A/N: I'm not dead and neither is this story. I plan to finish it even if it kills me *shakes fist*;. Since it been like six months since the last time I have updated, I come bearing gifts. I have worked really hard to provide you the longest chapter I have ever written. I mean like 30 pages on Microsoft word long. I blame OpheliaSong for freaking rubbing off on me. She writes epics. SPEAKING OF EPICS. If you aren't reading her fanfiction Red Right Hand you are missing out. That fanfiction is a work of art. She also scrubbed this chapter with so much elbow grease she grown muscles.

Also thanks to everyone who sent me messages and reviews through this difficult part of my life. I haven't responded back, but I read them. It gets me through the day. Thank you

There also a surprise for you loves at the end of the chapter. Enjoy!

When he said he was driving, she didn't think it be something so flashy. It was some electric car, named after a dead scientist. She may have known the inner workings of a car, learning mechanics and tinkering on the T-car with Cyborg, but had no idea what brand name cars were out there. All she knew is that it looked expensive and sporty. He was really playing the whole billionaire bachelor persona hard.

Raven leaned her head against the front passenger window. "This is so pretentious."

He laughed loudly at her sudden admittal. "Yeah well, Bruce likes us to keep up appearances."

"So he wants you to look like a spoiled brat, with a silver spoon hanging out of your mouth?" Raven raised an eyebrow. "What about being humble?"

"No, he wants me to look like a spoiled brat with a diamond encrusted gold spoon in my mouth." He smiled as he watched her frown. "People expect you to act a certain way when you're rich." He shrugged. "It's easier to live up to people's expectations, hides the fact that I beat up bad guys at night. If people knew Bruce's around in traffic light colored kevlar, child services would have been knocking on his door."

"You can say it is Bruce." Raven drummed her hands against the window, watching the raindrops fall.

It took him a second to catch her meaning. He tried to hide his surprise with a frown. "How long have you known?"

"I think it isn't hard to connect two and two together." Raven shrugged. "I don't think a billionaire would allow their child to get beat up every night, unless they were apart of it. What would the press say? Bruce and Batman are about the same height." She pursed her lips. "They also feel about the same."

"What do you mean?" Robin asked, stopping at a red light.

"That time we received the keys to the city." Raven looked out the window, watching people passing by. "He was there in the crowd. I thought it was odd at the time—why would Mr. Gotham Billionaire be in Jump City? All my thoughts lead to that maybe he was here on business. Looking back now it makes sense." Raven started drawing doodles on the foggy window. "His emotion were strong, he felt happy, proud, and a little melancholy. I didn't understand the melancholy part. It's a conflicting feeling with the happiness. Batman feels the same, his emotions are always conflicting, but his sense of justice his a driving force."

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, nervously biting the dead skin on his lip before speaking. "I didn't know he was there. He didn't tell me he went."

Why would Bruce keep that from him? Bruce was never one to show his feelings, Robin wasn't sure he knew how. He always thought his pseudo-father was a good actor, showing a wider spectrum of emotions when he Bruce, but they always lacked depth. As a kid growing up, he thought Bruce had the maximum of three emotions: anger, curiosity, and random burst of sympathy. It was Bruce's sympathy that landed him inside Wayne Manor as a young boy. He could have been easily sent to be the State's problem when his parents died. But the billionaire took one look at the boy, seeing he had no more tears to shed and took him in. He found camaraderie in Robin, finding the situation similar to the events that transpired in his own life. After that, that level of kindness towards him were few and far between. Why couldn't he say he was proud? Why couldn't he say he was happy to see him making a name for himself?

He turned his head towards Raven who had absentmindedly drawn a Batman sign on the frosty window. There was a letter 'B' on the chest of the bat, and he wasn't sure who that stood for. The light turned green and he started driving again.

After minutes of silence he asked: "Do you remember everyone's emotions?"

"I try not to feel them." She frowned at the thought. "I try to filter as much emotion as possible, but some leaks through. It sort of gets gunked up, and it can't adhere anymore, so it just stops working." Raven sighed, her voice monotone. "I only remember the strong ones. The times I almost lose control. I meditate on it, learn from it, remove the gunk and move on."

"You never told me that," Robin said, "We always talked late into the night, but you never told me that. I thought—"

"You never asked the right question." Raven went back to looking out the window. "This time you did."

The rest of the car ride they was silent. Her head resting on the passenger window, while he kept his eyes on the road. Robin found parking three blocks away from the casino. He didn't want to go through the trouble of valet, which Raven thought was a contradiction to "keeping up appearances" section of his billionaire heir playbook. He turned off the car, and reached inside his pocket, pulling out a little rectangular card, handing it to her.

"What is this?" She asked, grabbing hold of it.

"An ID card, you can't waltz in without one. My name alone normally can get us through any door, but this place keeps security tight," Robin said giving thoughtful hum. "No one comes in or out without ID."

She looked at the ID card in her hand and read the name: "Rachel Roth?"

Raven looked up at him perplexed, rubbing her thumb against the identification card.

"You said if you had to pick a name it would be that." He smiled at the thought that he had finally stumped Raven. "You didn't think I was listening?"

She looked at the translucent colors of the ID, colored in black and yellow, which was not the color scheme of their resident state. She took one quick look at the address.

" Gotham?" She inquired, looking at him as though he might have gone mad.

"It's more believable" He said, and instantly he felt Raven's retort on the tip of her tongue. "Gotham's socialite, showing his new stomping ground to a fellow Gothamite. You know, trying to show off his wealth and influence." He licked his lips in thought. "It's legit too."

"How?" She frowned at the thought how goodie two shoes Robin would be able to make an identification card, with no birth certificate or social security number for that matter.

"I know people," he shrugged, his heart pattering at the thought that he might have impressed her.

Raven held the hard plastic in her hand, rubbing her thumb against her picture. How he found a picture of her looking forward and stoic was a mystery. The photo was clearly altered, her hair black, her eyes a dark blue. It looked exactly how she looked when she was under glamour.

"Thank you," is all she was able to say.

Holding onto Richard Grayson's arm felt strange. All eyes were on him from the moment they started walking towards the casino. People whispered as they passed by, other stared in awe. As if he were some unicorn trauting about in bright daylight.

Then there was the envy; people were positively green with it. It made her feel as if little more than arm candy. She could see some people waiting inside, instantly recognizing Richard Grayson, only to burn green with sinful emotion when they saw her strapped to his arm. One set of women turned and whispered, and she was sure she was being called some unsavory word. She glared at them as they reached the concierge, and she felt them feel absolutely terrified. Nothing made her feel prouder.

"Mr. Grayson, fancy seeing you here in Jump," he said, looking over both their ID's.

"Jump is my go to stomping ground." Robin shrugged and gave a charming smile. "Can't have the old man looking over my shoulder when I am trying to have fun."

The concierge looked over at Raven the moment the word "fun" left Robin's mouth. "And your friend?"

Robin looked at her through half lidded eyes, and practically purred his next sentence: "She's looking for fun too."

