairs to the manor, "We'll be leaving in the plane in a few hours. Be ready to head home then."
"Okay." she didn't watch him as ascended the stairs, so she didn't see his dejected posture, or the tears brimming at the corners of his eyes. She didn't see how he swiped at them in frustration, or the way he walked so slowly.
But then again, she was Raven, and she didn't have to see Robin to know how he was feeling.
Cyborg dropped his gym bag in the trunk of the T-Car, and shut it with a solid thump. He turned to go back to the garage of the Titans East Tower to grab his tool kit, but paused when he saw Speedy leaning against the frame of the door.
"Hey, Vic."
"Roy." Cyborg nodded to him with a grin, "Miss me already?"
"I wanted to talk about Karen." Speedy smiled weakly.
Cyborg frowned, "What about her?"
"More about you... like..." the scarlet archer paused, then pushed forward after mustering his bravery, "What are your intentions, Vic?"
"What is this?" Cy snorted out a laugh, "Are you her dad now?"
"No, but I'm her second." Speedy leveled a glare at Cyborg, "If the two of you leave the Titans, I'm going to be in charge of Titans East. I need to know if you're planning on... um... popping the question."
Cy arched an eyebrow, and walked over to his friend. He leaned against the wall next to Speedy and they stared out at the roiling waters of the Atlantic Ocean, "I've been thinking about it."
"Have a ring yet?"
"Not just yet, no."
"Hmm."
"What's 'hmm' mean?"
"Should I be discussing your replacement with Robin?"
"Man, I don't know..." Cy shook his head, "Even if I do ask her, and she says yes-
"She would. Don't kid yourself, Vic." Speedy rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, okay. But even if we do get hitched, who's to say if either of us will leave the Titans? She could move out to Jump and join us there, or the more likely scenario, I'd move out here to join you guys." Cyborg shook his head, "Robin could find a replacement for me."
"No," Speedy shook his head as well, "he couldn't."
Cy smiled in a warm manner and slugged Speedy lightly in the shoulder, sending him reeling, "You're an alright kind of guy, you know that Roy?"
"Second time I've heard that today." Speedy rubbed his shoulder, "Get your stuff and get out of here. We've got work to do."
"Uh huh." Cy strolled into the garage, "I'll think on this, Roy. I'd be happy if you'd talk to me about it again soon."
"Will do, Tin Man." Speedy watched him walk into the garage, then sighed and turned back to the ocean, "Man oh man... shit's about to hit the fan..."
Raven shifted in the co-pilot seat of the modified T-Sub/Ship/Jet. For as much as they used the versatile vehicle, it had rather uncomfortable seats. She sighed as she felt her butt begin to fall asleep.
"You're being awfully quiet." she commented over the Com.
Robin, sitting in the pilot's compartment, a position normally occupied by Cyborg, replied in a half-hearted manner, "Side affect of having your heart broken... again."
"Come on, Dick." Raven sighed again and absently flipped through various status screens, "We've been moving past this thing for months now, and we were doing pretty good... we can't let three days away from the Tower back slide us like this."
"Says you." Robin sounded slightly huffy, "I think that the fact we backslid at all should tell you something."
"Don't give me that." Raven growled, "We broke up for a reason, Dick. Several actually. Do you want me to remind you?"
"No need." Robin sighed, "We're fighting again already."
Raven was silent for a time, then spoke back up, "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"I know you still have feelings for me... I shouldn't push your buttons like that."
"So'kay." Robin's voice had taken on a distinctly glum tone, "We were dating for eleven months, Rae. It's not like we can just break all the old habits so quickly."
"We still haven't even tried to break some of them."
"I don't see why we have to stop sitting together when we read." Robin replied, "Or why we should dance around each other like physical contact will make us explode."
"Casually brushing against each other is okay, but we tend to... um... prolong our contact."
"Not my fault you're so horny." his voice definitely held a note of amusement now.
"Not my fault you don't make it a point to stop me."
"Why would I want to stop you?"
"Because regardless of all the witty banter we have, and all the little things we have yet to fully grasp about our no longer being an item, we're still not seeing each other any more, and we need to start acting like it."
There was silence again as the auto-pilot guided them home. It was almost five minutes before Robin spoke quietly again over the Com, "I still don't sleep well without you there..."
"Dick..." Raven rubbed her eyes, "Don't... just... don't."
