To Make Team Work

5.

Raven sat on her bed thinking about the strange turn of events. She honestly thought Red Robin was going to kick her out. It was a relief knowing she was allowed to stay. Knock! Knock! She turned to her door. Odd. No one ever knocks on my door. She instinctively reached to pull her hood up but decided not to at the last minute. If she could trust them with her life story, she could trust them with her face. She opened the door to see Red Robin standing at her door, missing his utility belt. What's that about? She stared at him. "Uh," Red Robin began uneasily. "May I come in? I would like to talk to you."

No, Raven thought. "Sure," she said uneasily. He stepped into her room, confidently and perfectly at ease. She sensed no hostility or anger in him at all. Her frowned deepened. What is going on?

"Nice," he finally said after looking around the room. "I like what you've done with your room."

"It is black," Raven said. Seriously, who is this guy? There's no way this is Red Robin.

"I know," he said, giving her a playful smile. "But you have the perfect amount of light streaming through the window. It's not too bright. It's not too dark. I love the candles." He motioned to the candles spread throughout her room.

Raven was confused. Her leader was talking to her...because he wanted to? She didn't know what to do with that information. Instead of doing anything, she stood in the middle of the room, awkwardly, watching her leader examine her room. "Where did you find these gothic styled lamps? They're amazing. Oh," he walked over to her bookshelf, "I was not expecting you to have so many books. He perused the items. "You know," he turned to her, "I know a guy who owns a huge library. I think you'll love it. It has Ancient Latin texts and everything. Do you speak Latin?" he asked.

"Yes," Raven answered, completely baffled. She could sense no deception from him at all. He was being genuine.

Red Robin turned and looked past Raven. "Is that a purple lava lamp?" he asked, trying to cover the humor in his voice.

"Yes, do you have one?" Raven asked, failing to hide her excitement. She loved her little heat lamp. She found it to be very charming.

"Yeah, when I was like, 8," Red Robin gave her disarmingly sweet smile.

"Well," Raven huffed, folding her arms across her chest, "I have never had one before. I saw one in a store when I first came to Earth- "

"I'm not judging," Red Robin said. "I find it very cute that you have one."

"Cute?" Raven repeated with a scrunched-up face.

"Yep."

"If you say so."

Red Robin continued to stare at her. He was so shocked to see big, violet orbs staring back at him when she opened the door. It wasn't the first time he'd seen her without a hood, but it had been while. He smiled, realizing he could stare at her all day. She really was breathtaking in a cute way. Big violet eyes, cute nose that was the perfect size for her face, lips that looked deceptively thin, and cheeks that he really wanted to squeeze. Simply put, Raven was adorable...like a bunny. "Red Robin?" Raven called his name uncertainly.

"Right," Red Robin shook himself out of his daze. "I wanted to talk to you." Raven continued to stare into his masked eyes. "I'm guessing that the reason you're always in here is because you don't know how to socialize."

Raven's shoulders fell, and she looked down in shame. "I have never been around people my own age. I have always been surrounded by adults. I do not know how to relate to you guys. I am also afraid of accidentally offending someone," she said, playing with her hands.

"It's okay if you make mistakes, Raven. We all do. We won't - I won't hurt you or kick you out if you do something wrong." She nodded in understanding. "Why do you spar buy yourself after everyone has gone to bed?" Raven looked up at him in shock. "Yeah," Red Robin laughed, "I know about your secret midnight training sessions."

"I do not like people staring at me. I find it...unsettling. Also, everyone's emotions bombard me, and it gives me headaches. I am not yet strong enough to block out everyone's emotions while doing other things, but I'm getting there," she rushed to reassure him.

"It's okay," Red Robin said, holding his hands up. After a moment, he said, "You've got yourself a new sparring buddy."

"What?"

"I've seen the recordings. You kick butt in those simulations. However, I think you need a challenge. Which is why, on nights you want to spar, I will join you."

"I cannot ask that of you."

"You're not asking. I'm offering. You will not move me on this subject. And don't stop sparring at night just because you don't want to be around me," he said with a smile. Raven nodded. "You also talked about screaming during your nightmares."

"Yes," Raven said.

"Do you still get them?" Raven nodded. "Then how come I've never heard you. My room is literally across from yours. Neither of our rooms have soundproof walls, yet. So, what is it?"

"I found a spell that allows me to mute my own voice before I go to bed each night. No one can hear me scream, and I do not disturb anyone."

Red Robin stared at her silently. She gave an unexpected answer. That had to be one of the most gut-wrenching things he'd ever heard. This whole time, she was trying to be considerate while he was too busy being an ass to her. "I'm sorry you have to do that, Raven," Red Robin genuinely apologized.

She only shrugged. "It is what it is," Raven said in resignation, "like I said, I do not wish to disturb anyone."

"I understand," Red Robin said, "but we're a team. If one of us is hurt, we help them. I don't want you muting your voice anymore. I don't care if you scream."

"But I get them almost every night," Raven protested.

"It doesn't matter. If I must wake up every night to calm you, I'll do it. It really won't be a problem."

"Red- "she stopped because suddenly he was right in front of her.

"Trust me," he said.

To Raven, it almost seemed like he was pleading with her. She gave a small nod. Red Robin gave a smile of relief. "Good," he said, "now come on." He held his hand out to her.

She looked at his hand, then she looked at face. "Where?" she asked, not fully understanding.

"To the common room. Beast Boy, Kid Flash and Rose are already there."

"But..."

"Nope," he said, placing a finger on her soft lips. He quickly withdrew it. "Sorry," he said sheepishly, "but you have to start somewhere. You can't practice your socialization if you stay in your room all of the time." Raven looked at him, then his hand, then his face again. "Trust me," he said softly. Raven slowly placed her hand in his, and he led them out the door. "Do you want to put your hood up?" he asked.

Raven shook her head. "No, I'll be fine," she said. For the first time in a long time, she truly believed she would be okay.