"Well, you will find it in Jump's most prestigious casino." The concierged smiled, swiping both their ID's. She watched the scan as Robin's ID made the light turned green. Up next was her card, and she was surprised when the light turned green. The ID really was legit.

He handed them back their cards. "You must swipe out when you are finished. Welcome to the Chateau."

As soon as they were inside Raven let go of Robin's arm.

"That comment was uncalled for," she said crossing her arms across her chest.

"Which one?" He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

"She's looking for fun too," she mocked, her voice mimicking the low suggestive purr of his tone.

"Come on, Rae." He rolled his eyes. "It's just part of the act."

She didn't respond, opting to glare and held onto her earring. "Birds checking in, so far so good. Will check in within an hour," she said, before letting go, ceasing communications with her fellow team members.

Raven uncrossed her arms, her glare never weavering. "Now what fearless—"

"Richard?" A man called out, from the side of the roulette table.

Robin turned around to look at the man. He had short brown hair, perfectly coiffed in one of those mid fade haircut, grey eyes and a fine tailored suit. Raven gave a quick glance to Robin, and noticed the look of recognition in his eyes, an overbearing charming smile on his face.

"Eric!" Robin responded, in fake excitement.

Eric walked up to him, returning a large smile, not as charming, before sticking his hand out to shake. "Fancy seeing you here."

He shook his hand. "Same, it's been a long time since—"

"Prep school," Eric finished the sentence for him, "you know, the one you barely attended? I wouldn't be surprised if you forgot where you meet me."

"You know, I'm so busy and all with Wayne Enterprises." The Wayne heir gave the fakest of laugh. "How is your father's tech company doing?"

Eric's smile slightly faltered, only to return brighter and faker. "Good, good."

Raven raised an eyebrow at Robin's prep school buddy. She didn't have to be an empath to know the types of emotions circulating between them. Is this how prep-school buddies acted? Mr. Prep-school seemed to immediately start a pissing contest. A contest that Robin apparently won.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your associate?" He turned to her, and there was something intense about the way he stared at her.

Robin's charming smile returned to his face. He placed his hand on the small of her back, protectively. "This is Rachel, she is—"

"A friend of Richard's," Raven cut in, afraid of the lie Robin was ready to weave. Last thing she needed was tabloid attention. "Nice to meet you." She stuck out her hand.

"The pleasure is mine,"he replied, taking her hand. "Are you also from Gotham?"

"I wasn't raised there," Raven shrugged, and she felt her leader's hand tense on her back. "I moved there a couple of years ago."

"Ahh, now I don't feel bad not knowing such a lovely lady existed in Gotham." Eric smirked and something about it made her want to kick him in the teeth.

Her leader might have sensed her discomfort because he held onto her a little tighter. He circled his arm around her waist, his hand resting on her hip. "Now, what are you doing here in Jump?"

"Well it's nice to go to a casino, and not have the Penguin come in for a heist." The prep school friend replied with a large sigh. "Plus a friend on mine owns this place."

"A friend from Gotham?" Robin raised an eyebrow.

"Not quite," Eric stated, "Why don't we catch up? Come on, I'll introduce you to my Jump City friends."

"Well, I promised Rachel I'd show her a good time," Robin mentioned in a tone that insinuited much more than playing cards. "Not sure hearing us reminiscing about the past is part of that promise."

"Why don't you go, Richard?" Raven spoke. "Go catch up, I'll play some roulette."

"Want to have fun without me?" He moved away from her, speaking low and sensual, feigning hurt by placing a hand on his chest. "I'm hurt."

"I typically have much more fun without you, Dick," she said her voice low and heavy, imitating the low purr of his voice, "I'm not good with crowds, I rather play roulette."

Robin looked down at Raven, his hand fisted inside his pockets. Maybe it was their bond, but he understood now what Raven wanted. As much as he would dislike hanging out with Eric, the kid who bullied him during prep-school, this was a good opportunity. Eric knew the owner, and getting close to Eric and his group of friends, meant potentially finding information about the casino. He looked at Raven's stoic face with a small semblance of a smile, that showed that they were on the same page.

Eric chuckled, "She's feisty. I think our fathers taught us to leave a woman alone when they want peace."

Robin turned back to his prep-school friend. "Well, why don't you show me around. Such a high scale place has to have some interesting amenities."

"Sure thing, man," Eric said wrapping his arm around the Wayne heir's shoulders.

Raven watched as her leader was taken away and quickly absorbed into a group of socialites. It was weird witnessing Robin's other life, watching from the outside, it seemed as though he belonged in high society. However, she knew better; Robin would never trade fighting the good fight to be in some cushy corporate job.

She slide into the crowd at the roulette table as some socialite set down a grand worth of chips—of which was probably their parent's money—on the table. Why would anyone put that much money on a game of pure luck was beyond her. She watched as he set the chips on inside bets. Raven rolled her eyes, knowing this wasn't going to end well.

The roulette spun, dealer called out the number, and proceeded to swipe the chips off the table. She felt the feeling of frustration and desperation come off in waves. The woman playing gave an unpleasant grunt before leaving the table in a hurry. Raven slid into a seat, looking over to the dealer.

She proceeded to slip a dollar chip on to the board, placing it on eighteen red.

Beast Boy looked at Raven and smiled. "There is a thousand dollar minimum, Miss."

"A thousand dollars? Well…" Raven made a show to look at his name tag. "Garfield, I only have a dollar to bet. I'm not much of a gambler."

"Is this your first time?" Garfield said, leaning slightly over to her. "I can teach you the rules."

"Are you going to take my dollar?" Raven frowned, sliding the chip back into her hand.

Garfield stood straight up and smiled."We will take it, since it's your first time."

She placed the chip back on the eighteen red. Garfield spun the wheel. Seconds went by, as the little white ball bounced. Garfield gave her a suspicious look when the ball landed.

"Eighteen red." He called out, and handed her thirty five dollars worth of chips.

"Beginners luck," she said, taking chips into her hand.

"Why don't you buy me dinner with your earnings?" Garfield flirtatiously whispered.

"I don't think thirty five dollars can even buy a breathe mint here." Raven shook her head, "Plus I'm not—"

"So I guess you're here with your date?" He interrupted with a smile, Raven finding something odd about that smile. "Why isn't he accompanying you?"

"It's not a date," she looked at him quizzically, "he is a friend, and we aren't tied to the hip."

"Could have fooled me," he muttered bitterly under his breath.

She turned in her chair to leave. "Maybe I'm just not interested." She got up ready to move on to something else only to be stopped by his next sentence.

"Did you figure that out before or after date number one or two." Garfield gave a fake airy laugh as he slapped his forehead. "I'm such a dunce, I can't seem to remember either of them. Actually, I can't even recall asking you out."

Raven furrowed her eyebrows and sat back down. "How?," she whispered, as she laced her hands together.

"Victor remembered," Garfield folded his arms across his chest. He frowned with resentment circulating in his forest green eyes. She'd never seen him so angry.

