Thank you time, for those who don't care, skip on down.

First off, thanks for the suggestions, that really got me going. Not sure if i did listen to anyone, but thanks anyways. i am considering a few for the future, so i don't really need them anymore. If you want to drop 'em, go ahead. Won't stop ya.

HelpMePlease: Always great to get new fans. Thanks a bunch!

gosscliff: Not bad suggestions, however they are less immediate than i was looking for. And hopefully that good mood was my doing.

kiersten: Much obliged, have some more.

Martson: interesting, but i may not be so mean to Star. Thanks for the idea!

Phibbs: Much obliged, here's another for you.

Alexa: Very interesting idea, i may work something out that allows her to express her feelings, although not necessarily another world. Thanks though!

Witch01: What is up with the word "rockin"? Guess that's good, or something. Whatever, read and be happy mon ami.

Chico De Los Ojos Cafe: Reminds me of "Birthmark." Good since i love that episode. Got to be my favorite. Gonna think about that one. Thanks!

darkraven1989: Glad to hear my writing has improved, guess i'm getting more confident or some jazz. Fights are good, but hard to write. May have to stick to romance. Thanks!

Cygnus de hielo: i like the Silkie concept, should throw him/her/it in somewhere. Idea 2 was good, working on that. Also like 4. Gonna think hard on those, try and include them. Thanks for the great ideas!

robinluver: Again, i'm probably not going to be so hard on Star, but then again i may feel like an ass while writing so it may happen something like that. Thanks!

Right then, on to the story.


The Power of a Storm

Chapter 7: The Past

(Somewhere in Titan's Tower)

Robin walked down the corridor, heading for the unmarked room. As he arrived he found it as he always did, somewhat dusty, barely a light on in the general area. No one came here, it was the perfect place for it. Behind the door was a secret of Robin's that no one else in the tower knew about. He looked to his left, then to his right. There was no one around. He walked up to the door and looked around again. There still wasn't anyone around. He entered his code into the pad and the door slid open. He walked inside and the door slid shut. The corridor was empty, not a soul was around.


(Common Room, 15 Minutes Earlier)

Cyborg watched the door shut behind Robin. He turned around shaking his head. That boy is crazy, always trying to do the impossible. He headed over to the couch and sat down, picking up the controller for the Gamestation. He turned it on and started to play, but found the game to be dull, and boring. He sighed and set the controller down. Placing a hand on his forehead he sighed again, and slowly shook his head back and forth. When will my girl come? Where's my special someone?


(Current Time, Cyborg's Room)

Cyborg was sitting on his bed, head hung down, elbows resting on his knees with his hands hanging in mid-air. The lights were off, the room was cast in an eerie light from the various LEDs of his computers. He glanced over at them, the machinery responsible for him being alive. Who could love this anyway…

He looked around the rest of his room, seeing nothing but technology. There was nothing human here, no trace of the man that he was partially. The only thing that came close was the weights in the corner. Why do I even have those, my human muscles are gone. All I have is mechanical muscles, and they can't improve. There's no point to those weights. Cyborg stood up and walked over to his desk, picking up his image-inducer. That was the only time I felt like someone could love me, back at the H.I.V.E Academy. But even then, it was all lies, all of it. I…Stone, wasn't real. I had a good thing going, I had Jinx. Then it all fell apart, all because of Blood.

He could feel anger rising in him at the thought of Brother Blood. Blood, that bastard. He made me feel like it was real, that Stone wasn't an illusion. He ruined everything at Titans East, he read my blueprints, and he tried to ruin my life. Jail was too good for him.

Cyborg stood up and punched the wall, sending his arm deep into it, up to his elbow. Dammit! This isn't fair! Fuck this! Fuck being alone and miserable! I haven't felt this shitty since…since…

"…Her."

He pulled his arm out of the wall slowly, the memories coming back to him, back when he was normal, back when he was still in school, back before his mother died. Tears fell from his human eye. Mom understood me, Mom was always there for me, giving me advice, helping me. The tears came heavier now, remembering his mother. Why did she have to die, why couldn't he save her too?


(Three Years Ago, The Residence of Silias and Elinore Stone)

"Hey mom, I'm home!"

"Hey honey! How was school?"

"Fine."

A younger version of Cyborg had just entered the suburban home, but this Cyborg was different, he was completely without robotics, he was human. He was not known as Cyborg, but as Victor Stone. His mother Elinore was standing in the kitchen preparing a snack for him for when he arrived. On the counter were some papers from S.T.A.R. He knew that his father worked there and his mother worked with him.

"Did you talk to her today?"

"Yeah Mom, I did."

"And what'd she say?"

