Robin sat silently on the bed in Stone's guest room listening to her nightly ritual. It was a calming one, one Robin thought (if he was an average teen) he might take up. Robin had saw, before excusing himself to his room at her apartment, that it helped her settle down for the night.
It had started with simply turning off the TV and settling for some calming music; slower song on her iPod's playlist. It consisted of musical pieces from ClareDLune and Yiruma as well as slower songs from bands such as All Time Low, Mayday Parade, and such. She had then locked her door and windows (something he was suspecting that she didn't normally do but since he pulled the "It's not safe!" and read her rights earlier in the afternoon, she was humoring him) before making a hot cup of tea and settling into the couch. Robin had shared a small cup of tea with her and they had talked until he finally noticed her glancing over at a book longingly that, according to her bookmark, she only had about seventy-five pages left to read. He had then excused himself to go to bed, telling her that he was exhausted. She knew that he had caught her staring at the book and had smiled sheepishly, explaining that she had made the mistake of picking it up earlier in the day. Acting as his persona Cain, he had smiled and handed the book to her, saying it was no problem and that he understood the joy of reading.

In all actuality, Robin did not understand how someone could sit for hours with a book. How could one truly enjoy it? Raven read constantly as well as Starfire if the book was interesting, according to her. Robin only read when his missions depended on it, and then it was generally case files or newspaper clippings, rarely books. He would rather spend his time doing something productive such as training, working on the R-cycle, and listening to music (besides fighting crime). Those where all exciting things to him. The only slightly boring thing he did was watch the sun rise (more often set as of late). But then he would think, really think. It was then that he usually had his big break- throughs. Reading though? He would never understand that.

And reading was what she was doing. He could picture her now; her feet curled under her, her black shorts ridding up slightly showing those long, lean dancing legs. The black tank top hugging her every curve, her hair in a pony tail that brushed against the base of her neck.

Robin shook his head and blushed in the dark. Those were not thoughts a young hero should have, especially one that was staying at a girl's home… without supervision. Robin gulped audibly. For Christ sake! He lived with two girls, two that were as lean as Stone and wore tight and revealing clothing! Yet he never felt this way around them. What was the difference?

It's because you like her…a voice in the back of his head whispered. Robin shook his head again, trying to erase the thought. He couldn't like Stone. Sure they had talked over the internet for months but this was the first time Robin had actually met her face-to-face.

It doesn't matter, the voice said. The sound was soft and musical. You care about her. If need be, you would protect her, save her, take care of her. Robin, you love Stone.

"Impossible!" Robin growled out loud. His door creaked open and he jumped, Stone's face appearing and staring at him.

"What's impossible?" she asked confusion fresh on her face. Robin stared at her momentarily, wondering what he could tell her. Lie, the voice told him. Don't tell her the truth.

'Of course not idiot!' he scowled to himself silently as he opened his mouth and the words, "Of all the things I forgot, it had to be my toothbrush," escaped out. The confusion disappeared from her face and she smiled.

"I only have a half day of work tomorrow. Why don't I drop you off at Rite-Aid and then you can take a look around town?" Stone asked, pushing the door open and leaning against the frame. Inadvertently she crossed her long legs and Robin couldn't help but stare. He forced himself to look away and clear his throat.

"Actually, if it's okay, I'd like to see you work. You only told me you taught dance and, once in a great while, complained. You never went into details." Even in the dark Robin could see the color rise and sweep across Stone's face. She uncrossed her legs and crossed them again, uncertain. He had actually asked if he could come watch her work. It was unexpected, unnerving, unpleasant even; yet part of her (a big part actually) wanted him to come so she could show off and have him see what she could do. Stone wanted him to see that she wasn't a wimp of a girl. She wanted him to see that she was powerful, in control, and able to fight for herself. She had proved it to the people in the town already but, for some reason, it was important that he saw it and, more importantly, approved of her. The feeling left her terrified. She generally never cared what people thought of her. Yet there was this person, this guy that she had talked to for the past few months over the internet and she had just met face-to-face, she felt that she had to prove to him everything she stood for. Wondering why that was, Stone answered Robin with a "if you want Cain, but you won't be entertained. All it is are girls learning to dance and training. Nothing fun."

Robin perked up at the word "training". He knew training. He LOVED training. He was training. He smiled at Stone and shook his head.

"No worry. I would love to watch the training, maybe try it as well." Robin flinched inwardly as the words flowed from his mouth. Dancing? Really? Did he just say that? He didn't dance. Beat the shit out of stuff? Yes. Dance? Not on your life.

Stone, on the other hand, had to force back a bubble of laughter that threatened to overcome her. The thought of Cain doing exercises and training rituals that a dancer did was ridiculous and left her picturing him in the tight pants and top the male dancers wore. Thinking about it more revealed to her that he would actually look good in those clothes. She smiled, more at the image then Robin/Cain, and nodded.

"Okay." Stone told him. "That's fine. I generally go out with some of the other dancers afterwards but we can come back…" Robin shook his head vigorously.

"Don't stop doing what you normally would do because of me." Robin scowled. The voice in his head chimed in. See young one? Love. 'Shut up!' he silently commanded. He watched Stone think for a moment, a look of concentration plastered on her face. Her emerald eyes stared at a far off place momentarily before she nodded again.

"Okay." Stone told him once again. "You can meet everyone then." She yawned and covered her mouth. "I only meant to come in and say goodnight. You need anything; don't be afraid to wake me up." She thought for a moment. "Actually, be very afraid. My friends say I'm likely to rip someone's head off if I'm woken up." She smiled and yawned again. "Night." She murmured.

"Night." Robin called after her as she closed his door and made her way to her own room. He waited to call his team until he knew she was asleep. And then he was still almost silent.