"Trying to remember even hurts." He shook his head. "I've been trying for the last hour. All I get is a fucking migraine."

She frowned placing her thirty five dollars worth of chips on the table. "This isn't a good time."

Garfield took a good look around them. She was right, there were too many praying ears. Last thing he needed was his supervisor asking him why he was having an argument with a guest. They were also supposed to be under cover, after all. Having a fight in front of the roulette table was not the definition of low profile.

"Place your bet," Garfield said waving his hands on top of the roulette table.

Raven slid the chips on black twenty nine. He proceeded to spin the wheel. As he turned he asked: "At least tell me why you did it. What did I do, that was so awful, that you had to erase it all?"

She watched the wheel sto, landing on the number twenty nine. Garfield grabbed her chips and started counting her earning. As he handed her her winings, she grabbed his hand, her dark blue eyes sternly on his.

"It was what I did. I did something awful to you. I didn't want you to hurt anymore." She let go of his hand, the chips falling into her palm. "I thought it'd be better for you if you forgot it all, but how you handled the situation, that was your choice, not mine. After tonight, I'll return your memories to how they were."

Raven got up, placing her earnings in her purse. She glanced at Garfield, his shoulders slumped, and eyes downcasted to his hands that tightly gripped the edge of the roulette table. How could she be so reckless and not realize that the others would catch on to what she did? She thought if she kept most of the memory intact, no one would really question it. Why was she so sloppy when she was desperate? If she only changed the others' memories as well.

She waved the thought away. What the hell had gotten into her? Her thoughts were in a dark place. It wasn't that she was sloppy, she shouldn't have done something so immoral in the first place. Is this what love did to her? She glanced at Robin, as he schmoozed with socialites, a glass of champagne in his hand. She unleashed a dragon, for a feeling far less strong. She didn't know the first thing about acting rationally in the face of—something she was too afraid to name.

She watched as someone slid into her seat, and Beast Boy presumed his role. Grabbing a glass of champagne from a waitress, noticing no one bothered to ask for her ID, she leaned against the wall. Robin as easily immersed in his group, downing his second glass of champagne. She slowly sipped her glass, as she carefully watched as high rollers carelessly spent their money. She watched for patterns, how often someone lost or won. Her eyes darted to the security guard whose back was firmly pressed against the back door where people's chips seemed to go off too.

Taking her last sip, her eyes wandered again to Robin. A warm feminine hand was on his chest, another wrapped around his arm. He looked like some aristocrat, the billionaire playboy persona that his mentor played so well. She watched as he laughed a dull laugh, not hitting the right vibrance she was so accustomed to. Even the mirth, that was engraved on his face was just faded lines compared to the ones she knew.

This isn't what makes him happy. Raven thought, holding her empty glass in her hand, wondering if Richard Grayson wasn't so disconnected to the Robin persona as much as she thought. But she quickly wondered if it was her hubris that thought he was happier as a Titan. Maybe this aristocratic laugh and air around him, was his true tune.

Was he Richard Grayson first and Robin second?

She clenched the empty glass in her hand, remembering the first time she'd seen his face, being pulled by the gravity of his humanity. Robin, she had told herself over and over again, was beyond reach, and knowing herself, it was better if it stayed that way, but Richard….

Robin she had known for years now, but maybe it was Richard Grayson that finally broke her restraints.

Her eyes darted back to Robin, mentally begging him to look at her. Maybe if he could prove to her he was still her obsessive, annoying leader, and that Richard Grayson was a facade, he could revoke his humanity to her. Maybe then she could go back to stuffing this feeling deep into the pit of her pandora box. It was him staring at her unguarded, with the full extent of his humanity, a luxury his masked never provided her that made her create this mess with a single kiss.

Starfire and Beast Boy would be happy, if she continued to pretend.

There bond seemed to pull trying to fulfill her plea. She felt him turn to her, only for it to be blocked with with the most obnoxious chest she had ever witness. She tried to hide her groan of frustration when Robin's prep-school friend beamed a smile down at her.

"Rachel right?" Eric asked, two glasses of champagne in his hand.

"Yeah," she said, her voice monotone and stern. Hopefully he would take the hint.

"I see you were holding an empty glass for the last twenty minutes." Eric said obnoxiously, grabbing hold of the glass in her hand and carefully placing it on the table next to them.

"No thanks." The empath looked away from him, arms crossed against her chest.

"Okay, I get the whole don't even try to approach me thing," Robin's friend started, "sort of has this whole mysterious vibe. But, I however, can't leave a woman to spend the night alone."

"Not interested"

"Sad attempt, I know," Eric mused, taking a sip of his champagne, extending the other one towards her.

Raven took the champagne glass out of his hand, not sipping from the glass, but carefully holding it between her fingers. "Well, pretty sure you are the one that got me into this predicament."

She tried to stop herself from her eyes darting to her leader, as a woman whispered in his ear and he gave whole hearted laugh, his intoxication evident with his flushed cheeks. Eric turned to look at her line of sight.

"Yeah well, my friends slowly became Dick's friends," Eric shrugged. "That happens when people are around him. Slowly I started feeling like the new guy."

"He has the effect." The empath gave a soft frown. "He is annoying, obsessive, and can have a temper, but somehow people flock to him."

"I don't get it either." His shoulders dropped, and she could sense the hostility.

"Friends from prep-school huh?"

"To be honest, I mostly bullied him," he said taking a large gulp of champagne. "Sent him crying to that big castle in the sky." He shrugged, not sure she got the reference. "That is what we called it. Wayne manor was like some impenetrable fortress, big and ominously hanging over Gotham."

"I guess you aren't a big fan of the Waynes?"

"It's not like that," he said thoughtfully, "Wayne Enterprises is a monopoly in Gotham's economy. It's the only thing holding it up. Many of our parents companies were bought out, slowly absorbed into Wayne Enterprises. My father's company is a struggling competitor to Wayne Tech. I was just pissed that my old man was spending more time in his lab then with me. Couldn't take it out on my dad, or Bruce Wayne, so I took it on his adopted kid." He looked at his glass of champagne, already half empty. "I guess I said too much, damn alcohol. I shouldn't be saying this Dick's girlfriend."

"I'm not his girlfriend."

"That's good, that means I still have a chance to snatch you away." Eric smiled, and there was that spark of mischief in his eyes.

"I think I made it clear," she purred seductively, her frown not matching her tone, "I, am, not, interested."

"I guess blue eyes and spoiled brats are your thing?" he quickly said, almost as though the words were rushing to get out.

She sharpened her gaze at him, this wasn't a game she was willing to play. "I think there's some unspoken rich kid rule that says: Spoiled brats don't call others spoiled brats." Raven handed him her full glass of champagne. "Sorry, but, I have little tolerance for the insufferable."

Eric looked shocked, as she walked away from him. In seconds she heard his footsteps following after her, she looked over her shoulder, clearly unimpressed that he was still chasing her.

