No name by name thanking this time folks, it's late and I'm tired. But if you did review anything, I appreciate it.

On to the story!


The Power of a Storm

Chapter 4: Consequences

It was now noon. The storm was still raging outside, all hope of leaving had long since been abandoned. The storm wasn't the only abnormal thing going on. Inside Titan's Tower, only two team members were about: Cyborg and Beastboy. They were in the kitchen for lunch, and had not seen anyone but the other all day. The last they had seen Raven, Robin, or Starfire was the night before when Raven left for her room to read, and Starfire had been left in the common room with Robin. Cyborg had seen Robin around 9:30 the night before, but he didn't tell Beastboy. The conversation they had was private, he knew Robin would be pissed if he told Beastboy.

"Hey Cy! Have you seen Robin anywhere? How're we gonna do his insane combat practice indoors if he doesn't show up?"

"Haven't seen him BB, or Star, or Raven for that matter."

"I wonder where they could be…" Beastboy started heading for the door. "I'm gonna go find Star, why don't you look for Robin."

"Yo BB, hold up a minute. What about Raven?"

"I'm not gonna get her, you know what happens when you interrupt her, there is no way I'm gonna bother her."

Cyborg shrugged, he knew Beastboy was right, it was best to just leave Raven alone. "Alright, I'll go looking for Robin, let me know if you find Star."

Beastboy nodded and headed off for Starfire's room first, to see if she had just slept in. Cyborg had left for the gym, since Robin was not known to sleep in, ever.


(Outside Starfire's Room)

Beastboy knocked on the door and waited. No sound came from within so he knocked harder.

"Star! Open up! It's me, Beastboy!" He was shouting a little to make sure she heard him. "I was just wondering where you were since no one had seen you since last night!"

Still silence. Maybe she's just a heavy sleeper. Beastboy tried to open the door but it had been locked. Only Robin knew the override codes for the doors, so there was nothing left for him at her room. Ok, where else would Star go? Hmm…He snapped his fingers. I know! He quickly ran off to check his new guess.


(Outside the Gym)

Cyborg had checked the gym, surprised to find no one there. The punching bag was still dead, no one had bothered to clean it up. Cyborg looked at the mess and sighed. Lazy good for nothing spiky-haired punk, making me clean up after his damn messes. 15 minutes later the mess had been cleaned and everything looked in order, except that the gym was still missing a punching bag. Cyborg checked the supply closet next to the gym that held all its supplies, but found nothing. Oh well, just gonna have to wait until the storm clears. Tough luck for Robin. Cyborg left the gym and headed for the evidence room next, expecting to find him reminiscing about old times.


(Outside Robin's Room)

Beastboy had a hunch that Starfire would most likely be with Robin, or looking for him, so he had come to Robin's room to ask him. There was no one here, but on Robin's door was note. Curious, he walked over to it and pulled it off the door. He recognized the writing on the note as Starfire's and began to read, hoping to get a clue as to where she went.

Dear Robin,

I have hidden a gift for you in a secret location. Attached is a clue as to where to find it. I hope you love it as much as I think you will!

Starfire♥

A piece of paper fell out of the note. Beastboy picked it up and looked at it. Only one word was written on it, "Control." Control? What does that mean? It must be a clue to the room in the tower that she hid it. It might be the control room for the tower, or the super computer room, which controls all the other computers, or maybe it's… His thoughts drifted off thinking of all the possible locations that "Control" could be referring to.


(Evidence Room)

Cyborg always hated this room, he could never understand why Robin kept these things. He had figured it was just a weird habit he picked up from Batman. Looking around he saw all the "souvenirs" of their fights. Slade's mask, Red X's belt, The Puppet Master himself, and various other things. Off to the left was the wall covered in masks. Cyborg shuddered. Man this place is creepy. It doesn't look like he's here…

He took one last look around the room, noticing among other things Control Freak's remote and one of Johnny Rancid's guns. Not here, where the hell is he? Cyborg left the room to search the rest of the tower, not knowing that Robin would be in the last place he would look, his own room.


(Outside Robin's Room)

Beastboy was still standing there, trying to figure out Starfire's cryptic clue. Ok, knowing Star it has to be something she would be familiar with, otherwise she couldn't put the present there. So that rules out the computer rooms, and the main control room. Maybe it's not somewhere that has control, but somewhere you gain control…

Beastboy shook his head, this was hard. Hey, maybe it's somewhere that Robin would go, like the gym, or the basement storage, or maybe… maybe it's the evidence room! Robin loves that place, I bet that's where Star hid it!

Beastboy ran off to see if his hunch was correct, now too preoccupied in his curiosity of what Starfire had planned for Robin to continue to look for her. Before he left he put the note on the door again, in case Robin hadn't seen it yet.