"Nothing, I just said 'hi'."

His mother frowned at him. "Vic, honey, you need to tell her how you feel. You'll never be able to be with her unless you do."

Victor nodded, he knew his mom was right, like she always was.

"It's ok to be afraid to do it hun, but sometimes we all have to do the things we're afraid of. Doing the things we're afraid to do helps us grow, and helps us to be happy in the end."

"It's just… I can't mom. I just can't. Every time I talk to her, the thoughts of what I want to say go running through my mind, but the words just don't come."

Elinore walked over to her son and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It'll be ok, when the time is right, you'll be able to tell her."


(Current Time, Cyborg's Room)

Cyborg wiped away his tears. Don't think about her. She's gone, the past is the past, let it go. As hard as he tried he could not forget her. She was everything to him, she was his mother. He couldn't forget. Why'd she have to go? He sat back down on his bed, and threw himself onto his back. Staring at the ceiling he wondered if anything that special was going to happen again.


(Midnight, Somewhere in Titan's Tower)

A door slid open, and a lone figure slowly emerged. Robin moved out into the hall and the door slid shut behind him, locking itself. He quickly walked off in the direction of his room, being careful not to make enough noise to wake anyone up.


(Outside Robin's Room)

Robin turned the corner to his room and saw a discreet box sitting in front of his door. He walked over to it, and picked it up, trying to find a tag. On one side he saw a small note that had the name "Robin" scrawled onto it. He looked around, trying to find a clue as to who left it here. There was nothing around so he just took it with him into his room.

Unbeknownst to him, around the corner opposite the way he came, lay the crumpled note that Starfire had dropped earlier that night.


(Robin's Room)

Robin sat down on his bed, holding the little box in his hands. He looked down at it, trying to decipher who it was from. It's got to be from someone in the tower, no one else can get in. Could it be from Beastboy? No…that's not his style. He wouldn't do it unless it was my birthday. Cyborg? Maybe…but I don't understand why he would. Perhaps it was Starfire. No, Star and I are just friends. Friends don't just give guys gifts for no reason. Then maybe it was… Raven. A streak of hope ran through him at this prospect. I bet it was her, after all, she did say that she had feelings for me. Maybe this is her way of safely expressing them for me. I should do something for her too…

Robin sat in silence for a minute, ignoring the still unwrapped present. I've got it! Before she comes to get her tea and meditate tomorrow I'll leave it for her. It may not be her style, but my sincerity will get to her, I know it.

Robin got up and removed his clothes, to sleep in his boxers as he did every night. He headed to his now restored bathroom to brush his teeth and do various other things in preparation for bed. As he came back to his bed he once again saw the unopened box. He yawned and stretched his arms. Tomorrow, I'll open it tomorrow after breakfast.

He put the package on his nightstand and pulled off the covers to his bed, slipping in to a peaceful nights sleep.


(Next Day)

Raven walked down the hall from her bedroom, heading for the small kitchen the Titans had in the common room, to get her morning tea. Opening the door she found the room dark and empty. Figures. Knew he wouldn't show up. She flicked on the lights and headed over to the stove to prepare the herbal tea she loved show much. As she came around the island that was the stove she noticed something lying on the burner. There were three black roses sitting there, with a white card attached by a small black bow. Raven picked up the card out of curiosity, and was surprised to find her name on it, written in a fancy style, similar to what one would find on a wedding invitation. She opened the card and read the text.

One for your beauty,

One for your brains

And one for how happy I am to be able to know you

The writing inside the card was the same as the outside. Raven blushed and reread the little card. Who left this here? Was it…

"Morning Raven."

Raven looked up to see Robin coming in, smiling to himself. He saw the expression on her face and looked over to the roses.

"I take it you like them?"

She looked down at the roses, then at the card in her hands.

"You did this? Why?"

"I think you know why Raven."

"But…where did you get these? I've never seen a black rose before, and the tower has been locked down. The last time you went out was with me, and you didn't bring any home. So where did you get them?"

Robin smiled. "That's my little secret."

Raven smirked and hit his shoulder.

"Come on. These are so beautiful, I have to know where they came from. You ought to care enough about me to tell me."

Robin shook his head. "Sorry, can't tell you."

Raven frowned at him.

Robin laughed. "I can't tell you, but I can show you."

Raven cocked an eyebrow at him. "What do you mean, we're locked in Titan's Tower."

Robin smiled again. "Come on, follow me."

He grabbed her hand and led her out of the common room, the tea and meditation forgotten in her desire to know where such a beautiful and rare flower came from. He led her down several flights of stairs to the unmarked room he had visited the night before. He stopped at the door and turned to face her.