"Look, I didn't mean to offend you. We're all spoiled brats here, right?" Eric tried to joke.

Raven turned around on her heel and said: "I came from a humble background."

He frowned shaking his head and rubbing his face. "I feel like we got off on the wrong foot."

She crossed her arms. "Wrong leg, wrong galaxy, wrong dimension."

Eric gave a sigh, and shyly said: "Okay look, you are just really pretty."

"Exacerbate the situation." She rolled her eyes, "I swoon when men point out my physical attributes."

"But 'behind something every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic." Eric leaned a little closer to whisper above the loud hustle in the casino.

Raven gave him a look of recognition, a small huff leaving her lips. "Oscar Wilde," she noted, "look up to his ego?"

"Ego, and living life the way he wanted to. He knew life was only as extravagant as you made it."

"So you're trying to unlock my tragic backstory now?" That was a tale no common man was ready for.

Eric smiled. "If you acknowledge there is one, you must consider yourself as exquisite as I do."

"Pretentious," she mocked, "I get it." she said uncrossing her arms. "However, you clearly have jealousy issues and I'm not going to aid you in your quest to get on Dick's nerves."

"Look, how about we just talk?" Eric asked.

"I'm not the social type," she said truthfully.

"What's the harm? We are both here ostracized by the socialites over there." He nodded behind him and her eyes drifted to the group Richard was in. He was laughing when their eyes connected and she saw his brilliant smile before his eyes darted to her company. His smile wavered ever so slightly before one of his companions took his attention away, slithering her hand over his chest.

"Why are you here anyways?" Eric called out to her. "I feel that you'd rather be in places less crowded."

Her eyes darted back to him. "You've known me for about thirty minutes, and you're already spewing assumptions?"

"Am I wrong?" he asked, grabbing another champagne glass from the wandering waitress.

"I want to break from my norm." Raven gave a half shrug deciding to say something between the truth and a lie. This was not normal operations a known introvert like her would run. She didn't know what Robin was thinking, for these types of missions a person needed to be charming, alluring, and able to get people to eat out of their hand, so they can spew information like a fountain. She had none of those qualities.

"I know how that feels," Eric sighed almost bitterly as he downed his glass.

"Oh so, running around in a suit and tie is out of your norm?" Raven prodded.

"Believe it or not, I'm actually a lab rat," he said in a voice that didn't seem too thrilled at the idea. "I test tech my dad's company built. The only thing my father trust me with, since he wants to make his gadgets "idiot proof," I'm infamous for any tech I touch dying on me."

Eric gave a far off stare for a moment, not quite at anything in particular. She snapped her empathy back from imposing.

"At least I am some use to him." Eric sipped on his champagne, placing a fist in his pocket.

His words resonated with her, but the empath said nothing, feeling it wasn't her place to comment.

The silence didn't sit well with him, and he nodded over to the group surrounding Robin. "I'm not unique, everyone there is trying to prove themselves to their parents. Everything and everyone here is just as fake."

"Aren't they your friends?" she frowned.

"Fake friends," he quickly said turning around to face the group. "Some are from Gotham Academy, the others are their associates. We were all forced to get to know each other since we all come from the same world. Fake bonds, just to secure alliances between companies." He pointed to the woman, hooking her arm around Robin's. "You see that woman with the tits as big as your head, that's Amelia. Her family's company was bought out by Wayne Enterprises. Sure, they are a shareholder now, but she would just love to be more than that. Good for her. There is no shame in trying right?"

Raven gave a small chortle, honestly wishing good luck to the woman. She couldn't blame her, on the books Richard Grayson may have seemed like the perfect bachelor. If only she knew how Richard's second life consumed him. She doubted that he had any interest in taking over Wayne Enterprises. She watched Robin give Amelia a shy smile, as she pressed herself closer to him,

"And what do you do Rachel?" Eric asked, and she noticed the slight slur of his speech. "If your not trying to be a finely groomed future CEO like the rest of us."

She took a moment to think, trying to figure out something between a lie and the truth. "I'm currently studying."

"What are you studying?"

Spells, rituals, strategy, and the occult, Raven thought. "Literature," she said then clarified, "Classic Literature"

His eyes darted over to Robin. "Is that how you meet him?"

"Yes and no." She shrugged, memories flashing on how exactly she met Robin. "We both were wandering the City and bumped into each other. I had no idea who he was, and he had no idea wha-who I was." Her tongue slipped and she was hit with a wave of nostalgia. "We had similar goals, and we'd been sort of stuck with each other ever since."

"Hard to believe no one knows who Richard Grayson is," he said, and she felt the small ping of envy. "Goals, what goals do you have in common with Dick?"

She crossed her arms over her chest, looking at the ceiling with uncertainty. "That's between Dick and I."

He seemed to ignore her slight."I'm guessing you guys are close?"

She frowned, annoyed at the question. Once upon a time she would say they were close, told each other everything and sometimes nothing at all, but it was enough. She trusted him, and he trusted her, even if all the details weren't in front of them. But Robin tried to tell her too much about his life, too quickly, and she made a of mess of things. She wasn't sure if 'close' was the right word anymore.

"My relationships with people are just that: my relationships." Raven warned.

He looked at her with curiosity, and she could tell he had a billion questions. They were a billion too many and she was unwilling to answer any of them. She watched his posture tense and untensed, eyes darting between her and Robin before his eyes resting back at her, a smile gracing his face.

"My relationship with Dick has always been a sour one," Eric commented, leaning a little closer to her. "Would you believe me if I said that I was the nerd at school and Dick was the jock? Except I study hard and got decent grades, while Dick barely attended school and got straight A's."

Raven tilted her head in thought, trying to envision Robin in a sports jacket. She could only imagine the jacket in his signature traffic light colors. It was an odd image, trying to place Robin in a life she never knew. Dick Grayson was a completely new concept, and trying to place them as the same person, and not their own separate entity was a work in progress.

"I can believe it," she assured, "that boy really likes to show off his gymnastic skills."

"Yeah, like is a quadruple somersault really necessary to put the ball in the basket?" Eric sucked his teeth and watched Raven give a small smile in recognition. "We get it, you grew up in a circus. God, I hated him."

Raven stifled a smile. If only he knew how often Robin used his gymnastic skills unnecessarily in the field. He was light on his feet, and loved showing off. Now, knowing more about Robin's background, she knew it was the circus boy in him that never quite left.

"First smile I got from you tonight." He looked at her through lidded eyes. "I'm I getting better at flirting?"

She shook her head, giving him a thumbs down. "Keep working on it, Romeo."

"I guess I'll go with trying to impress you route." He downed his glass of champagne, before slightly slurring his words. "How about we let you recharge, and move away from the socialites?"

Raven shook her head. "No thanks."

"It's not what you think," Eric corrected himself, and she could sense the sincerness. "My one true friend owns the casino. Believe it or not, there is a VIP section upstairs." Eric put down his empty glass and quickly added. "We won't be alone, just less people."