(Evidence Room)

The lights flicked on, giving Beastboy a good look at the evidence room. He looked from side to side, seeing all the mementos Robin had gathered over the years. Dude needs a hobby, bad. He walked down the rows of glass cases, taking glances at what was inside each. Many of the things he could remember, but some he was sure he had never seen before. He stopped briefly at each until he came to a strangely shaped remote. What's this? Hey…I remember this, this is that weird dude's remote, what was his name…Something Freak. Let's see, it was one other word. TV Freak? No that's not right. Game Freak? No… Control Freak? No…wait, yeah. Yeah that was it! Control Freak! Hey! Star's note said 'Control' so maybe it has something to do with this remote! Beastboy leaned down and put his head close to the glass. So close his nose got squished into his face. Nothing looked out of the ordinary with it. Maybe I'm wrong. Beastboy stood back up and scratched his head. Maybe it's around here. He proceeded to walk around the case trying to find anything. Down near the bottom of the pillar it say on was a slip of paper, the corner barely protruding from underneath. Excited he picked it up and read what it said.

Robin,

Congratulations on finding this clue, your gift is hidden in the guestroom.

♥Star♥

"Sweet! I actually got it right!" Overjoyed at his success he quickly ran for the guestroom to see what the surprise was, leaving this note behind as well.


(Outside Robin's Room)

Only place I haven't checked. He must be in there. Cyborg knocked on the door, but heard no reply. Waiting for it he noticed a small note taped to the door. Wonder what that is? He quickly brushed the thought away. You got more important things to be worrying about Cy, there's two missing titans.

"Hey Robin! You in there?" There was no response.

He's gotta be in there, there's no where else for him to be. Cyborg pushed a button on his left arm, causing a panel to flip open. Inside was a small cable. He took that cable and hooked it into the keypad near the door. Pushing some more keys on his arm the door slid open. Dammit Robin, why can't you just open the door like normal people? You know I hate hacking into my own system. He removed the cable and slowly walked into Robin's room. The door slid shut behind him.


(Guest Room)

Lying in the middle of the guest bed was a small brown box with a note attached. The note simply read "Robin." I wonder what she got him. He picked up the box and shook it lightly. There was a small rattle coming from the inside. I shouldn't open it, it is Robin's after all. Beastboy set the box back down and started to leave, going back to his search for Starfire, when he heard something. A faint noise that sounded like breathing. He stopped and held his breath, hoping to hear it again, and find out where it came from. The soft sound of breathing came again. It sounds like it's coming from the closet…

Beastboy walked over to the closet, noticing that it was slightly cracked open. He paused and listened again. Yeah, definitely coming from in there. Slowly he lifted his hand up, wondering who or what was in the closet. He put his hand on the door to the closet and slowly pulled it open, revealing a limp figure on the ground.


(Robin's Room)

Cyborg looked around, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. This was the first time he had seen Robin's room, in fact, this may have been the first time any member of the team had seen the inside of Robin's room. It was clean, and just like the average room. There was a queen size bed in the corner, and the usual wall sized windows. Everything was clean, not a trace of dust on anything. It was like the polar opposite of Beastboy's room. Looking around Cyborg spotted a pile of clothes near the bed, the only thing out of the ordinary. There was a light coming from an adjoined room. Oh come on, that's just not cool. Dude has his own bathroom, and makes the rest of us share one with BB. Slightly angry Cyborg walked over to the source of light, and fell silent. His jaw dropped open and his eyes went wide. Never, ever had he expected to see something like this in their tower.

The scene before him was horrifying. Glass was everywhere, bottles were broken, the mirror was in pieces. In the midst of it all was Robin, unconscious on the floor, lying in his boxers, a pool of blood formed around his hand.

Cyborg flipped open the communicator on his arm and called Beastboy. Beastboy's head appeared on the screen in his arm.

"BB Get over to the infirmary, set things up, Robin's hurt and I'm bringing him in.

In the video image Beastboy nodded. "Right, I'm on it, but what about Starfire?"

"Gonna have to look for her later, this is more important. Get going."

"No wait I-" Beastboy was cut off there by Cyborg closing the communicator. He picked Robin up and left for the infirmary. On the way out he stopped, and picked up Robin's clothes for when he woke up.


(Guest Room)

"No wait I-" The signal died. Dammit, what do I do with Star? The limp figure in the closet had been Starfire. Beastboy figured she fell asleep waiting for Robin. Might as well bring her with me, I guess. Beastboy picked Starfire up in his arms and headed for the infirmary to meet Cyborg.


