Chapter 9: Wisdom Speaks, Love Lives

Robin looked across the vast meadow in front of him. At last after what seemed like forever he had reached his destination. Wisdom's land. Still unsure he took a cautious step onto the green grass. Everything here was perfect, the sun shone at exactly the right temperature, the birds sung the precise notes even the grass grew at an exact rate. If Robin hadn't known why it would have been almost creepy. As he walked further inland he cast quick glances around trying to spot the elusive Wisdom, but there was nothing. Not the swoosh of a cloak, or the creak of a branch or even a flash of colour moving through the trees. Except for the birds it was totally silent. Robin stepped on a twig and it cracked loudly marring the perfect ness of the meadow. He winced. "It's just a small sound," he told himself. "So what if it sounds strange? It doesn't mean anything." Frowning he took a deep breath and shouted. "WISDOM! I know you're there....somewhere…and you better come out so I can talk to you or…or…I'll be spoiling your perfect place even more." There was no answer. Frustrated Robin kicked a stone hard sending it barrelling into the base of a tree. A small family of chipmunks ran out shaking their fists at him before running away. To his surprise the tree shook and then with a loud groan began to tilt slowly to the side, falling to the ground with a thump that resounded in the air. Staring at the tree in shock Robin began to back away. What the hell was going on here? Then as if reading his thoughts a voice sounded from above him.

"If you wish to see Wisdom you have to earn the right."

Still scared but determined not to show it Robin called out to the bodiless voice. "Fine. What do I have to do?"

"Wisdom will reveal herself to you if you promise not to leave her land-,"

"What?" shouted Robin incredulously. "No way! The whole reason I came to see her was so I could leave!"

"Wait," said the voice almost impatiently. "You have not listened to the whole command. You cannot leave her land until you find the one emotion that has been hiding here and in you for many years."

"Hiding in me? What do you mean?"

The voice was impassive in its reply. "Do you agree?"

Sighing Robin rubbed his nose, took a breath and nodded. At once a wind whirled up, dust swirling around him, the family of chipmunks flying past in indignant surprise, the tree trunk disappearing into darkness….When he opened his eyes the stump was gone and in its place was a large boulder. And slowly as the light adjusted Robin noticed the figure atop it. She was all in white; in fact disturbingly she looked just like Raven did when she was meditating. Her cloak swirled around her in a nonexistent breeze, her eyes were closed and her belt shone in the light. Finally when everything was silent she raised herself and floated gently down onto the ground in front of Robin.

"So finally we meet Robin," there was just the smallest hint of a twinkle in her eye that gave Robin hope.

"Yeah I guess," he replied sticking out his hand awkwardly. Wisdom ignored it and beckoned to her boulder.

"Come inside. As far as I have heard you have not had a proper meal or bed for a long time. Once you are fed and rested we may talk."

"I really don't have time-,"

"Shh," replied Wisdom commandingly. "I know you are worried about getting home and of course what your friends may be thinking. But let me assure you that our time zones are different. The other Titans will not even notice you are gone for a few hours yet."

Robin did not know whether to be relieved or surprised, but when he was presented with a bowl of steaming hot soup and a clean white pillow he decided to be neither. Closing his eyes he let himself fall into the world of dreams.

OXOXOXOXO

Rubbing his eyes and yawning Robin sat up and stretched. For a moment he almost thought he was back in his room and that it had all been a dream but the thought quickly vanished when he saw the dark walls around him. "Wisdom?" he whispered half afraid. A white figure emerged from the darkness and he realised for the first time that he was seeing Starfire in a leotard. Leotard. "In other words," thought Robin furiously. "Clothes designed to show off as much of a girl's body as possible."

Unaware (or hiding it very well) of Robin's appreciative glances Wisdom sat herself at the foot of the bed. She was holding a large book and was apparently engrossed in its contents. "Uh Wisdom? Hello? Can we get back to my problem now?"

Looking up she rolled her eyes. "I am researching your problem boy wonder. In fact I think I may have almost figured out a way to get you home."