Raven pursed her lips in thought. In her observation, she knew upstairs is where the servers were. If she could just connect to the servers, she can get Cyborg information to decode. She let out a breath; a couple more minutes playing pretend wouldn't hurt.

"If there is anymore than ten people in that room, I'm out," Raven said, casually touching her earring placing Cyborg back on communications. "Now Romeo, show me this VIP room."

"What is this girl doing?" Cyborg huffed, hearing Raven talk about some VIP room over communications.

"Is friend Raven okay?" Starfire asked, stopping herself from balancing a pencil on her lip like Beast Boy had taught her.

"Started communications, apparently going to some VIP lounge," Cyborg said, turning over to Starfire. "Doesn't sound like Robin is with her."

"How do you think she got the invitation?" Starfire asked scooting her seat closer to Cyborg.

"She ain't the most social, but that girl does have the wallflower charm to her," Cyborg muttered, rubbing his chin in thought, listening carefully to their conversation.

Starfire stayed quiet, resting her arms on the desk like a nest, before laying down her head. Her expression became dull, her bottom lip tightly tucked under her teeth, locking away the words ready to run out her mouth.

"You okay, Miss. Universe?" Cyborg asked, placing a warm hand on her shoulder.

"Ah, yes friend Cyborg. I am the fine."

"I been hearing that a lot lately, and I am pretty sure no one is fine in our household right now," the Tin Man said spectectly.

Starfire looked away. "I do not know if it is my place to speak."

"Trust me, I know a lot more then I let on," he sighed, leaning back on his chair. He raised a finger: "Beast Boy asked Raven out, she said yes shocking everyone only to dump him after date number three." He raised a second finger. " Number two, you and Robin called it quits, which apparently hasn't sat too well with you. Not sure who dumped who." He raised the third finger. "In the middle of all this is our resident birds. Who've been on a roller coaster of not talking and talking to each other. I'm guessing whatever is happening between those two is affecting all four of you."

Starfire chewed on her lip thinking over Cyborgs words. She guessed from the outside looking in that was pretty much what was happening. She sat up from her chair, rubbing her hands together. How much was she able to say?

Taking a deep breath she began: "I did the breaking up with Robin."

Cyborg frowned taken a back from her admitle. "It's okay to take it hard, but if I may ask: is it something he did?"

The alien looked away.

"Is it something you did?" Cyborg asked.

She rubbed her arm, feeling that in some way it was.

"I don't want to be intrusive, but what did bird brain do?"

"It is complicated. He didn't do anything that I didn't think was going to happen eventually." Starfire placed her hands on her knees staring at the floor. " I just thought he had her so high up on that paddlestle he would be blinded by the sun if he looked her direction."

Cyborg stood up from the chair. "I'm gonna kick his ass"

"Cyborg, no!" Starfire grabbed onto his shoulders. "It won't solve anything."

"He doesn't get to do that! Stringing you along if he had strong feelings for someone," Cyborg yelled.

"That isn't what bothered me," she contested, "it's the fact that he hid his feelings for her for so long. It's okay to fall for two people, but he wasn't honest about it. Besides—"

"Who is the other girl?" Cyborg said taking a second to think. "Barbra?"

Starfire shook her head, unsure how much she should say. "I knew his feelings for her before we even started dating. In the end he chose me, but I just can't understand him without words." She chewed on her lip. "Not like she can."

The Tin man's shoulder visible dropped, a sense of grief overcoming him. He leaned against the table grabbing the edge. "It's Raven isn't it?"

Starfire tensed and said nothing.

Cyborg banged the table. "I knew that they were acting weird around each other. I just...damn!" he rubbed his head.

"I'm not mad at them, honest. Not anymore," she said, sighing and sitting back on her chair. "I just want them to find happiness even if it isn't with each other. If they just air this out—"

"That boy had years to air it out." He waved frantically. "He should have aired it out before he even asked you to be his girlfriend. If Raven even knew—"

"It's complicated between them," Starfire cut in, frowning at herself. She didn't want to talk about other people's business but this was such a coagulated mess, that it started becoming part of everyone's business. "I think they both think the other is too good for them. Raven has always put people football fields away. Robin was the only one in arms length, but even then neither of them were able to pull closer."

Cyborg shook his head. "You are too good Starfire, I love Raven, that girl is like a sister, but she also broke my best buddies heart."

"I think she was just trying to forget." Starfire sighed her eyes glowing as she spoke her next words. "It's partially my fault, mostly Robin's. I thought she was feeling a love a kin to friendship. Robin thought if she found someone else, pushed Beast Boy and Raven close, that everything would eventually go back to some semblance of normal. He'd be forced to forget about her, and he could see her happy. It just got more and more complicated because his heart acted quicker than his head."

Cyborg sighed uncrossing his arms, and sitting back down. "Are you really okay with this?"

Starfire gave a shy smile. "With time, I will be. If they end up together, I can and will be happy for them." Starfire clasped her hands tightly together. "I will move on, whatever decision he makes if it's to stay with Raven, to finally leave her behind or even if he wants to return to me. I don't think I would be able to take him back."

"The trust isn't there?"

Starfire thought for a moment, letting out a heavy sigh. "I trust him as my leader. I trust him with my life. I just—I don't think he can trust me. I don't want to be apart of a relationship where they can't relinquish their feelings to me. My kind drives on emotion, we do not hold ourselves back. Robin, he—"

"Is the definition of holding back," Cyborg shook his head.

Starfire gave another shy smile. "Yes. I don't think I can understand that part of him."

"I'm sorry, Kory," Cyborg sighed leaning back in his chair squeezing the bridge of his nose. "I thought all this time it was just Raven making a mess of things."

"I think we all made it a mess, Vic," she gave a faded smile.

Cyborg let out of heavy sigh, tuning back into communications. "Well Boy Wonder better figure things out quickly."

Robin watched her, noticing the way his hand was on her back, leading her through the casino beyond the guarded door. Eric gave a few exchanges at the door, only to be lead inside. He watched the door close, his eyes snapping away in disgust.

He was surprised at the utter disgust that crept up his spine when Eric slipped into Raven's company. He had to keep reminding himself that this was a good thing. Eric knew the owner, and upstairs had to be the servers were stashed, something he'd hoped Raven had caught on to. All she had to do was plug Cyborg's USB to the server and they should have enough incriminating evidence.

She was one step closer to their missions while he was stuck schmoozing with people he didn't even care for. He was not even half a step closer to cracking the case, his mission lost with the false bonds these people were trying to establish. Raven was ahead of him, and it was a good thing, even if the very thought of her having to befriend Eric, of all people, made his blood boil.

He should have been focused at the task at hand, but he couldn't help watching her. The way they talked, the small smile that graced her face, and the way Eric looked at her. It was an attentive, intrigued and almost hungry stare. The two woman that made it their life's mission to be strapped to his side were the only thing holding him back from walking over there and snatching her away.