The rest of the trip back to the Tower was made in silence.
Starfire greeted the two birds as they walked in from the hanger, "Greetings friends! I trust your trip to Gotham City was pleasant?"
"Yeah, really great." Raven brushed past her, "I'll be in my room. Meditating."
"Yes... we will not disturb you..." Starfire watched her go, then turned back to Robin as Raven disappeared into the elevator, "It was... not a pleasant trip?"
"We slept together again." Robin replied with a sigh as he carried both his and Raven's bags in from the hanger, "We fought about it afterwards. Kori... I'm never going to get her back..."
Star shook her head, "The two of you will work out your differences. This is just a phase in your relationship." she leveled a glare at him, "One that was bound to happen, the way you treat one another."
"Just because we don't make kissy faces at each other over breakfast," Robin scowled at her, "doesn't mean we hate each other."
"I did not say you hated each other," Star floated over and put a hand on his shoulder, "I meant that you argue far too much. You both must learn to compromise."
"Easy for you to say." Robin grunted as he hefted the bags and they started for the elevator, "Gar panders to your every whim."
"Well," Star grinned, "I am a Princess."
"Not in this Tower you're not." Robin grinned, "What say I dump this stuff off and we hit the gym? I could use a good spar."
"Very well." Star winked at him, "Though I will warn you in advance, I am feeling quite fit today. I may not hold back very much."
"Wouldn't have it any other way." Robin smiled wider and they stepped on to the elevator, laughing.
Speedy chucked a rock into the ocean and watched it splash water around as it hit the surface. He was seated on a rocky bluff just outside the Titans East Tower, his shoulders slumped and his expression dejected.
He threw another rock, and was only mildly surprised when it flew back out of the water at him. Catching it deftly, he tossed it aside as Aqualad rose from the chilly Atlantic waters, grinning, "If I didn't know that our resident red headed archer was a raving ego-maniac without a serious bone in his body, I'd say you were depressed."
"Just thinking."
"Does it hurt much?"
"Fuck you, Garth."
"Seriously," the Atlantian swam over and splashed up on the rock next to the archer, "What's up man?"
"Just... Vic and Karen are getting really serious... like, marriage serious."
"Really?" Aqualad arched an eyebrow, "I didn't think they were even admitting to officially dating yet."
"Yeah, well... they're both twenty in just a few months, and they're so perfect together... makes a guy kind of depressed."
"I might be able to find you a date..." Aqualad winked at him.
"We don't exactly play for the same team, Garth."
"You're no fun."
"Uh huh. About as not gay as they come, I'd say."
Aqualad rolled his eyes, "You have dates all the time, Roy. What gives with the whole 'woe is me' thing?"
"Well, I know you're not exactly into dating too much, and Mas and Menos aren't even hardly old enough to start dating yet, but every other Titan out there has someone to call their own."
"Robin and Raven broke up." the dark haired Atlantian pointed out.
"Yeah, but they still sleep together, and act like they're dating. You should hear Robin bitch about it."
"Hmm... Starfire and Beast Boy are still together, and Vic has Karen... what about the independents? Hotspot?"
"More gay than you. He's been seeing some guy from India for almost eight months."
"Wildebeast?" Aqualad arched an eyebrow.
"He's dating a cow from Oregon."
Aqualad stared.
Speedy threw his hands up with a helpless smile, "I'm kidding! No, he met... get this... a female ox-woman. Calls herself Beauty."
"Beauty and the Beast? Ha!"
"No kidding. It's just you and me, man. The only single one's out there."
"We could start-"
"Don't even say it, Garth."
"Well, if you ever get out of your funk, I say we hit the town tonight and look for love!"
"I'm not interested in another quick lay, man."
"Then we'll avoid every place you normally go." Aqualad shrugged, "We'll hit some of the nicer places. Maybe meet a girl or two... or a guy or two... or three..."
Speedy groaned, "Gawd you are so gay..."
"Ha!" Starfire flew down at Robin with a punch that would smash a car. He deftly back flipped out of the way, landed, and hurled a small explosive at her, blasting her away from himself. He wasn't too worried about the impact and the explosion hurting her. Tameranians could take heaps of abuse before they even started to feel anything.
"Stop being so nice, Star." Robin growled, "I'm a super hero too you know. I can take care of myself."
