ROBRAE WEEK 2019
Day 1: "I worry about you."
Word Count: 1666
Summary: Raven has been distant lately.

She was late again.

From his seat by the kitchen counter, Robin looked at the time on the microwave. It was nearing 3 AM. Raven was supposed to be finished with her patrol an hour ago. But she wasn't home yet.

That has been the usual lately. She would be out longer on her patrols. He wondered at that. Crime has been low for the past months. Whatever was delaying her on her round, it couldn't be any sudden crime spree tonight. If it was, he should have received a heads-up from her or an alert from the JCPD. But his communicator has been silent. The police have been silent. And patrols usually last for at least a couple of hours. And Raven usually gets hers done under two, given that she can fly.

But she wasn't home yet.

It was just another thing that has been bothering him. She has been distant lately.

Robin took a sip from his cooling coffee as he thought back to when he first noticed it. He couldn't pinpoint the exact moment when it was. It could have been that last time they had a pizza party after battling Plasmus or maybe it was last week's Sunday brunch but he had turned in his seat to tell her something, expecting her to be there – used to her being there – but she wasn't. The seat beside him was empty.

After that, it became obvious to him. She wasn't there for movie nights, barely stayed when they're out for pizza, rarely sat where she used to sit beside him during dinner. She has also stopped popping in his office to offer help with paperwork.

Before, he used to return from his patrols to find her in the kitchen, nursing a cup of her tea, sometimes with a novel in her hands. She used to wait for him to come home.

It has been weeks since she last did that.

Robin tried to contain his initial worry when he first realized what was happening. He stopped himself from going to her, from asking her what was going on because he knew her. He knew she'd rather try to solve her problems on her own first. They were alike in that aspect. If it was personal to her, he wouldn't want to intrude unless absolutely necessary. So he decided to give her time. He'd let her work things out by herself first.

He had decided that a month ago.

But the distance remained.

Now, it was time to approach her.

I don't think it will be tonight, though. Robin looked out of the bay window and saw that it had begun to drizzle. Thinking he'd need to stay up a bit longer, just a bit until Raven returned, he stood to get a refill of coffee. As he reached for the coffee pot, he spied a green canister beside the kettle. He recognized it as Raven's tea caddy.

He stared at it thoughtfully for a couple of seconds before reaching out to take it. As he examined the canister, he recalled the moments he had observed Raven preparing her tea. She always looked most content whenever she did it. As if the simple act of making the drink gave her peace.

But he couldn't remember that last time he had seen that. It couldn't have been that long, had it? Raven didn't just disappear from his side, did she?

Shaking the thoughts away, Robin decided to try the tea instead. This might do him some good.

For the next few minutes, Robin busied himself with making a cup of tea. He recalled the times he'd seen Raven prepare her drink and tried to do it as she did. He had watched her one too many times that he was probably as familiar with her tea-making ritual as she was. As he waited for the water to reach the proper temperature, he considered making another cup of the drink, for the other bird that's yet to roost.

When the tea was ready, Robin filled his red mug with the hot drink, as well as Raven's blue mug, hoping that it would still be warm enough by the time she got back.

Sitting back on the stool, Robin took slow sips of the bitter drink as he continued to wait. He let his mind drift away with the muffled sound of the rain outside that he didn't notice her arrival. It was her voice that brought him back to the present.

"You're still up." It wasn't a question. It was a statement, an observation. And it felt like the very first words she had said to him in a long time.

He opened his mouth to respond but his throat suddenly felt dry as his eyes found her form by the door. She was cloaked, face hidden under her hood, and she was sodden.

Robin opened his mouth and tried again. "Yeah."

When she didn't say anything immediately, he expected her to turn around and walk away.

"I made tea," he found himself saying in an attempt to make her stay. "I… I hope you don't mind."

Raven remained quiet for a moment before walking towards him, much to his relief. He felt as if he was holding his breath as he carefully watched her every move as she shed her cloak and draped it on a stool. He felt wary and pleased at the same time. She was finally here with him, near and willingly plopping down on the seat beside him. He felt more than relieved.

Her drink wasn't as hot as she usually preferred it but she didn't say anything and just drank quietly.

Robin took a small sip from his own drink. "Anything happened tonight?"

"No," she answered. "I swept the city twice but it was quiet."

"I see. Thanks."

Raven gave him a side-glance. "It's my job."

Robin had a ready rebuttal at the rather indifferent answer but something else came out when he opened his mouth. "How are you, Rae?"

Robin kept his gaze on her face when he asked. He tried to catch her usual tells. She was looking at the mug cradled in her hands and much to his disappointment her face remained still as a porcelain mask.

"I'm fine," she answered after a moment.

He kept his eyes trained on her face, willing her to meet his gaze. But she remained staring at her cup.

Very well. Time to lay out all his cards.

"It just feels like it's been a while."

Raven finally turned to look at him. "What do you mean?"

"This," he answered, "Us, sitting like together like this. It feels like it's been a while since I've spoken to you."

"Has it?"

"Yes."

When she didn't seem keen on saying anything further, Robin decided to say what he really wanted to say.

"It's just that…you seem distant lately. And don't deny it, I have noticed."

Raven still didn't stir from her seat but he noticed her tightened grip around her cup. There's a tell.

"I can't remember the last time we've watched the sunrise together," he continued.

It was one of the things that he enjoyed doing with her. Being the earliest to wake up, they have taken to watching the sunrise together. The ritual was one of his little comforts. But even that has been abruptly taken away from him.

"I'm worried," he admitted, keeping his voice steady. "There's something…" he trailed off, not knowing how to voice out his gut feeling, "And I know you're capable, so don't take it the wrong way. You're the most capable out of all of us. But still… I worry about you."

Raven remained very still, cradling her drink.

Robin peeked at her face. "You know you have me, right, Rae?"

She turned to him with an expression of surprise on her face, the first emotion he has seen on her and it encouraged him.

He shifted in his seat to face her fully, "You have me, always." He wanted to take her hand in his but he decided against reaching out to her. Yet.

"I know that something is going on, even if you won't admit it. I can feel it. Whatever it is, I want to remind you that you can come to me. I'm here for you for whatever. You can count on me."

Robin let the silence settle around them as he waited for a response. He knew that Raven heard what he said and understood exactly what he meant. She knew him. And she has him. Whatever she'd need from him, it was hers.

He wanted to hold on to her so badly but he kept his hands in tight fists against his thighs. She has yet to say something.

Then finally, she let out the smallest of sighs. "Thank you, Robin."

He watched her shoulders lower as she stooped slightly in her seat.

"I'm…" Raven bit on her lower lip, considering her next words, "I'm going through something, something personal. And it's something I have to deal with alone."

Robin felt disappointed at that revelation but quickly supressed it in case her empathy picked up on it. "I understand. But in case—"

"I know," she interrupted, turning to fully look at him. And much to his surprise, she reached out and placed a hand over his gloved ones.

He couldn't find it in him to feel embarrassed about how eager he seemed for the contact as he quickly caught her hand in his, clasping hers between his and holding it firmly, securely.

There was a sudden thrum at the back of his head, a warm kind of buzz. It took him a moment to recognize that it came from the bond – her end of the bond apparently as there was a soft dusting of pink on her cheeks and her eyes were locked onto their connected hands.

"Always, Raven." He affirmed, tightening his hold on her. "I'm here."