Beating Around The Bush (Teen Titans Robin X Reader)

Chapter 6

"Watch it, will you?!" I said glaring at him while holding my arm. "Just get me a kitchen knife. I'll do it myself." My tone was harsh as I stared him down. "Did you mean-" "Who else am I going to be talking about, idiot?!" I said with a harsh glare only for him to glare back. "Will you stop being so childish and let me finish?" He asked, his glare not letting up. I tsked at him as my thorns slowly went back into my body.

"Whatever...but I'm only letting you do this because I can't see everything from this angle." I said sitting back down turning my head away from him. "You do know a kitchen knife would hurt more right? You'd also end up cutting off healthy pieces when you don't need to." Robin said gently taking my arm into his hand again and I tensed up at the feeling. "It's going to hurt and grow back regardless of what I do. Might as well get it over and done with." I said as I watched him start to cut at the base of the burnt pieces.

A silence filled the room before Robin awkwardly broke it again. "You shouldn't be so tense while I do this." He said. His voice was softer as he talked to me. It seemed like he was sympathetic almost. "Easier said than done." My harsh tone coming down slightly. "If you stay this tense, your thorns are going to come out. You gotta relax. It's just me after all." Robin's words only made me tense up more. "Yeah, cause that helps." I said rolling my eyes and looking away trying to relax more.

"You want to tell me what happened?" Robin pressed again making me look down at my lap. "No, I really don't." I said wincing slightly. "Sorry...If it makes any difference...I am curious about the story, but they told me how there were a lot of people that got out because of you. I need to know what we missed so I can make sure it doesn't happen again." He said before taking a slight pause. "And to not bother you with...hero business." He said the last part sarcastically. "Is this story going to travel?" I asked looking at him and he shrugged his shoulders. "That depends on what happened." He said and I nodded.

"I'll tell you what happened. How I got injured isn't really important overall if you're only looking for ways to improve your team. That information doesn't leave this room." I said not looking at him. He thought for a moment. "Alright. But I get the full story. All of my questions will be answered. Deal?" He asked and I sighed before nodding.

"I was in the forest when the fire monster, beast thing, emerged. Not really sure what it really was, but I genuinely don't care enough at the moment." "Why were you in the forest in the first place?" Robin asked as he cut away a large piece of burnt wood making me tense up in pain. "I-it's not important, really." I said looking away from him. I felt the typical pink roses come up through my cheeks being stopped short by just a few branches and my mask. "All of my questions, Night." Robin said sternly. "I...I was...volunteering around the campsites." I said and I felt more rose buds bloom under my cheeks going all around where my cheek bones would be if I had bones and up the sides of my face. The flowers moved the leaf mask slightly from how many there were.

"Volunteering? Since when do you volunteer?" Robin asked with a slight laugh. The roses on my cheeks immediately retreated back into my body as it sounded like he was mocking me. I pulled my injured arm away from him harshly. Which was a bad idea as pain shot through my system. "Since two years ago, Dick." I said as thorns poked through my body. They weren't nearly as long or as sharp as they were before, but they were definitely there. "Don't call me-" "You and your team didn't even think about the campsites around the fire. Thankfully, the fire was on the far side of all three campsites in Jump City. I waited for you and your team to show up, but you didn't. A kid was stuck in the fire and I went after him, because none of the teen titans were coming. A burning tree fell down on me and the kid. And I was too slow getting out. Any questions?" I rushed out with a tone as harsh as the glare I was giving him.

Robin only stared at me. His mask revealed that his eyes were wide as he processed what I'd told him. "And the kid?" His voice was rather quiet and I looked away. "Just some smoke in his lungs. He'll be fine." I said looking away from him again. The defensive thorns slowly retracted back into my body. "You sacrificed yourself for someone. You were a hero." Robin said as he carefully grabbed my arm again making me scoff. "In case you forgot. I don't do 'hero', Robin." I glanced down at my arm to see him cutting off the last burnt piece of my arm. "Guess, we still agree to disagree." He said before grabbing all of the burnt pieces of my arm and throwing them away.