(Infirmary)

Beep, Beep, Beep. The machine gave off rhythmic beeping noises to show his heart was still going. Robin lay on the bed, various wires hooked up to him, each to determine what was wrong. Cyborg had put his mask back on him, figuring if he wore it all the time, he might as well have it on now. It wasn't so much a gesture of logic as one of friendship. He knew Robin would be happier if he woke up with it on. Starfire lay on the bed next to him, also asleep. Nothing was attached to her, as far as Cyborg could tell she was just tired.

"So… what happened to him?"

"Don't know. I found him in his room, lying on the floor. It looked like hell around him. I figure he just flipped out and started breaking shit."

"But why? It doesn't seem likely that Robin would just crack."

"I know BB, I know." On the inside Cyborg had more or less guessed what had happened. This has something to do with Raven, I know it.

"Where'd you find Star?"

"She was asleep on the floor of the closet in the guestroom. She had left a note on Robin's door, telling him that she hid a present for him somewhere. Turns out it was in the guestroom."

"So that was what that little piece of paper was for. Is the gift still there?"

"Yeah."

"Go get it, Star might want to give it to him in person when she wakes up."

"Yeah." Beastboy turned for the door and left.

Left alone with the two patients Cyborg turned to Robin. "Why man, why'd you do this to yourself?" He sat down in the chair next to the bed. "Why did you have to tell her so soon, you knew she wouldn't be able to handle it. What did Raven do that made you do this to yourself?"

Starfire rolled over, causing Cyborg to look over at her. She looked like she was still asleep, her back turned to him. At least she's doing fine. If he had seen her face he would have realized how wrong he was. Tears leaked down her face. Raven did this? Poor Robin, how could she have done this to him? How could I have let her? Then a new thought entered her mind. Was he seeing her instead of finding my gift?


(Later that day)

Star had "woken up" around 1:00, and insisted upon waiting for Robin to wake up once she learned of what happened. She chose to stay by his side, clutching the present for him, wishing that he would wake up soon. It was too much for her to bear to see him like this, but it was worse for her to leave him in his moment of weakness. Beastboy and Cyborg had both left, feeling it was best to leave Starfire alone. Cyborg was in the common room, making her something to eat. Poor girl. She doesn't know how he feels about Raven. He finished making her lunch and took it to her.

On his way back to the infirmary he bumped into Raven.

"Whoa, sorry there Rae."

"…."

"You ok? No one's seen hide nor hair of you since yesterday, anything you want to talk about?"

"…No."

"Alright, but you know, if you want to talk to someone, I'm here for you Raven."

She just grunted a reply. And started to walk off. This isn't like her, she's usually real friendly to me, especially after that mirror incident.

"You're gonna have to deal with it some time Raven. I don't know what he told you, but you ought to give him a chance. Especially after what he did last night."

Raven turned back around and gave him a quizzical look. "What do you mean. What did he do? What…What happened?"

"Thought someone might of told you by now, Robin's in the infirmary Raven. I found him unconscious in his room around noon and took him to the infirmary. He still hasn't woken up. Seems fine physically, just some cuts here and there. But his mind must be a wreck to do what he did. He completely trashed his own room, broke everything in sight."

She stared at him, disbelief in her eyes. Slowly, she shook her head. She put her hands to her temples and shook faster.

"No. No. It wasn't supposed to be like this, this shouldn't have happened. No!"

She fell to her knees still clutching her head. Cyborg quickly set the tray of food down and ran over to her side. He knelt down and placed his arm around her shoulder.

"Raven, what happened? I know this has something to do with what he told you last night. I need to know what happened. Raven, I need you to tell me. Please."

She just continued shaking her head and repeating the phrase, "This shouldn't be happening" over and over.

"Raven, please. Tell me what happened. It's important."

She still wouldn't answer. A black aura surrounded her and she sank into the floor. Cyborg stood up, now alone, and sighed. Dammit Rae, why can't you talk to us? He picked the tray of food back up and headed back to the infirmary.


(Infirmary)

"Hey Star, I brought you something."

He set the tray down next to her on a small table. She still hadn't even acknowledged his presence. Her whole world was confined to Robin. He gave a sigh and started to leave.

"You know Star, you gotta eat something sometime. He'll be ok, don't worry. Robin's a fighter, he isn't gonna give up that easy."

She nodded, tears still flowing from her eyes. It broke Cyborg's heart to see her like this, and to know that it was to no avail. He left, unable to look at her anymore. The thought of her wasted tears broke his heart.


Sorry if all the scene changes are confusing to anyone, just needed to fit a lot of time stuff in this chapter, but little relationship progress. I know some of you are unhappy with the scene between Robin and Raven, but your worries are unfounded. I can't/won't let my favorite character be miserable for the rest of her life. :)