Starfire flew in rapidly, and threw several more punches, as well as a few starbolts here and there. Robin dodged all of them and continually landed light rabbit punches on her cheeks. She grinned at him, "You are not hurting me..." she sing songed.
"It's not the point of the spar to hurt each other. Now come on and stop play fighting!" Robin shouted and grabbed her shoulders. Spinning about, he hurled her up and at a wall.
Starfire twisted about in midair, planted her feet on the wall, and stopped. She launched a rapid volley of starbolts at her opponent, then followed with an optic blast that scorched a line in the mats next to him. While he was off balance, she flew down faster than before and shoved him halfway across the room, pinning his shoulders to the ground.
"You are distracted." she told him in a serious voice, "It would be unfair to fight like this when you are so obviously not up to it."
"I-" Robin bit off his angry retort. She was right. "I'm sorry, Kori. I didn't mean to drag you in here and yell at you."
"It this not what best friends are for?" she winked at him.
"Yeah..." he reached up and pulled off his mask, "Best friends..." he stared up into her brilliant green eyes for a moment, then pulled her face down to his and kissed her.
Starfire melted in his arms, and deepened the kiss. Her hands tangled in his hair, and his ran up her sides, holding her closer. He moaned up into her mouth, and whispered, "Kori..."
She suddenly remembered hearing a similar moan just the night before, and her eyes snapped open. She quickly pulled away from Robin and floated up off of him, "Richard! What... you cannot..." as he sat up and stared at her in bewilderment, she became angry, "What in Xhal's name do you think you are doing?"
"It's what you want though, isn't it? A year ago you would have been ecstatic to have me kiss you, and now here I am, single again, and-"
"Richard!" she flew down and got in his face, "Listen to yourself! Do you think I will simply run into your arms now that you are no longer with Raven? Do you think I would settle for that? And what of my relationship with Garfield? Do you have so little respect for your friends that you would try to 'steal me away' from him?"
Robin's face crumpled and he flopped back on the mats of the gym, "But... don't you love me?"
"Of course I love you, Richard!" she hovered over him and looked down at him with worry etched on her face, "I told you back then that I always would! But now that I have found happiness elsewhere, you cannot simply stroll in and expect things to be as they were!"
He squeezed his eyes shut, "You're right... I... don't know what came over me there. I'm sorry Kori."
"You are forgiven, Richard. I know you are hurting inside, but you must understand that Raven needs her space at the moment, and you must be patient with her."
"I know..." he sighed and stood up, "I'm going to take a short nap, then head out on patrol. Have the rest of the team take the night off."
"Are you sure?" she looked even more worried. Robin had been known to take on too much in the past.
"I'll be fine, Kori. I just need to clear my head. Besides, help is always just a com call away."
"Very well. I shall inform Raven and Beast Boy, and Cyborg as well when he returns."
"Thanks." Robin waved over his shoulder as he departed.
Star watched him go, then sighed herself, and sagged to the floor. "Oh Richard..." she touched her lips, "I am so... so sorry."
Three weeks passed in a blur for the Titans. The crime rate in Jump wasn't any higher than usual, but it certainly kept them busy enough. Only a few major scrapes with super villains (they put away Dr. Light, Johnny Rancid, and Fang) and they came to a slow period. It happen in a cycle, every January.
It was cold, or at least, as cold as central California ever got. Add to that the general downturn of cash flow following the holidays, and criminals just didn't seem to be able to work up the gumption to head out and terrorize the streets.
Raven and Robin continued to avoid each other, keeping strictly to a business relationship. The other three Titans worried for them, but let them work things out their own way.
True to her word, Starfire was helping Beast Boy train harder, longer, and become an all around better crime fighter. Even Robin was impressed with the progress the green skinned changeling was making, and complimented him on it often.
Cyborg spent his days as he normally did, but could sometimes be gone for hours at a time, holed up in his room. None of the others knew that he was browsing the internet for decent engagement rings.
It was It was the 22nd soon enough. A Saturday. A Saturday that found Robin doing his regular Saturday-In-A-Crime-Slump activities.
He was reviewing unclosed cases.
As he sat in the main room of the Tower, using the main screen for his research, Raven walked though the room. He glanced over at her, then did a double take.
"Whoa." he blinked, "Going out?"