"If I show you, you have to promise not to tell the team about this. I've kept this a secret for a long time, and I trust you enough to show you. Think you can do that for me? Keep this a secret?"

Raven nodded. "Yes, I can keep this between us."

Robin nodded. "There is one other condition, but I'll tell you about that inside." He put his hand on the keypad next to the door and put in his special code. The door slid open and warm air rushed out to meet their faces. Robin gestured for Raven to enter and she slowly walked in. Robin followed after he, making sure the door shut completely.


(Inside)

Raven couldn't even gasp. Her mouth just hung open and she gazed at the room in silence.

"Robin… This is… incredible."

Robin let out a smile. "So now you know where they came from, and where I disappear to sometimes."

Raven nodded dumbly. She was still in shock that Robin, the boy wonder, mister hardcore villain hunter, would keep something like this. She looked around the room again, taking in the beauty of it. It was lit by a yellow orb meant to simulate the sun, it went from east to west across the room, right now it was in the east, rising up. The whole floor was grass and wildflowers of all colors and sizes. Off to the left, in the corner closest to her was a small pile of boulders, with moss growing on them. Small bunches of flowers grew in the area around them, with grass in the space between. Some newly grown flowers were poking through the gaps in the rocks. Next to the rocks was a koi pond, with several large koi swimming around in it. A small stream entered the pond from the right, heading towards the wall farthest from her, where a small waterfall fell from the ceiling corner down into another small pool. There were fish in there as well. On the bank of the stream closest to the wall, reeds were growing and Raven could hear the croak of frogs coming from within. Next to the waterfall was a rosebush that was covered in thousands of black roses, each more beautiful than the one next to it. The rose bush took up the whole wall, with more small flowers growing at its base. The right hand wall had a small mound at the foot of it, going from corner to corner alongside it. It was covered in honey-suckle plants. The corner on her right was also filled with honey-suckles, as well as a few small rocks. The middle of the room was only wildflowers and grass. A few butterflies floated here and there in the little grassy room, peacefully going about their ways.

Raven looked back at Robin.

"How…?"

He smiled again, pleased at her reaction to all his hard work. "Well, when the tower was built I had Cyborg include this room in the plans, saying it was for storage. In reality though, I always had a passion for gardening, and wanted a whole room to do it in. So I made it so only I knew the code to get in, and started to work on cultivating all these plants."

Raven nodded, she too had her secret passions. "And the waterfall?"

"The waterfall works off of a pump system, water is run in at the top, and the large pond has a small hole at the bottom with a mesh screen over it. The screen is there to keep rocks and things in the pond, and the water flows freely through the screen into a chamber underneath where the water is forced into a pipe system where it is filtered, then pumped into the waterfall, where it comes out and repeats the cycle."

"Robin… this is brilliant. I love it. It's just…incredible. I can't believe you did this all yourself. What about the air in here? It's so different from the rest of the tower."

Robin pointed to a small duct hidden above the waterfall. There's an air filter in there, it keeps the humidity up, and maintains the correct balance of molecules in the air.

Raven nodded again. "Incredible…" she whispered.

"The sun… is it just like the real one?"

Robin nodded. "It moves along a wire track across the room, at the same speed as the real sun, and produces similar light. When it reaches the west end it hits a series of triggers that cause it to shut down slowly. It then moves back to the east end over night, by the time it reaches there it's time for it to rise again. Another series of triggers causes it to light up again."

"Incredible…"

To say that Raven was awestruck by the room was an understatement. She was captured and held captive by its charms.

Robin smiled to himself. "Remember the other condition I mentioned?"

Raven nodded, still enraptured by the scene before her.

"It was that from now on, while we're meditating, that we do it here."

Raven looked over to him, amazement still on her face. She looked back to the peaceful scene before her. She looked back at Robin and nodded.

"Of course, I mean, this place. It's just… it's perfect."

Robin smiled. "I'm glad you like it."

He moved closer to her and slowly put an arm around her shoulder, resting his hand on the shoulder farthest from him. He waited to see her response. Aside from an involuntary tensing of her muscles from being touched, she seemed fine with it. He drew her towards him and grabbed her other hand with his free one. Raven tilted her head onto his shoulder and continued to watch the room before her. Robin was sure she could hear his heart pounding in his chest, but if she could she didn't respond to it. He let out a deep, contented sigh and gazed with Raven into his own little taste of paradise.


Whew, busted my ass to get this one out. I was distracted all weekend by my recent purchase of a Sega Saturn. More Cyborg focus here, something i wasn't ever planning on doing, but it just sort of happened. Think i should focus on Beastboy some or no? Hope y'all liked it.