There used to be a long A/N here but most of it is irrelevant now, as well as most of the A/Ns I wrote while I was in the process of writing this story (so feel free to ignore them...in fact, please do). I have no ill will towards other ~more popular~ ships in this fandom, but RobRae is the truth. This prologue is based on the episode Go!, touching up some details as I see fit. The story itself is set after Trouble in Tokyo. Enjoy the ride, and check out "Amends for the Past" and the even fluffier "Nest Building" once you're done if you want more meh RobRae content from me!

Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans, or any other copyrighted material referenced in this fic

The thief slipped into the alleyway just as the police cars turned the corner. He knew the trick wouldn't last long before they caught on. Checking his surroundings, he ran down the alley, searching for a way to freedom. Suddenly, a shadow flew over his head. He stopped dead in his tracks and looked around for the source of darkness. His mind barely registered the slight whoosh of air before the Birdarang struck the hand holding the gun.

"Aah!" he circled around quickly now, eyes darting from corner to corner to try to find the source of the darkness. "I don't want trouble!" he uttered nervously.

"You should've thought about that before you committed the crime." The reply came coldly as a masked figure stepped into the light. He was relatively short for his age, albeit extremely built. He exuded an air of chilly confidence about him, which made even his bright-colored costume intimidating. He leapt up, and in the blink of an eye, his foot connected with the thief's face.

The thief tried fighting back, lunging at Robin, but the outcome was never really in doubt. He soon found himself knocked against the wall, dazed as Robin stood over him.

"Hey wait a second…" the thief finally put two and two together. "This isn't your city. Aren't you supposed to be working with—"

"I just moved here," Robin replied. "And from now on, I work alone." Internally, Robin sighed. It was true that it would take some time to shed his reputation as a sidekick and replace that with one of a standalone hero. He hated having to go after petty criminals, but he had to start somewhere. Jump City seemed like a good fit, given that it was both a bustling metropolis and a city without a hero. His thoughts were interrupted by a bright streak shooting across the sky. Seconds later, the streak crashed with a bright flash and loud explosion. Robin glanced at the thief, who was looking at him fearfully.

"I'll be back for you," Robin muttered as he tied to the thief up with rope. He arrived at the scene to witness an alien girl wrecking the…balcony of Pizza Corner? Robin threw another one of his trusty Birdarangs, striking the girl on her crown. She spun around, growling something in an alien language, and Robin leapt into action.

From the shadows, the young empath watched the fight with curious violet eyes. The alien girl was clearly the stronger fighter, but the boy with the obnoxiously colorful costume was staying in it with his superior strategizing and range of useful gadgets. Raven contemplated joining the fight. She hated feeling left out. But fight for whose side?

Stay out of it, a voice in her head admonished. It's too risky. You belong with the darkness.

She needs help, another voice replied. She's not evil. Just confused.

So does the boy! a third voice argued. Does he look like a criminal?

Let me focus, Raven stated to the voices. She stared at the two fighters, focusing intently on their emotions. She sensed great determination and indignation from the boy, as well as a little uncertainty. Although he was in the fight, could he actually win? In contrast, she detected a lot of fear and confusion from the alien girl. She had landed on a strange planet and wanted to just…leave. And now she was being attacked.

See? the voice said. No need to fight.

Exactly. a darker, more sinister voice emerged. Why fight? It sneered. Your time on this planet is numbered, just as everything in your life is.

You shut up, Raven retorted. We will wait and see what happens. It's impossible to negotiate in an alien language. And I don't like people all that much anyway.

That's because they don't like you.

"Even the Doom Patrol couldn't have prepared me for this," Beast Boy whispered as he watched the fight. He yelped and turned into a mouse, scurrying away as a giant pillar fell near him. From a distance, he couldn't quite make out who the male fighter was, but it looked like…Robin? The Boy Wonder? The little green thing gasped as the caped figure was thrown to the ground. He had to confirm who the boy was. It was action time.

The tall figure in the hoodie sprinted towards the source of the commotion. Once a promising athlete, Victor Stone was now enhanced even further by his technology—though nobody had called him by that name in a while, or even talked to him for that matter.

"Man, I only wanted some pizza," he muttered to himself. "What is going on around here?" Creeping closer towards the sounds of explosions, he clenched his mechanical fists, preparing for battle.

"Waaahhhhhhhh!" Another boom, and the half robot saw a tiny green boy fly towards him, landing to his right. His processors had barely enough time to register the event when he saw a giant bus flying towards him. Snapping into action, he stopped the bus in its tracks, his newfound strength helping him push back against the weight of the vehicle.

"Yo! Who is messing up my neighborhood?!" he demanded, eyes darting around to survey the scene. He saw a costumed boy likely not much older than him, and on closer look, looked like Robin, the famous sidekick of Batman. An alien girl with metal clamps on her arms approached, her eyes glowing green.

"We could use all the help we got," Robin remarked grimly, glancing over at him.

After coming to terms with the alien girl (with Raven's help) and receiving the doomsday message from the Gordanians, the four soon-to-be Titans stood in a circle, each contemplating their own thoughts.

"You're still going after her, aren't you?" Cyborg piqued.

"Seems like she's made some enemies," Robin replied, punching his fist into his palm. "We should go find her. And help her."

"So…does this mean we get to team up, sir?" Beast Boy asked, still starry-eyed at Robin. Robin smiled.

"I suppose I could, just this once," he agreed. "But seriously, stop calling me sir."

"Yes s—I mean, Robin," Beast Boy saluted, straightening up.

"Come on, we've got a city to save." Robin motioned for the others to follow. As Cyborg and Beast Boy jogged over to follow him, Raven let out a small sigh and put her hood up while turning the other way.

None of them are like me, she told herself. I'm a freak. The way they looked at me when I told them to talk to her…

"Are you coming?" Robin asked, turning around. "We could really use your help. You've got some great powers."

"I'm not the hero type," Raven answered quietly. "And if you knew who I truly was, you wouldn't want me around either." Robin came over and put a hand on her shoulder. Raven was hit with a slight shock, but it wasn't disruptive. It was more like a sudden feeling of warmth. Trust. Empathy. Loyalty. Raven thought. He has a big heart. Stubborn, but always genuine. Maybe this one time. Couldn't hurt too much. Might as well find people you can trust.

"I know enough," Robin reassured her. She gave a small smile and took his hand.

"I'm Beast Boy!" the small green shapeshifter leapt up, giving a wave. "We never finished introductions, dudes and dudette."

"I'm Robin." The Boy Wonder went next.

"I used to have a name," Cyborg remarked wistfully. "Before everyone stopped talking to me, that is."

"Didn't you say you were a cyborg?" Beast Boy asked. "We can just call you that now!"

"Works for me," Robin agreed, nodding. Cyborg shrugged.

"Alright, then. Cyborg it is. And what about you?" Cyborg asked, looking at the sorceress.

"I'm…Raven," she said hesitantly. "It's…good to meet you all."

"No need to be shy," Robin responded. "We're all in this together." The others nodded, and Raven allowed herself to relax a little. While she wasn't as familiar with Cyborg and Beast Boy, she could tell Robin was a strong and capable leader already. Clearly, he'd been trained in both physical skills as well as all the intangibles needed to be a "hero". Although Raven knew it was irrational, she found herself starting to believe that things would turn out okay after all.