He downed his sixth, maybe even seventh glass of champagne , reminding himself that Raven was just doing her job. She was focused on the mission, following Eric to gather information. It was just that smile she had cast towards Eric, that he couldn't get out of his head. Eric: self proclaimed gift to women, had warranted a smile from Raven. Ha! The very thought would have laid him on the floor in laughter if he hadn't seen it with his own two eyes. No way Raven would be attracted to that kind of slithering charm.

Right? He had been wrong before with Beast Boy and now—

Robin quickly downed his eighth glass, trying to rush the thought away as he used one of the woman for balance as he set the glass down. He reminded himself Raven had no obligation to him. She wanted to move on, he couldn't hope that she'd wait for him to sort out his feelings. Raven made it very clear that she wanted this to be over, one way or another. She had waited for him long enough, and he was an egotistical jerk for stringing her along for what seemed to be years.His eyes looked back at the door. Hopefully he figure it out before he no longer had a ch—

Robin loosened his gray tie, tugging away from the women strapped to his arms. They let out a futile cry as he pulled away from the group, the sound muffled by the drumming in his ears. He walked over to the guard, his nose knocking onto the guard's chest.

"VIP only," the guard called.

"I'm Richard Grayson," he said stupidly, wincing at his own admittle.

"Want a medal?"

Robin clicked his tongue, mentally smacking himself for the next couple of phrases that would be coming out of his mouth. He hated playing this card.

"Richard Grayson, Bruce Wayne's kid," Robin said, straightening himself out before adding. "I'm as VIP as it gets."

He thanked all that was good and holy that Raven wasn't there to hear him say that.

"Not VIP enough not on the list," the bouncer grunted.

"You're not even holding anything," Robin waved at him exasperated.

"Mental list."

"Look," Robin raised his voice slightly, playing his next card. "I'm just checking what this place is all about. Wayne Enterprises wants to expand into the entertainment business, and this is one of the most prestigious places in Jump." Robin opened his jacket, taking out his card. "Think how much more prestige it can be with Wayne Enterprises backing it. Here's my card, you can tell your boss, I'll call them if I'm interested."

The bouncer took the card, giving it a look over. A little astonished that he really was Bruce Wayne's kid. Placing the card in his pocket, he moved aside. "I hope the VIP lounge is to your liking."

"You're the best." Robin gave a small wink and a pat on the shoulder as he passed through the door.

Walking shakily up the stair and opened the door to the VIP room, and he had to force himself not to instantly drop kick Eric as soon as he opened the door. Raven was leaning in front of the pool table, lining up a shot. Eric's grubby little hands placed on her hips as he leaned closer to whisper something in her ear.

Robin's jaw tensed, and his feet just seemed to take him beside the pool table. He leaned against the table, Raven quickly turning her attention toward him.

"Hey there, buddy?" Robin gave his fakest smile, as he leaned over Raven's threshold towards Eric. "So what you playing? Pool? Don't trust this one, she's much better at this game than you think."

Raven, stood up straight as she pulled away from Eric's grasp. "Richard how did you get in?'

His eyes on Eric's every move. "Because I'm Richard Goddamn Grayson." He mentally smacked himself as the words flew out of his mouth.

Raven winced, smelling the alcohol on his breath. "You've been drinking."

"I'm fine," he said over the buzzing in his head. "Just wondering why Eric thinks it's such a good idea to slither his tiny hands all over you."

Eric frowned placing a hand on Raven's hip. "Don't you have two wannabe Wayne heiresses to enter—"

"Oh, I guess I forgot to mention," Robin cut him off and turned to Raven. "In this dimension small hands mean small—"

Raven put the pool stick down, pushing Robin a little further back. "Dick, please—"

Eric stepped toward him. "Control Freak Dick, afraid that she went off to have a better time with someone else?"

Robin gave him a charming smile, a little too drunk not to enjoy seeing Eric riled up. "No, but I do think you should be walking around with a sign saying: Warning, small objects can cause choking. Not sure anyone can have fun with that."

Raven winced at his crassness she leaned over to Eric. "Sorry, he's just a little too drunk. I've… never seen him like this?"

Eric stepped back running his hand through his hair. "Not sure why you are apologizing for him."

Raven shrugged, she had done a lot of cleaning up after the Boy Wonder over the years. "I should take him home."

"It's okay, keep in touch, okay?" Eric leaned over, taking a stray hair strand to tuck over her ear. Robin frowned, watching the slight blush that developed over Raven's cheeks.

Unfortunately, Robin was two glasses of champagne too deep stop himself for saying the next words: "Why don't you use those tiny hands of yours to grab something else? Cause that's all you'll be getting tonight."

"I'm getting pretty damn tired of you, Grayson." Eric walked past Raven, stepping up to Richard.

He was three glasses of champagne too deep to stop himself from escalating the fight. "Oh a fight? How can my completely pampered ass deal with that?" He gave a smile rolling his sleeves.

Raven frowned, knowing Robin may have been too into the bottle to notice what a complete ass he was being. She grabbed his hand with a hardened stare. "I don't think I want to be part of a headline, Richard, let's go."

Robin followed her, turning over to Eric who stood over the pool table furious. He lifted his hand in a lurid gesture as his tongue pushed out his cheek with a jerking motion, before disappearing past the door.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Raven hissed as they walked down the stairs.

"Really running off with Eric out of all people?" he retorted, using the stairs railings.

"I was getting information." Raven glared at him as they headed past the bodyguards on the first floor. She whispered the next part, as soon as they walked outside: "I was able to get information on the USB, while you were too busy trying to spread open those two women's legs."

Richard stuttered, insulted. "I wasn't—what is up with you and BB—they were all over me for the record!" He pointed at her.

Raven shook her head with a smile, pulling him to the alleyway "Yeah, because you're Richard Goddamn Grayson, remember?"

Robin took a deep breath, taking a moment to lean against the building. "Not gonna let that one go, huh?"

"You making a complete ass of yourself as though your the most important name to be spoken."Raven shook her head. "Not a chance"

"Why the hell did you follow me?" Raven asked shaking her head leaning close to him. "I didn't ask for backup."

"You went with him to God knows where." He shook his head. "As a leader—"

Raven looked at him, her eyes still holding their pull even when masked in blue. Their promise to be honest and true ringing through their bond. Many times he had wished their bond was a two way street, this was one of the first times he thought maybe he should have taking up her offer to break the chain that bound them so deeply together.

He huffed, running his hands over his head. "I was jealous; happy?"

"That's objective." She bit her lip a little surprised. She folded her arms, shaking her head. "We need to head back."

Robin pulled out his keys and they stumbled out of his hands. As he leaned down to grab them, the blood seem to immediately rush to his head. "I may have had a little too much to drink."

He got up, giving Raven a small smile, while shaking the keys. "By chance you know how to drive?"

Raven shook her head. "With what license? You gave me a non driver ID."

"Shit." Robin leaned against the wall catching his bearings. "Can ya teleport us to the tower?"

"And have you throw up mid way through it?" She sneered at the thought. "We will just have the others pick us—"

"They can't see me like this..." He shook his head a little too rapidly for his current state.

