Freedom

6

ROBIN
It's four in the morning and I'm pacing around the common room. Chances are, I won't be getting to sleep tonight. I move my foot in front of the other, wearing only my pajama bottoms and a loose tank top. This sleep deprivation is killing me.
I sit down at the kitchen table, looking through some villain files. I stop at Slade's file, flipping through the pages of his misbehaviour. He is evil, but he was meant to be banished in prison. I haven't heard of him for months, except for now, except for when he attacked Raven.
He was my mentor. My forced mentor. I didn't want him to mentor me, but everyone insisted. I became an alter-ego. I became someone I am not, but I knew his tactics, I knew what he was going to do. I hated him. He is strong and tenacious and unstoppable. After my parents died, he took me in. But never accepted me. He taught me to destroy and conquer, something I didn't want to do. I got into working with a new boss, and ever since then, he's been out to destroy.
I flick his file to the side and pull up Raven's file. Reading over her description, there is not much I could truly understand from. Besides knowing her birthday and such, she really didn't have much to say on her file. After last night, she showed her colors as a strong fighter and possibly a strong leader. She truly is a Titan, or at least, I think she is.
I pull a shiny red gem and a communicator from my pocket. A type of technology that tells when there is trouble and alerts the individual who has it. Everyone on the team has one, and now Raven will have one. I just need to give it to her, I just need to present it to her, and hopefully she will accept.
A whoosh of air comes in and Raven floats in wearing a pair of sweats and a tank top, showing more skin than usual. Her hair is slightly tousled from her sleep, but she doesn't notice anyone else is awake. She levitates into the kitchen, heading straighter for a pot.
She carefully fills the pot with water, putting some kind of herbs into it before placing the pot on the stove. Raven carefully hums a tune as she lets the water bubble. I feel like I should say something, maybe alert her that I am here, but I remain quiet. She gets a mug from the cupboard, pouring the drink in.
She doesn't seem like a villain. She seems so innocent, so unprotected right now.
She turns around and nearly drops the mug, jumping back quickly at the sight of me.
"Robin!" she loudly whispers, startled. "Why didn't you say anything? You scared me!"
"Sorry," I whisper, rubbing the back of my neck. "I didn't mean to, I just didn't want to bother you." I watch her bite her lip... and, wow.
"Oh, no, it's okay," she says shyly, standing back a bit.
I realize how uncomfortable she is. I push away some of the files to make room for her.
"Please, sit down, this is your home too," I say, trying to comfort her. She sits down on the spot beside me, drinking her herbal tea.
"What are you reading?" Raven asks, and I quickly close her file, pushing it aside and pulling another one out.
"Just looking over a few villain files," I say, looking at the file I just opened. Mad Mod, an insanely crafty old man who just enjoys mind games.
"Maybe you would want to explain a few of them to me, just so I understand?" she suggests.
"Of course," I say happily. Maybe she is exactly what the team needs.
Unfortunately, I cannot figure her out.

Hours pass as we read through the files and I give detailed explanations of each villain. Raven listens closely, asking intricate questions. She looks through each file, examining each photo as if she were trying to find a weakness.
"Hey, Raven," I say quietly, she looks up from one of the files. "Now that you're a Titan, I want to give this to you and this. I hand over the red gem, she takes the red gem in her hands, examining each centimeter. I then hand over the communicator, another form of technology she hasn't seen.
"What are these?" she asks.
"A communicator and a beeper," I explain. "If any trouble comes, this will alert you and this will allow contact between us. Since you're a member of the Titans, you deserve this."
"Thank you," she answers gratefully. "Uh, Robin?"
"Yea?" I look up, into her purple eyes, her bright purple eyes.
"We went through most of the villains," she begins, "but... what about Slade?" Her fingers lightly tap on the table, creating a bit of strain.
I knew this question was going to come, but I never know how to answer. I let out a sigh and open my mouth trying to think of words.
"Why are y'all awake so early?" Cyborg asks loudly, walking into the kitchen. "I thought only Robin roamed the halls in the morning."
"We were just looking over the list of villains," I explain quickly, making sure that Cyborg didn't get the wrong idea. A mishap of thinking could change the entire team's tension.
"You did a good job yesterday, Raven," Cyborg congratulates. "Really good job! I can't wait to see what other powers you have."
"You'd be surprised," she mutters, barely audible.
"Morning everybody!" Beast Boy shouts as he walks into the room. He sees Raven on the side and quickly swings his arm around her. "And morning to you too, Rae. I'm going to call you Rae from now on. It'll be your cool new nickname, since you have such cool powers."
"Beast Boy..." Raven warns, her eyes turning black. Beast Boy quickly removes his arm out of fear.
"Good morning!" Starfire says, coming in as well with a smile on her face. She looks around and sees Raven, her smile increases. "Oh, Raven! Would you like to go to the mall of shopping? Or paint the nails?"
"Uh, I was going to meditate," Raven says nicely.
"Oh, the meditation, could I join?" Starfire asks with a flicker of her eyelashes.
"Um, sure," Raven says.
"See? This like one big happy family!" Beast Boy says, hugging Starfire and Cyborg tightly.
"Super," Raven says monotonously.
"How about we have some breakfast?" I suggest, making Beast Boy loosen his grip.
"I'll get cooking!" Cyborg shouts, taking out some ham and eggs.
"Anyone for tofu and soy?" Beast Boy asks happily. We all groan.