Alright all you loyal fans, here's the latest chapter. Thanks for the reviews, i wasn't really sure about chapter 5, i didn't think it was that great personally, but the public apparently thinks otherwise. So, time for them thank you's.
Chica De Los Ojos Cafe: You reviewed every chapter so far, and have been the first to do post 'em since chpater 3. You keep me working lol.
DarkBird1345: You're a constant reviewer who also keeps me working on this. Way to go.
Cygnus de hielo: As always, you give me some encouragement. Thanks for commenting on the writing style, i appreciate being that i rather insecure in my writing skills. (see my bio for what i'm talking about)
Witch01: You also keeep me working, you and the above people are why this chapter is here.
That one guy... Blasted anonymous reviewers, never can tell if you guys come back. I do try and keep them in character, which is really hard for some (like Beastboy, god knows he can't be as stupid as they make him look on the telly).
Guest: Right on, i love cookies. Glad you're happy.
The Rest of You Who Reviewed Prior Chapters: Having fans is awesome, don't know if many of you realize it, but having someone, anyone, appreciate something you do is a great feeling. That's one of the reasons i kept going after chapter 2. You guys appreciated it, and it made me feel great. Kudo's to ya!
Btw, since for some reason Document Manager hates asterisks, as well as many other symbols words in this fashion are like stage directions, unless in dialogue or a thought train.
Horse nieghs, rears up, and paws air HIGH HO SILVER, ON TO THE TALE!
The Power of a Storm
Chapter 6: Plans
Since Robin had been let out of the infirmary formally that day, everyone was avoiding the subject of what made him snap. Only Cyborg and Raven knew the answer, and they weren't talking. Raven was acting as though nothing had happened, and Cyborg followed suit.
(Common Room, Night)
Robin and Raven were doing the dishes after the dinner Cyborg had made. There were a lot of dishes, as always when Cyborg cooked. He had to make enough for four people and then a separate meal for Beastboy. Robin was rinsing and cleaning while Raven used her powers to dry them and put them away. Silence had descended after the others had finished their meals. Beastboy and Cyborg were playing Gamestation while Starfire cheered them on. Whenever he got a chance Robin would steal a glance at Raven, hoping she wouldn't notice. Finally he cleared his throat, trying to get her attention. She continued her work, seemingly ignoring him. He tried again, this time making a louder noise.
Ahem.
Raven glanced over at him.
"What?"
"Oh, umm…"
Raven gave a sigh, He could at least try to be subtle…
"Listen Raven, Cyborg had a suggestion for me, since that whole…incident, was caused by stress in his opinion."
"So?"
Robin cleared his throat again.
"So he suggested that I try meditating with you."
Robin waited for her outrage, or her to tell him no, or for her to do something. But she just stood there thinking.
"…Think you can do it?"
He answered quickly, covering his surprise at her response.
"I don't see why not."
"Fine then. Meet me here in the kitchen tomorrow morning at 6. That's when I come for my tea and then do morning meditation."
Robin nodded. "I'll be there."
The dishes were now done and Raven started to leave to resume her reading. Robin opened his mouth to stop her, but thought better of it and let her go. If you love someone, set them free. Those words ran through his mind suddenly as he closed his mouth. What does that have to do with this? I'm not setting her free, I'm just letting her be herself. Robin walked over to the couch and watched Beastboy get beaten by Cyborg, yet again.
Starfire glanced over at Robin whenever she was sure he was focused on the game. Oh Robin, why will you not tell my what has happened? I only wish to help you, be with you. Starfire was starting to lose hope, when she remembered that she never gave him her gift. Quickly she got up and ran out of the room to get it. No one even noticed she had left.
(Starfire's Room)
Ooh, now where did I put it? Starfire looked around her room, a worried expression covering her face. Surely it must be here. She walked over to her bed, and looked in the drawer of the dresser next to it. Among other things inside that a teenage girl would have, such as a brush, a mirror, and hair ties, there was a photo of her favorite boy, Robin. She picked up the picture and looked at it. It was from when Robin had to date Kitten in order to save the city. Starfire's eyes flared green with rage as she remembered the incident, but remembering what she was doing at the time of the picture made her smile again. In the photo Robin and Starfire were slow dancing, each one looking into the other's eyes passionately. Starfire sighed, Where have those happy days gone? It seems, as of late he has not been the old Robin. She gently put the picture back in her drawer and resumed her search. Ooh, where is it? Worry again crossed her face, as she still could not find it. Suddenly it hit her, The infirmary! I had it when Robin was ill! She ran out of her room to go get the mysterious little box.
(Hallway Leading to Common Room)
As she had guessed, her little package was in the infirmary, right next to the bed Robin had stayed in. She had grabbed it and was heading for the common room. On the way however she started getting cold feet. What if he does not like it? What if he laughs at me for this? What if he doesn't…like me? Just short of the door she stopped.
"No… I cannot."
She turned around and started to walk away. You must! Robin is your friend, he will love it! He will love you! Her subconscious spoke to her, trying to sway her course of action. She stopped walking and just stood in the hall. Robin is my friend, but what if… She continued to think of worst case scenarios for what would happen. Behind her the door slid open. Beastboy looked up from the new portable Gamestation he had gotten for his birthday and saw Starfire standing there holding a little brown box and mumbling to herself.
"Uhhh, Star?" Starfire looked up at Beastboy and gave a small shriek. "What're you doing?"
"Nothing, I am doing nothing!"
Beastboy gave her a sideways glance.
"Heh heh," she forced an awkward laugh. "I uh, must go now. Yes! I must go and feed Silkie!"
Starfire quickly took off around the corner leaving a bewildered Beastboy.