Shooting up straight Robin's eyes lit up behind his mask. "You have?" In an uncharacteristic burst of emotion he threw his arms around the young girl and held her tightly. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

Patting him lightly on the arm Wisdom pulled back slightly and at once Robin let go, cheeks red and mind whirling. How could I do that? He asked himself but before he could figure it out Wisdom continued. "I said almost. I'm working on it but that doesn't mean you can forget your end of the bargain."

For a moment Robin looked puzzled and then memories caught up with him and he groaned. "But it's so…so…vague. How can I look for something when I don't know what I'm looking for?"

Wisdom tutted, "Of course you know. You're looking for an emotion, one that evidently you and Starfire have been repressing."

The boy wonder's eyes narrowed. "You know what it is don't you?"

Wisdom shrugged with a small secret smile on her face. "It defeats the purpose if I tell you. Now go on."

"Go where?

"Wherever you feel you'll think best. I need peace and quiet for my reading anyway."

"You're almost like Raven," grumbled Robin as he walked out of the house cum boulder. "Oh?" said Wisdom a tad cheerfully. "I will most definitely take that as a compliment." The door blended in behind him and Robin rolled his eyes as he stalked off.

OXOXOXOXO

Robin felt as if he had been walking for ages when he finally stopped in a small clearing of trees. He was surprised to see that it was dawn though he wasn't sure if this was because of the weird time zones in this place or because he had walked for a long time. Sinking onto the ground he stared up at the canopy of trees thoughtfully. He had searched for ages and he hadn't even caught a hint of an emotion.

The one emotion that has been hiding here and in you for many years

Letting out an exasperated breath he brushed back his hair and groaned. He hadn't been hiding anything…had he? He was happy or at least reasonably so when he was with his friends, he was sad when he saw innocent people being hurt or when Starfire seemed down, he was angry…well he was angry a lot, he possessed a deep hatred of Slade and perhaps (though he didn't like to mention it) a slight jealousy of that green slug creature that had once been Star's betrothed, he could be cheeky when occasion required or when Starfire needed some teasing, he was rarely timid or naïve but he didn't hide those feelings. They just weren't a big part of who he was. He knew somewhere inside him there was a wisdom, maybe a bit too wise for his age and also a little more sadly a lust that threatened to burn too high whenever a certain alien princess approached. Robin's smile was fond. All his emotions seemed linked to Star in some way. "She's such a big part of my life," he said to the listening trees. "I don't know what I'd do without her" Sighing he rolled over onto his stomach and put his head in his hands. "I don't even know when I fell in l-," He froze. The one emotion that has been hiding here and in you for many years. How long ago had he shut off those feelings? Ever since the death of his parents, leaving Bruce and starting again he had locked them up in a box and thrown away the key. But now the box had burst and the knowledge was flowing through him strong and determined. He rose slowly to his feet and waited, though he wasn't quite sure what for. And then suddenly she was there.

This emotion was in a light pink dress that fell past her knees. Her hair was up in a bun while two cherry strands framed her cheeks. She looked graceful if a little shy in the young light. "Who are you?" asked Robin quietly not wanting to spoil the moment. The emotion laughed; a tinkling sound that seemed to reverberate around them.

"You do not know?" Robin shook his head mutely. "Perhaps you can guess?"

Robin stared at the heart shaped locket around her neck. Surely not… "Love?" he asked disbelievingly.

Love giggled sweetly. "The one and only."

Robin tried to meet her eyes but his gaze was drawn back to the locket. "Do you have a picture in there?" Love blushed and nodded. Robin's face burnt. "Of who?"

Love's eyes widened slightly. "That would be telling wouldn't it? I could never dream of revealing Starfire's secret." Robin opened his mouth but Love extended a hand. "Fly with me?" she asked eyes bright.

Robin looked up at the sky wonderingly and then back at her hand. He smiled. "I'd love to." Placing his hand in hers he gasped as she pulled him up into the air. There was that feeling again. The one he got every time Star flew him through the sky, a rush of exhilaration, joy and something else he couldn't place. It was just indescribable. Robin tore off his mask and felt the sun beams hit his face like warm fingers. And under his breath, below the rush of wind he whispered. "Starfire…I love you."

And he thought he said it so no one could hear, but above him a pink cheeked girl beamed and closed her eyes in bliss.