She glanced at him and nodded. She was wearing tight jeans and healed black boots. Her dark blue top was cut low, and had loose sleeves that dropped to her elbows. A leather jacket was slung over her shoulder, and her purse swayed next to her hip, "Yes."
"Where?" he arched an eyebrow.
She hesitated for a moment, then pushed ahead, "I have a date."
Her statement was met with ringing silence. After Robin picked his jaw up off the floor, he blinked at her, then turned back to his files, "Oh. Well, have fun."
Raven winced as she felt his emotions crash through the room like a tidal wave. He was upset, understandably, but she hadn't been prepared for the sense of betrayal that he was emanating. They'd been avoiding each other for so long, that she was sure they were finally starting to move past their past relationship, and had decided to go out with a friend of hers form the cafe she frequented.
She took his dismissal seriously and fled the room to escape his emotional assault on her psyche.
The knock on her door brought Starfire away from the flowers she had been arranging, "Yes?"
"It's me, Kori."
"Come in, Richard!" and she went back to her flowers.
The doors opened and Robin stepped in, looking about the room in a suspicious manner, "Did you know Raven was going out on a date tonight?"
She paused only briefly in her flower arranging, but it was enough to give her away, "I did not! Is she-"
"Cut it out, Kori. You're a terrible actress." he stalked across the room and glanced at her vanity, "And you don't use black eyeliner, or red lipstick, and your hair," he held up a brush, "isn't purple."
"I helped her get ready!" Star threw her hands up, "She asked me to! Was I suppose to tell her no?"
"Yes!" Robin shouted, "Kori, how the Hell do you expect me to win her back if you help her impress other guys?"
"She will not like this man as much as she does you! I am positive!"
"Oh? And why is that?"
"Because you are everything she wants! You are everything she needs!"
"You need to stop listening to Vertical Horizon." Robin rolled his eyes and Starfire's face fell.
"I am... sorry Richard. Raven so rarely asks me to assist her in the making-up that I leapt at the opportunity. I did not mean to dash your hopes so."
"Don't worry about it." Robin scowled as he stalked out the door, "I'm going on patrol."
"Do you wish for company-"
"No."
"Oh." Star uttered as the doors shut behind him, "I will simply... arrange flowers then." and with a sigh, went back to doing just that.
Robin scowled as he swung through the night sky of Jump City. Raven was out here somewhere, having a good time while he suffered. Suffered like the pathetic wimp he was. Why couldn't he just go to her and beg to have her back? He wanted her so badly, and he'd never been afraid to go after something he wanted. So why now?
As he mused, a sight below caught his eye. Pausing on a building ledge, he squinted down and saw the unmistakable bulk of Mammoth and the unmistakable hat of Private Hive as they attempted to create a backdoor into a financial firm's building.
"Bad night to run afoul of this Titan, boys." he muttered, and dove down at them with a scowl.
Raven chuckled politely as Brad cracked another silly joke. He wasn't as bad as Beast Boy, but still... he hadn't been like this back at the cafe. She knew he was nervous, and she could tell she intimidated him, but he wasn't even trying to keep his cool and bolster his courage to-
With a sigh, she realized she was comparing an average citizen to Robin, and shook her head to shake the thought away.
"You okay?" Brad asked and grinned in a nervous manner.
"Yeah. Just a bit dizzy." She did feel dizzy, but put it down to the smoky corner of the restaurant they were in. Brad was a smoker, and had gone through almost half a pack in the past hour.
Also not like his usual self.
"So," he started, "What have you been doing up at the Tower lately?"
"Working." she replied, and shrugged her shoulders, "There's actually a lot of paperwork involved."
"Wild. I wouldn't think the Titans would use too much paper, what with all the high tech stuff you've got." he grinned.
"Every file still needs a hard copy, just incase of a digital attack on the Tower. I wouldn't want to be the man or woman foolish enough to try an infiltrate Cyborg's system, but just in case someone was that stupid, and they managed to cause some kind of damage, the hard copies will allow us to re-enter information if it gets deleted."
"Oh. I guess that makes sense."
"Yeah, look, let's not talk about the Titans, okay? That's work, and we're suppose to be having a good time."
"Right." Brad nodded, "So... how do you feel about show tunes?"
"What is it that makes everyone assume I like show tunes?" Raven threw up her hand in exasperation.
"I dunno." Brad grinned, "You just come off as an 'Oklahoma' kind of girl..."