As she came around the corner she leaned against the wall and let out a deep breath. I must find a way to get this to Robin. She placed her empty hand on the wall, and pushed herself back to a standing position. She looked to the right and the left, then started walking the direction of Robin's room. When she arrived by his door she glanced over at it, and realized something. I have never even seen the inside of his room. I wonder what it is like…
Starfire walked up to the door and placed her empty hand on it, feeling the tough material that made it, imagining what secrets it held. She let her hand fall down the door, towards the floor, where she noticed that the note she had put there two nights ago had fallen. She bent down and picked it up, holding it in her hands and reading the note. A tear fell down her cheek. He never even found it. She brushed the tear away, and crumpled the note up. He will this time! She put the package down on the floor, directly in front of his door, where he would have to see it if he came to his room.
She walked away from his room, to go to her own, and tell Silkie about her day, as she did every night.
(Common Room)
Now that Beastboy, and apparently Starfire, had left, it was time for Cyborg to get some answers.
"Robin, listen man, I want to know what is up with you and Raven."
Robin looked over at him, a cool look in his eyes.
"There's nothing going on."
"The hell there isn't. When I found you it was the day after you came talk to me about Raven. Something happened to make you do that, and I think, no, I know that she had something to do with it. Not to mention the first person you asking for when you wake up was her."
Robin looked at the floor. Who cares, I'm fine, she's fine. Everything's fine. No need to go snooping around. "Like I said Cyborg, nothing."
"Don't you lie to me Robin, I know it. I know that something is going on. Did she turn you down or something?"
Robin's muscles tensed as Cyborg uttered those last words. A movement not missed by his companion.
"So that's it. You trashed your shit all because you couldn't handle rejection. That is crap. Ok? That's crap. Guys get rejected all the time, no reason to go psycho and start tearing shit apart. What you did had more to it than that."
Robin sighed. And lifted his head as if it took all his energy to make that little movement.
"Look, just drop it. Drop it. I'm tired of everyone worrying about me. So just drop it. This doesn't concern you, or any other members of the team."
Cyborg was mad now. He stood up and pointed at Robin.
"The hell it don't! When one member of the team goes fucking nuts and starts destroying everything he can, then passes out on the floor in his own blood, that concerns the team! When one member of the team gets hospitalized, it concerns the whole team! When someone's actions hurt someone else on the team, than you damn well better believe it concerns the whole team! We're a family Robin, not a bunch of friends. Ok? We are a family, and family members do NOT go around hiding things from the rest of 'em, just because they think it 'doesn't concern them'." Cyborg made a mock Robin voice at the end, trying to drive his point home. "You're being selfish. I want to know what the hell happened because I want to help. I want to help you, because we're family, and family helps family."
Again, Robin let out a sigh. "I am tired of you being right, you know that?"
Despite the situation Cyborg gave a chuckle. "I'm sorry for yelling, but dammit Robin, you need to deal with this. You talk to her about meditation?"
He nodded, "Yeah. I did it tonight while we were doing dishes."
"And…?"
He shrugged. "She said yes. Was a little unsure if I was able to handle it, but she said to meet her in the kitchen tomorrow to start."
"Good. Now, next thing you need to deal with is: You still want to be with her?"
Robin gave him a look that said: Are you fucking with me?
"Riiiiiiiight." Cyborg rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed. "So what are you going to do about it?"
"I told her I didn't want to force her into a relationship she wasn't ready for, and that I'd try and help her with her powers."
Cyborg gave him a quizzical look. "What do you mean 'help'?"
Robin paused, thinking to himself the consequences of telling him. She'd probably be mad. "That's something that I can't tell you, that's between me and her."
Cyborg nodded, figuring it was pointless to press him. "So what'd she say to that?"
Robin gave a smile. "She said that she did have feelings for me."
Cyborg was in suspense now, waiting for the young man in front of him to tell him more.
"And…?"
The smile faded from his face. "That she couldn't allow herself to feel that way, to let me get hurt."
Robin fell silent, silently moping and Cyborg said nothing. Then, out of the blue, he laughed. Robin looked up at him confused. Cyborg laughed harder, holding his hands to his sides.
"Cyborg! Cyborg! What is so damned funny?"
"Whew…" Cyborg wiped a tear away from his eye that came from laughing. "It's just," he laughed lightly again. "It's just that I was figuring from the look on your face that she said something horrible. But think about it, she doesn't want to risk hurting you. Just think about that one little sentence."
Robin frowned. What's he getting at?
"So…?"
"So man, she doesn't want to hurt you, but she admitted feelings for you. Sounds to me like something deep. I think you just need to get her to feel comfortable expressing her emotions. You said you were going to help her with her powers, so do it. While she's helping you control your stress than you can help her express her feelings."
Robin grinned, He's right.
"So what're you gonna do?"
Robin's grin grew bigger. "Oh, I can't tell you that. It would ruin the surprise."
A full-fledged smile broke out on Cyborg's face. "Go for it dude, go win her over, show her you care."
Robin got up and started heading for the door. After opening it he paused, and turned around.
"Hey, Cyborg."
"Yeah?"
"Did you ever have a younger brother or something?"
"No, why?"
"Just seems like you'd make a great one."
Cyborg grinned. "Thanks man, thanks."
Robin nodded and headed through the doorway, to head for the room only he has the code to get into. The door that none of the other titans knew what was behind, the door that was unmarked, and unnoticed, to go prepare for the next morning.
One last thing, PLEASE GIVE ME SUGGESTIONS! Some of the time i have no idea what i'm doing, since i'm not ready for the things i have planned. I wrote this chapter over and over again, usually just starting over again and going in a new direction. So any arrows along the way are vastly appreciated. I may not listen to the ideas, but having 'em around gets the creativity juices a flowin'.
So that's it, go about your lives until i post some more.