"Robin! I have found the gauze!" I turned my head slightly to see Star fire holding a roll of the object in her hand. She had possibly the largest smile I've ever seen. "Should I grab the healing ointment?" She asked already going towards the cabinets. "Oh I-I don't need any burn ointments or anything." I said making her turn around a look at me with her head tilted to the side confused.

"But you were burned were you not?" Star asked and I nodded. "I was, but I'm only about 30 to 40% human. And even that's a stretch. Any ointment or anything like that doesn't work on me. Or sometimes the ingredients in them will make it worse." I said and I watched as her head hung down. "Oh...I am sorry I didn't know." She said while Robin took the gauze from her. "You're totally fine. Like you said, you didn't know. So no harm no foul." I said offering her a soft smile.

Robin ran the gauze under some water before ringing them out so they were slightly damp. I watched as he sat back down next to me and carefully started to wrap my arm. "Thanks." I said softly and he gave me a soft smile. "No problem." With that we left the room.

"So how did that whole thing with your sister go?" I asked Starfire who was walking next to me. "My sister was a wanted criminal that had tried to have me take her place in prison. She is now in space jail far away from Earth." Star fire said with an awkward smile making me stare at her wide eyed. "Wait, seriously?" I asked and she nodded. "Well, karma's a bitch." I said with a light laugh at the situation. "Who is Karma?" She asked catching Robin's attention. "Karma isn't a person, Star. Karma is basically just when someone gets what's coming to them." He explained and I nodded. "Think of it like how heroes and villains work. Villains do bad things, and heroes tend to kick their butts for it. Karma being their butts getting kicked." I said and she let out a soft 'oh'. "I understand now!" She said with a smile.

"This can be your room while you stay with us." Robin said and a door opened revealing a rather basic bedroom. "Thanks, guys." I said softly. "Would you like to join us for on the couch for the bonding with friends?" Star asked with a smile. "I-I, u-uh, n-no thank you. It's been a really long day. I-I'm just going to head to bed." I said awkwardly pointing to the bed with my thumb behind me slowly walking backwards into the room. "O-oh. Alright. Have the sweetest of dreams!" She said giving me a wave while the door closed.

"Did I say something wrong?" I heard Star's voice through the door. "No, she's just like that. Just give her some time. I'm sure she'll come around." Robin's voice said and I heard their footsteps trail away from the door. A hard sigh left my mouth as my body relaxed. The leaves around my face slowly falling to the floor. I stared at the ground as I waited for some of the plants I'd come to know and love over the years.

A creak made me look to the side of the room. Stems peaked out of the now open vent as they grew closer and closer towards me. Wrapped around parts of the stems was a duffel bag full of some things I'd need while staying here. I walked over reaching my hand out towards the plants. I let out a smile as the plants quickly wrapped around my arm and traveled down my body. The duffel bag falling to the floor with a soft thud.

The stems made themselves at home around my feet and slightly digging into the flooring. I gently pulled my feet out leaving me barefoot. I gave the plants a soft thanks and different wildflowers grew from the small patch. They were all different kinds and colors making me smile. I opened the duffel bag grabbing a pair of pj shorts and an old t-shirt. "Can I get a little help?" I asked the patch of flowers and leaves as roses grew onto my cheeks. I was able to see the soft pink petals right at the base of my lashes. The different types of flowers covered me helping me change being extremely careful of my arm. I thanked them once more as they made their way back down my body. They made their way back into the space they'd created as they bloomed even more.

I soft sigh left my lips as I laid back onto the bed staring up at the ceiling. I moved my arm under my head before lifting up my now half of an arm to stare at it. "What have I gotten myself into?" I asked myself. Thoughts of regret and slight reassurance for my actions ran through my head as I stared at my injury that was covered by the soft gauze. "This is why I don't play hero." I said softly to myself as I gently placed my arm back onto the bed.