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Raven knows and he didn't tell her.
Robin didn't trust many people. He could count on one hand the people he trusted with his life. The life of the boy under the mask, the one hidden by some false sense of justice.
The Dick Grayson. Though he prefers Richard.
Batman, he trusted that man with a lot…not everything. You can't ever trust anyone with everything. Even if that person raised you.
It's not some you're trying to tell, it's all.
You're not just telling them about the picture, you're telling them everything that went with the picture.
How each stroke was made.
Why the picture was painted.
What made them do it.
You're telling everything, and that scared him. So he kept his secrets close.
Not s soul knew about them. He wasn't a master at keeping his secrets. Otherwise, he'd not be able to call them even that.
In fact, Robin never tried hiding them.
Just never put any effort to bringing them out.
Didn't he say before, on one hand he could count all the people he trusted with his identity? Or did you not hear correctly.
First was Batman, Bruce Wayne. A secret for a secret, his dad was a man of equivalent exchange. And eye for an eye and aeg for a leg.
They didn't talk to each other with h trust, it's more like: you tell my secrets and I'll tell yours.
Mutual acceptance if that.
Then there was Alfred, the Wayne Butler.
By default it was easy to trust him, he was sure that Alfred valued his life more than he valued his own.
Like blood, they were so close. Sometimes he stopped by slowly for him.
The grandfather he wished he had.
Unlike Bruce, Robin trusted Alfred a lot more, even if he knew that if Batman asked for it, he'd tell the big man.
At arms reach, he kept the Wayne family. At arms reach.
Far enough from him that any stray bullets wouldn't likely hit his skin.
That would be far enough for a sniper in the building could kill one of them leaving the other safe.
If there was a bomb, don't expect them to jump on it, let it explode.
Just for extra precaution.
Third there was Cyborg, it took Richard two years but eventually he told his teammate. Cyborg knew the face, he knew his name.
To say he didn't trust Cyborg would be a bucket of shit.
Because, out of all the Titans, he trusted the half Robot the most. Funny. Isn't it? Trust the man with instant access to the internet at his finger tips with his identity and life.
That was crazy.
After those three came the last one, Commissioner Gordon.
It wasn't trust they shared, but respect.
And things sort of happened, he told him of his identity and they became decent coworkers.
And for the fifth finger? It was absent.
He didn't willingly trust anyone else with anything. Some found out of their own volition. He didn't want them to know, so he tried not to tell them.
His mask was for that sole purpose.
Somehow, he didn't know when she did, but she found out. His name and his face.
Maybe it was because of that bond, as good as it was for work. Privately, he didn't like it. Having her probe his thoughts.
She tries to hide it.
But at least once a week in the living room he could feel her walking around up there.
Laughing and smiling in his head.
She tries to be sneaky.
He didn't confront her about her finding out, no, she came to him. Angry and all. "You even told Cyborg before me!"
Dick didn't know what pissed her off so much, whatever made her so angry. She needed to tone it down.
In droves, he was reminded of their shitty bond when he was able to feel her anger and sadness leach st his skin sucking him dry.
Tears hit the ground.
Why was she crying? She was in the wrong.
It was his information to give away, his secrets to tell. But you violated him.
And did it in the worst way possible.
Instead of just asking about, he would've told you! You thought it was a great idea to rummage through your leader's thoughts.
And for what?!
To get angry because you found something you didn't like!
Grow the fuck up.
Robin's mouth was slightly opened trying to get a word in. Her tantrum was getting too much for him to handle.
"I thought you trusted me!" And maybe he did.
Maybe he thought it would've been easier for you if you didn't have to know his face.
Didn't have to know all the horrors that scratched at his mind. Their claws were like moths to a flame.
Can't you see that he was doing you a favor.
Not forcing you to feel his burdens when you already found it hard to stand with those heavy shoulders!
She was crying trying to wipe her eyes. "You said that you would trust me the same way I trust you!"
She trusted him?
No, don't lie to him.
Raven, he knows you well. You went through his mind to find something. And you found the wrong thing.
Did you ask Dick about it? Cyborg did, for other reasons obviously, but still. A king always likes their joker…till they start making jokes about the king.
Then they're slaughtered and fed to the sheep of the castle.