Raven didn't get a chance to snap at him and tell him to shut up, because at that precise moment, Robin flew through the glass front window of the restaurant. He landed in a heap of broken glass and tangled cape, and moaned softly as he dragged himself to his feet.
A moment later, and an enraged Mammoth smashed though the wall of the place, and slapped Robin across the room. He flew through the air and landed solidly on the table Raven and Brad were sharing.
Blinking up at her, Robin shook his head, "Raven?"
"Uh, yeah. What the fuck are you doing here?"
"I'm fighting Mammoth."
"I see that!" she snapped at him, "You just couldn't resist, could you? Did you trace my T-Comp to find me, or did you stalk me from the rooftops?"
"I didn't do either! The fight just took us here from a few blocks down!"
"Oh, 'cause I believe that!"
"It's true! Tell her Mammoth!" Robin pulled himself off the table and addressed the hulking young man who was about to charge again.
Mammoth blinked, then nodded, "Uh, yeah. We started down the street a ways, and Privet Hive and I have been pounding him down here ever since."
Raven narrowed her eyes, and turned to Robin, "Why are we chatting with the over grown ape?"
"To prove to you that... oh never mind. Get the people clear of here, then join me so we can take him down. I'll hold him off."
"Sure, whatever." Raven glared at him and only then noticed the blood staining his left arm, "You've been shot." she pointed.
"Yeah. Kevlar took most of it, but it still went in a little ways. I've been favoring that arm a little."
"I'm gonna rip that arm off!" Mammoth charged in then, and Robin lunged at him with a flying kick. They collided, and Mammoth stumbled back. Robin turned to glare at Raven.
"You have your orders." then turned his attention back to Mammoth.
Raven narrowed her eyes, but grabbed Brad's arm all the same, "You heard the man. Let's get the people out of here."
"I think I pissed myself." Brad replied, and stumbled along after her as she dragged him towards the kitchen.
"I'm just saying that off all the places you could have ended up, it had to be the one place where I was-"
"Look, Raven, I said I was sorry! How many times do you want me to apologize?"
The two of them were riding the elevator up to the medical level so Raven could pull the bullet that Private Hive and fired at him. The one he hadn't been able to dodge.
As the doors opened and they stepped off the lift, Raven scowled, "Just... shut up and let me take care of you. I'm taking charge as medical officer as well and grounding you for a few days. At least until my healing powers can mend you all the way."
"Fine." Robin scowled, but followed her down the hall anyway so she could patch him up. After all, it was one of the only times she touched him anymore.
"How'd he get a shot off on you anyway?" Raven squinted at Robin's shoulder, mopped away a bit more blood, and continued to sew in the stitches.
Robin winced, "Mammoth was a great distraction. I didn't even know Privet HIVE had a gun until it was too late."
"You were distracted and emotionally unstable. Why were you even out alone?"
"What is this? Twenty Questions? I was patrolling Raven, which last time I checked, was kinda' my job!"
"Where were the others?"
"How should I know? I just told Kori I wanted to be left alone, not that they shouldn't come out and help!"
"You're getting a little out of control, Dick. Maybe you should think about letting us handle things for a week or so. Rest up, get your focus back."
He sighed, "I don't need my focus back, Rae."
Raven sighed as well, "As much as I know you dream about it, Dick, you can't have me back either."
"You know, more and more... I'm thinking I don't want you back."
"Don't lie to me. It doesn't work."
"I'm serious." Robin looked away from her, and over to his mask, where it lay on the table next to the stool he was seated on. He winced again as Raven jabbed the needle a little harder than was necessary, "Don't get all huffy. You were the one out on a date tonight."
"I can still sense that how you feel, Dick, and-"
"How I feel is irrelevant." Robin shook his head, "I don't really stand a chance of ever being with you again, do I? Stop leading me on, Rae. It's over."
She clipped off the last stitch, then sighed, "We just... fight so much, and it's so hard to date your leader when he's giving orders, and it's distracting too both of us in battle-"
"All those things we swore we'd work past when we started." Robin laughed in a hollow manner, "I'll be in bed. Tell Cy he's got the team until I'm ready for duty again." Robin stood up and walked to the door.
Raven's eyes grew cold, "If you want to avoid the topic, then fine. I'll pass on your orders-" the doors shut behind him, and she sighed. "-Robin."