"You aren't going to lose leader points for being drunk."

"Har har." He tensed his jaw. "This is the only pair of clothes I have. I didn't bring a mask meaning." He waved his hand over his face.

"Right" Raven sighed. "I guess we have to wait until you sober up."

As much as she hated being the only one to know his identity, she understood. She hated it, but she knew why they couldn't find out. Robin wasn't just protecting his identity, but his mentor's too. The others may not connect Bruce Wayne to Batman as easily as her, but it would only be a matter of time before they figured it out.

Raven pulled on her earring, starting communications. "Vic?"

"Is everything alright?" The Tinman's voice echoed through the communicator.

"Yes, but we have to lay low for a bit. You guys should go."

"Lay low, as in?"

She ignored his question. "We have it under control. We will see you tomorrow at noon." Raven tapped on her earring ceasing communications.

She pulled up her phone, trying to find the nearest hotel. There was one a few blocks away, and she immediately winced at the price tag of a room. Why anyone would pay that much for four walls, she had no clue. However, it was the closest, she hoped that the money also included discretion.

"Well Richard Goddamn Grayson, hope you brought your Daddy's credit card."

"We only have one bedroom available."

"Of-fucking-course," Raven muttered under her breath.

The empath rubbed her brow, the bright lights of the grand hotel too much. This was some scene pulled from a sitcom, there was always an option to get an Uber to the next hotel, but she was hitching a ride with a too famous face. She slowly starting to realize why Robin never seem to do these type of missions with a partner.

Richard leaned over the counter, giving his best charming smile to the concierge. She watched him, his face still flushed with alcohol as he tried speak with the concierge. "Is there any executive suites or maybe two bedrooms you guys are holding back? It's just for the night."

"I'm sorry, but we honestly only have one bedroom available," the front desk personnel said.

Her leader looked at her, and she felt his apology placing her into the situation. He turned back the front desk, sliding his credit over, with a bill on top. "We will take one room, with your discretion."

They took the card and money quickly without hesitation, clearly used to this type of transactions. In minutes they both had keys and they walked to their room. The empath pressed her key against the door, opening it for her drunken leader.

Raven walked quietly into the room, Robin stumbling behind her. The room was grand, more like a luxury apartment then anything. There was exquisite furniture, with two lounge chairs and a couch. She watched as the Boy Wonder let out a sigh as he hazardly threw his armani jacket to the nearest arm rest. The empath walked over to the window of the living room, pulling the curtains back. It was a tall window, overlooking Jump's skyline with a patio. It was a different view than what she was accustomed to, always seeing the skyline from just above the clouds. It was an unique view, connected, but extremely separated from Jump City as it towered over many other buildings, giving a sort of luxury to those fortunate enough to book this room. She looked over her shoulder towards the Armani coat, the damn garment was more luxurious than the furniture. She felt a disconnect, unable to see herself holding any significance to this part of Robin's life. She was but a woman raised by monks, unaccustomed to glamour. The Boy Wonder—no Richard, the future billionaire, had everything, and it was Eric that made it painfully clear that Richard could have anyone.

She turned around, hearing a door creak open, and a distinct creak of a bed. She walked over to the bedroom, watching her leader splay himself face down on the bed.

"I'll take the couch," she said pulling out her earrings.

Robin moaned, slightly lifting his head to look at Raven. "No, I'll take the couch."

"You're drunk," Raven hissed, taking off her shoes. "Why did you get so drunk, Robin?"

He ignored her, his eyes darting away. He rolled over pulling himself up to rest his head against the headboard. The empath took his silence, placing her shoes on the side of the vanity table.

"I need to get out of this dress, I'm sure to ruin it," She walked over to the closet in the room. He watched her every move, his eyes wandering over her curves as she turned her back to him.

"Two bathrobes," she muttered under her breath, and Robin watched her with curiosity as she reached to her neck, pulling down the zipper of the dress down her slender back. It wasn't the first time, and it won't be the last that he would see Raven in a state of undress. But this was different, a feeling stirring in his chest, as her velvet white skin peaked from the dark blue of the dress.

He coughed letting his presence known. "Bathroom?"

The empath looked at him with a knowing look, and he provided a sheepish smile in return. She walked into the bathroom, the robe in hand. Robin averted his eyes away from the door, summing this feeling to the state of his drunkenness.

She came out moments later, a white robe wrapped around her. Her slender legs, toned and defined, poking out the fluffy white cotton. She sat on the vanity, pulling items from her purse.

He watched her slender neck lean forward, her dark black hair cascading over her shoulders as she pulled out the rest of the pins that held her hair in place. The hair wasn't quite the right color, her eyes that watched him through the vanity mirror, not the right shade.

"Raven…" he gave a husky whisper, saying her name like a prayer. "I wanna to see the real Raven."

Her hands stilled as she looked through the mirror. She took in his request, the glamour slowly fading, the purple undertones of her black hair returning, her eyes growing with their purple-blue hues. Robin let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, a thing of beauty unraveling itself in front of him.

"You didn't answer my question," she said as she removed the last of her pins. "I know you know your limit, Robin?"

It was his name, but not his name. It been a couple of hours, and he had come accustomed to the way his birth name rolled off her tongue. "Richard, or Dick."

"Huh?"

"No one is here, call me Richard or Dick," he said again, and he watched the tips of her ears flush, as her face laid stoic.

"Answer the question, Richard," she said, her voice low almost in embarrassment.

He took a moment to answer, trying his best to be honest. "I don't know, that has been my answer alot lately but… you were enjoying time with him and...one drink led to six, seven, eight, I just don't know."

She slid the pins back in her purse, not sure what to take from that answer. "You made a complete ass of yourself."

"I know… I just couldn't take his hands being all over you," he replied honestly, watching her legs cross and uncross themselves.

"How do you want me to take that, Richard?" she asked, her head bowed, as she looked at him through the mirror.

"I don't know."

The empath sighed, grabbing the brush.

He bit his lip, in thought. "He said keep in touch… do you have his number? Are you going to see him again?"

She sighed, feeling the tint of green in her visions in a hue akin to jealousy. "Richard..." she warned.

He ran his hand over his hair to then rub his face in thought, his eyes slowly becoming heavy. "I know, I know, it's none of my business."

"When you ask me things like this, how am I supposed to take it?" Raven frowned, grabbing a knotted section of hair. "How I'm I supposed to feel? How I'm a supposed to read your intentions?"

"I—" the words started, but where stuck at the roof of his mouth. He wasn't sure what it all meant. He knew he didn't want to see her with Eric, knowing the man's MO a little too well. He wanted what was best her, he told himself. He slid down the bed, to sit on the edge, watching her slender neck poke out of the fluffy white cotton bathrobe, thinking how it would feel underneath his lips. He pressed his lips together, a feeling stirring in his chest as he placed his hands over his face. He wanted what was best for her, but he also wanted her, the feeling finally catching up to him after all this time.

