Birds of a Feather

8

After I mentioned Slade the room fell silent and I could feel the stress rise from Nightwing's mind. I looked over at the clock on the microwave and saw that it was 4am. "Look, I know we need to find them, but it's late, so maybe we should get rest. Your rooms are the same as you left them, if you need anything and don't know where it is you can come find me." I said as I walked to my room. I heard a few mumbles as I left the room and then heard the door open a few times. As I reached my room, I couldn't help but remember what the Joker had showed me from Nightwing's nightmares.

I stood and stared at my door, surely looking crazy to whoever was in the hallway with me. I felt a hand rest on my shoulder and turned to see Starfire with a sad smile on her face. "Friend Raven are you okay?" she asked. I took a deep breath and nodded. "The Joker just showed me some things that I never really thought I'd see. Just startled me a bit I think." I shrugged. Starfire looked down the hallway towards the common room door and then back at me.

"Friend Raven, you need to convince him to stay." She said. I looked at her and then towards the door where I could still hear someone furiously clicking away at the keyboard. "You aren't upset with me?" I asked. Deep down I knew it was stupid to think that someone as nice and forgiving as Starfire could get upset over something like this. However, ever since I started to develop my crush on Nightwing I couldn't help but feel like I was breaking some kind of girl code.

She shook her head and smiled. "Nightwing and I were destined for different paths. We would not have worked out no matter how hard we tried. But I can see how you look at each other, I saw it back when the Titans were together, and I saw it tonight. You both care deeply for one another, I think you should tell him your feelings." She smiled and started to walk down the hall to her old room. "Goodnight Raven. Have a good night's rest." She waved and disappeared behind her door.

I thought about what she said and placed my hand on the scanner to let me into my room. I went straight to my bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. There were too many thoughts running through my mind and I just needed to sleep them away. I stared at my reflection and thankfully I looked like me. I looked tired and could see the bags under my eyes but there was no sign of my demonic side coming through. After I changed into something more comfortable, I could feel the day's events catching up to me and knew I would fall asleep immediately.

When I walked back out to my bedroom, I jumped at the figure that was sitting on my bed. When my heart settled from its rapid pace, I realized it was just Nightwing, no longer in his uniform but instead in the same pair of old sweatpants and an old Robin shirt.

"What are you doing in my room?" I wasn't sure why he was here or where we stood at the moment. He hadn't spoken to me since I left for the bank and I could practically see the fear radiating off of him. He stood up without saying a word and walked over to me. His left hand pulled me by my back into his chest while the other cradled the back of my head. I wrapped my arms around him and took in the scent of his old cologne. He didn't speak for a long time, just held me to his chest. While I was confused, I certainly wasn't going to complain.

After a while I could feel him start to shake as he held my head tighter to his chest. I backed away and grabbed his hand, leading him over to my bed. I pulled down the comforter and got in motioning for him to follow me. He looked at me hesitantly probably trying to decide if I was being serious or not. I could see even in the dark of my room that tears were falling from under his mask. "Just sit down please." I said, my voice sounding softer than I had ever heard it before. He nodded and slid into bed next to me leaning against my headboard. I leaned into his chest as his hand went around my shoulders.

"Raven... I'm so sorry." He spoke and I could hear the crack in his voice when he said my name. I wrapped my arm around him and gave him a reassuring side hug. "It wasn't your fault. I shouldn't have gone alone." I shook my head. "I shouldn't have let you go alone." He said quickly. I shook my head, "Playing the blame game is going to get us nowhere. It was both of our faults. I'm fine Nightwing it's okay." I said trying my best to reassure him.

"He showed you didn't he." He said after a long period of silence. I nodded and Nightwing sighed. "Raven you know I trust you with my life, right?" He asked. I looked across the room to the mirror attached to my dresser. I could see Nightwing looking at me through the mirror as well. "Raven I've already lost someone to the Joker, and I can't handle the thought of another. It's my fault he's here. I'm not afraid of a lot, but losing my team, losing you, and not being able to do a damn thing about it. That's my biggest fear." He said in a whisper as his hand went up to the corner of his mask. I reached up to stop him knowing how much his secret identity meant to him. "You don't need to. I won't think any less of you. I never have." He shook his head and took the mask off anyway. His icy blue eyes were red from crying and I couldn't help but look up and stare into them. They were beautiful even if he'd been crying. "You didn't have to do that Richard." I said. I could see his eyes clearly confused now without the mask hiding them. I giggled, something that was usually very unlike me. "Once I figured out Bruce Wayne was Batman it wasn't too hard to tell that his adopted son Richard Grayson just so happened to look like Robin." I smirked and he even let out a laugh. "Why didn't you tell me you knew?" He asked. I shrugged and sat up turning to face him. "I figured you'd tell me when you were ready. It wasn't my place to confront you." I smiled.

He took my hands in his causing me to look down and hide the blush on my cheeks. "There's no name or secret identity I should know about you is there?" he smiled. I laughed and shook my head. "No. I think being named for the bad luck I bring is enough to handle, let alone a secret identity" I said. He looked at me with his clear blue eyes and I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing them. "You know some cultures believe raven's represent wisdom and insight rather than bad luck." He smiled. I blushed again, not liking that I could hear my happy emoticlone screaming at me to kiss him. I pushed away my emotions and focused on his, trying to see how he was feeling. There was fear and anger like there was before but there was something that felt warm and fuzzy in the pit of my stomach that I couldn't quite put a name to.

"You don't have to be afraid. I don't plan dying anytime soon." I smirked. He looked up at me questioningly. "We've still got the bond, I never bothered to get rid of it. That's how I knew to throw the Joker to you. You were radiating so much anger I was getting a migraine from a mile away." He nodded and looked like he was in deep thought. "I know it's not reasonable to fear losing you. I know you can look out for yourself in fact if anyone was going to survive anything by themselves it would be you. You're my best friend Raven. Just the thought of losing you..." He started and I could see the tears start to well up in his eyes again. I raised my hand and placed it gently on his cheek. "Hey now. The Robin I knew never cried. And if it's any consolation, it was my biggest fear too more or less. Losing the only people I've ever cared about because of my own actions. I guess we just care too much for each other." I smirked and he laughed as well. "I guess when I turned into Nightwing I turned into a crybaby." He joked.

He began to get up out of my bed and started to walk towards the door. I made a rash decision to call his name, not really sure where I gathered the courage to ask him such a bold question. "Richard. Will you stay with me tonight?" I asked. He turned with a slight smile on his face before he nodded. Once he climbed back into bed, I could tell he didn't want to overstep his boundaries with me. The last he knew I was emotionless and hated physical contact. I turned on my side so that I was laying on his chest and moved his arm so that it was wrapped around me.

"I've been working on living with a little emotion as well." I laughed. I could feel him let out a sigh of relief as he sank further into my pillows and wrapped his arms tighter around my waist.
"Goodnight Raven."