Raven brushed the last length of her hair out after her shower, and sighed at her reflection. She was still a little dizzy, and the conversation with Robin earlier had taken a lot out of her. She felt weak, and a little sick.
"I'm cracking up." she muttered, and stood to go to bed. As he did, a wave of nausea swept her, and she reached out a hand to steady herself. Gulping back her shock, Raven let the dizziness pass, then walked over and climbed into bed.
Running a hand over the spot where Robin had used to sleep, she sighed and used her powers to flip off the light.
The next morning, Starfire floated down the hallway for the elevator, so she could joint Beast Boy in the training room. As she passed Raven's room, the door cracked open. Pausing, Star stuck her head in, "Raven?"
"In the bathroom, Kori." came the weak reply. Star grew a concerned expression on her face, and flew into the room, pausing at the bathroom door.
"Are you well, Raven?" Star blinked down at the extra-pale girl where she was crumpled on the floor in front of the toilet.
"I'm... no... I'm not..." Raven choked, then stuck her face back in the bowl, becoming violently ill. Star's eyes grew wide and she quickly bent down and held her friend's hair back.
"Raven! You are most grievously ill! What is it that assails you?"
"Star... on my vanity you'll find my purse." she gulped and looked up at her friend with pleading eyes, "Get out the cash in there, and I need you to fly to the store. Buy exactly what I tell you to..."
Several hours later, Starfire was pacing back an forth in front of Raven's shut bathroom door. Finally, she turned, "Friend Raven? I wish to enquire about your well being..."
The door opened, and Raven stood before her in dark jeans and a simple white t-shirt. Her feet were bare, but her hair was in much better order than Star had found it in that morning.
"Well?" Star floated forward a little, a nervous look on her face.
Slowly, Raven nodded, looking grim.
Star's face broke into a huge grin, "Heeeee!" she flew forward and almost tackled Raven, "This is wonderful news! We must celebrate-"
"Star!" Raven shoved her friend away, "How is this wonderful news?"
"But..." Star blinked, "This must be another cultural difference between my people and yours."
"I'll say." Raven smiled weakly, "I... have to go talk with Robin."
Star blinked, then covered her mouth, "Oh dear... I hadn't... oh..." she landed and sat down on Raven's bed, "Oh no."
"Uh huh. Don't wait for me... this could take a while." and she walked out of the room.
Robin was down in the garden on the West side of the Tower. The view of the bay and the bridge was phenomenal, and it was one of the reasons he'd chosen to place the garden where it was. Currently, he was inspecting the roses, and using a pair of gardening sheers to trim away dead vegetation.
Dressed in dirty jeans and a green long sleeved shirt, the only thing that remained of Robin about him was his eye mask, set firmly over his crinkled brow. He inspected a bud critically.
"Just a bit too cold for you, huh?" and he clipped it, "Too bad."
Turning slightly, he jumped when he caught sight of Raven standing not ten feet from him by the garden's entrance, "Whoa! Don't just... teleport in like that!"
"I walked in."
Robin blinked at her, "Oh."
"Dick... we need to talk."
"I don't want to talk about it." he turned away from her again, "Just let me get my head back on straight, Rae, then we'll just... put everything behind us."
"Not about that." she walked over, "It's... something's come up."
"Hmm?" he arched an eyebrow, "Another date?"
"Shut the fuck up, Dick." she growled, and he took a step back from the venom in her voice, "This isn't about me! It's about you and me!"
"What the hell are you going on about?"
She sighed, and slumped forward at him. Startled, he caught her and let her hug him. After a moment, she reached up and peeled his mask off, "Things... aren't going to be the same anymore."
"Raven? Are you okay? You're not hurt are you?"
"I'm... fine. Better than fine... I'm..." she looked up at him and he saw a soft smile, and tears in her eyes, "I think... I'm content with everything."
"Wha... Raven, you're... you're sick, aren't you?"
"No." Raven shook her head, "But I'm glad it's you, Dick. I'm so, so glad it's you."
"Raven?"
"Dick..." she smiled a watery smile, "I'm pregnant."
Reviews! I actually kinda like this one better than Falling Up, because all the useless 'this is how they got together' stuff is out of the way already. Anyway, next chapter is Starting Again. I'll have it up in a few months or so.
For those of you freaking out about my other two works in progress, they're coming along nicely. Look for them both to update within a week.