"You think one person can fall for two people?" he asked, his eyes focused on her.

Raven stopped combing her hair, surprised at his questioned. She dropped the brush in her lap as she watched Richard sit on the end of the bed. His eyes were focused on the floor, eyes lidded and heavy from alcohol. It was a bunch of drunk talk until sleep took him. She turned around in her seat deciding to amuse him until he fell asleep.

"Depends," Raven answered.

"I don't want cryptic answers." Dick leaned on his hand, "I want your honest opinion."

"Depends—" she started.

Dick groaned at her response.

"—On the person. Some can love multiple people and as long as they know of each other's existence, the relationship can be successful. Another person can be in love with two people, but find out quickly that one wasn't love but lust."

Dick eyes flicked towards her, and he never looked so lost. He was easy to read. It was like a little of alcohol tore down all of the barriers he built up over the years. All the ones that kept people guessing. His mind was reeling, trying to make sense of this information and apply it to his own life.

"Some may find that they love two people differently," Raven continued. "Each love is just as strong but one makes your very essence burn with passion. The fire stable, sustaining and comforting. Then you look back that even though you experience many loves in the past, this is what works. This is what will make you happy."

He shifted on the bed, his hand balled into a fist as he rested the side of his head on it. His blue eyes bore holes into her. "Have you ever felt that way about anyone?"

"I—" Raven started and clutched her hair brush. "No, I haven't."

There was a thick and heavy silence between them as their eyes connected. She must have been drunk too, because his eyes looked like two blue oceans. She was swimming in them, taken by the tide and ready to drown.

"Tell me about Malchoir." He cut into the silence and brought her back up to shore.

"There is nothing to tell," she answered curtly.

"You loved him," he said matter of factly.

"No."

"Don't lie to me, Rae," he frowned in response, and she felt a burst of anger. "Please, not today."

"I never loved him," Raven said, her voice small, "the relationship was brief and fleeting. He gave me attention, told me I was beautiful. I fell for his kind words. I liked him, but I found out he was a slithering snake before it ever turned into love."

"Did he make you feel loved?" Robin asked, his eyes heavy.

"Very much so." Raven turned around, and started brushing her hair again. "He said things with such poise, and integrity, it was hard not to believe he had fallen for you in such a short time. He was a great actor."

"You feel foolish don't you?" Robin frowned, "Like, how dare you think anyone would love you?"

She stopped brushing and watched him from the mirror. "I didn't—"

"I know, but I can feel it." He tapped his chest. "What you screamed in the alleyway that night, it wasn't entirely about me was it?"

"Yes and no." Raven placed the brush on the counter.

"We promised to be honest with each other," He reminded her.

She glanced at him as she raised her hair up and wraps it into a bun. "It brought memories of Malchoir, yes. However, the situations are different. Malchoir had everything to gain by fooling me, he did things out of his own conviction." She stayed silent for a second unsure how to continue the next thought. She carefully picked up the makeup remover, dabbing the cotton pad on the dispenser. "I was afraid that my powers—"

"Influenced my decisions?" He finished the sentence for her, and waited to see if he was right.

Raven hand stilled as she was deep in thought. She let out a ragged sigh as she started removing her makeup. "Yes. While Malchior had everything to gain, you had everything to lose. I may have made you—"

"You didn't make me do anything." Dick shook his head violently. "Do you still think that after everything I said to BB? After I admitted that I felt something way before all this."

The empath wiped the rose color off her cheeks. "Why did you kiss me in the alleyway? Why do you always stop yourself before you do now? Have you figured that out? "

He pursed his lips, and laid back on the bed with a thud. He was tired, and his head was still swimming. Raven's question was loaded, and drunk Richard wasn't as eloquent as sober Richard. "Because I wanted to shut you up. Because as much as I wanted to kiss you again and again, I was still with Starfire."

The empath shook her head, removing the last of her makeup before turning around to look at him. "Shut me up?"

"To me the whole I can't be loved thing pisses me off," Richard frowned, placing his arm over his eyes to warn off the lights. "When you say that, I'm like: How can this girl think that, when I tried to so hard to contain my feelings for her?"

Raven didn't say anything and he frowned deeper. Drunk him didn't like that, so he sat back up, bearing the weight on his hands. "Why did you kiss me in the living room?"

He swore he could physically see the gears in her head turn. She clicked her tongue, as she frowned and she carefully constructed her sentences. How he wished she was as inebriated as him. Just to watch her rationally leave. All her qualms and reservedness dissolve. He felt everything she said was always half of the truth.

"The way you said my name," she finally said, "it was heavy and raspy as though you needed something from me. I was already consumed by your eyes, in awe on just how human you looked. So I plunged right in, giving you everything I had."

The empath crossed her arms over her chest. She was guarding herself again. "I guess I couldn't handle the unguarded you. My feelings were haywire, and my powers unchecked. I might have projected my feelings onto you. "

He downcasted his eyes, watching her legs uncross themselves. "No, I don't think that is what happened. I'm comfortable with you, more than anyone else. That's why I showed you who I am." He shakily got up, sultering towards her. "When you spoke on how my eyes were compelling, I couldn't help but think how yours are so beautiful. How you are just so beautiful." He leaned over her, placing his hands on the vanity, entrapping her with his body. "I kissed your eyes to stop myself from kissing you."

"Then I kissed you," Raven whispered looking up at him. His eyes watching her every bated breath. "Why did you leave?"

"Because you broke the dam." Dick leaned a little closer, inches away from her. "I couldn't contain myself. If I allowed myself to even, for a moment, relish in that kiss—I didn't know what to feel."

She tilted her head watching the way his tongue graced his lips. "What are you feeling now?"

"Jealous that you spent the evening talking to another man to that guy," Dick's said, his voice thick with need. "I'm confused on why I'm saying so much." He leaned closer their lips a hair width apart. "I just know I'm anxious to kiss you."

"Then kiss me," the empath whispered their lips grazing each other.

He looked at her, and she could feel desire radiate from his body. One hand let go of the vanity desk, letting his knuckled lay featherlight kisses against her cheek. He admired her beauty and her will, humming in appreciation as his fingers outlined her face. She closed her eyes as his fingers touched the line of her eyebrows. His touch warm as he stroked the bridge of her nose to it's pointed end. Her breath hitched as he lined her jaw before pressing his thumb against her lips. He pushed down on her upper lip, dragging his thumb down in appreciation, and she kissed his thumb in return. He let out a groan, heavy with need as he let go of her face. Her eyelids flew open as she sensed him draw closer, his hand tipping her chin towards him as he leaned closer and—

The only hand supporting his weight shook in a gaudy display before he tilted forward. Leaning his head down in a sickening dizzy spell, his knees collapsed under his weight. He reached for Raven's shoulder to keep himself steady and bumped the top of his head against her teeth. Raven pulled away quickly from the pain, making him miss her shoulder, and completely collapse to his knees in front of her.

"I think…" He said in between quick breathes, "I'm going to throw up"

A/N: SURPRISE ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)