He meant Raven no harm, but she was already going through enough.
Having to consider her actions towards him the same way he did her, it would be far too exhausting. Like right now, he didn't consider how his team would take it.
Someone just needed to know in case of emergencies.
And Cyborg was one of the, if not the smartest and brightest of the Titans. His life would be in great hands.
Raven, she was sporadic, quiet, and explosive all at once. It scared him.
It scared him that if he told her about that kid behind the mask, she'll fuck up and kill him. Not literally, but damn near close.
"I trust you with everything! And I thought you trusted me too, even if you didn't want to show me your face U was still fine with that. Fine because I was thinking that you're just used to keeping it a secret!"
She was loud and in his face, a river pooled in her eyes before the water tension broke and they rushed down even harder.
You can give without loving someone.
Don't think you can't. He gave her all that she asked for.
Tried to help her better herself, and it worked. With Slade dead and Trigon locked away, things were fine!
But you can't love without giving. And that was his mistake.
You just slip and love the wrong person. "But Cyborg! You told him before me? Just why?" She tried keeping nothing from her leader.
At first he didn't think anything of it. This was protocol, they did the same with the Justice League.
They'd tell one member of their team their identity just in case something bad happens.
Other than him, they had nothing to hide. Three were from other planets. Cyborg had no life outside of certain facilities.
And then him.
The adopted son of Bruce Wayne after his parents died. Heir to a multi billion dollar company.
He needed to hide things. "Why not me, why couldn't you trust me." She crumpled.
Her legs gave out as she fell to her knees. Now this, she was unstable. "You said that I was special to you, said that you wouldn't hide anything from me ever again. I trust you Robin, but you don't trust me."
Raven mumble under he cries. No matter how much he saw her wipe her face, the tears resurfaced.
Dancing along a field of landmines. Step on one and they all explode.
He did trust her a lot, but see what she just did. He planned on telling her soon, a few months from now.
Just when they were sure that she was in full control of her emotions now that Trigon stopped being a main factor.
"Richard Grayson? Is that even your real name?" It hurt him slightly, for her to prove his mind.
No matter how many walks he built, all she had to do was graze one and they'd crumble to the floor. "Yeah, it's actually Dick Grayson, but I prefer Richard."
He was so disappointed in her.
Trusting someone with your life is hard right, but he could think of worse things. He only trusted him with his future.
Crouching to his knees, he pulled her in a side hug. "I'd say I was sorry for hiding it, but I'm not." He felt her try to pull back, he didn't let go.
"Cyborg does a lot of things for me, I needed to trust him with everything. That's protocol. I didn't do it to hurt you at all. I was just scared."
And who could blame him? She picked the time where everyone went off to confront him.
"Scared of me?"
"No, I was just afraid of how you'd react. Before, Slade was always in the shadows and Trigon would always be in your head."
He rubbed her back, she leaned in close and wrapped both of her hands around him.
Cyborg only knew the basics, his blood type, his allergies, and more basic medical information. "You were a loose cannon Raven, even if you don't think so."
"I trust you with everything now, and if you want to hear it then I'll tell." She shoved her head in the crook of his neck and did her breathing thing.
In and out, in and out.
"You're very special to me Raven, more so than most people I ever met. And if I hurt you then I am sorry."
So very special, his little butterfly with those beautiful wings of hers. "I do love you." She told him, hugging him tighter.
Telling him stuff he already knew. "And I love you too." He told her back.
Raven was soft and hard at the same time, her skin was smooth and her arms were thin. A nice pale gray.
What happens if the king likes the jokes of the joker? Nothing bad.
Only good.
She lifted her head back and lightly kissed his lips. Robin was fine. Even if he tried masking his anger with love.
He was still disappointed and disgusted with her.
To completely shovel through his thoughts.
"Uh-huh."
All that hypocrisy she was spitting, it made his stomach feel ill. Robin only ever liked her romantically, but all that love wouldn't hide his disgust forever.
But digging through people's person information?
He's being a bit hypocritical.
Maybe he didn't feel disgust for her, they were so alike. "I love you so much Raven."
Maybe it was just more love, she learned from the best. Who cares if he was being hypocritical, they both were.