!NOTE!

There is an important message for all you readers down at the bottom, but DO NOT read it until after you read this chapter. Otherwise you get some serious spoilers.

!NOTE!

Ok then, in retrospect I don't like those thank you's at the bottom, so back to the top with 'em.

DarkBird1345: Glad that you like it, it makes me feel great to know that.

Martson: (Hoping you're alive to read this...) Suspense is useful. I HATE reading suspenses, and having to wait to know what's going to happen next, but as the author, it's really useful. Keeps you people around. No good writing for people that aren't there.

Dark-Canine69: Basically the same thing I said to Martson. It's mean, but it's useful. And I do hate reading them too.

Witch01: Holy ass, killing everyone with suspense aren't I? lol. Think about what you asked as you read. Not sayin' nuttin' else.

Chica De Los Ojos Cafe: Damn you reviewers, you guys are getting good. Or am I just predictable?

Cygnus de hielo: Got lots of stuff to say to you. First off, son of a mother of a. Maybe I am predictable. Well that's no fun. T.T Secondly, always great to meet another TF fan. Thirdly, your idea: a good one, but not quite the angle I'm heading. Next up, Cyborg. I don't think it's so much that I have a talent for writing him. I say this because of how I write the characters. For the most part (there are always exceptions) I have my scenario, and I think of what, based on the episodes I have seen, that character would do. So that might be why Cyborg works so well. Or I have talent, whatever. Second to last thing: glad I made you feel better. If all I do is entertain the reader then I'm not doing enough. In my opinion, literature is meant to strike some part of you, make you feel sorrow, or joy, or something else. If all I can do is entertain you enough to keep you reading, then like I said, I'm not working hard enough. So i'm glad that my writing made you feel better, because that tells me I'm doing something right. Now the last thing I have to say to you is that I want to converse with you more often than just when I update or you review. So send me an e-mail (can find my address in my profile.). I say this because you have got to be one of my favorite reviewers, and are one of the people that really keeps this story going. Plus all your ideas seem to be in the general area that I'm going. Now you don't have to do that last bit if you aren't comfortable with it, that's cool. But should you do so, just stick your signing name (Cygnus de hielo) in the subject.

LittleCreature: Bloody hell people, everyone is in suspense. And yeah, I did forget for one chapter. It was always my intention though to have that thing remain unopened for so long.

JPElles: LOL. You can chalk it up to being cooped up for so long, and sorry if he isn't manly enough for you. But I'm trying my best to make him into a young romantic. Masculinity tends to get sacrficed when that happens. Probably would be ashamed of him, but then again, perhaps he's just trying to be his own person. Or not. Whatever.

Read on all you peoples


The Power Of A Storm

Chapter 9: Love Exposed

(Robin's Room)

Robin looked up from the gift to Raven. He opened his mouth to speak but the look in her eyes told him not to. What he saw scared him. His fear was not of her, or what she might do, but of what she was feeling. The eyes are the window into the soul. Didn't Shakespeare say something like that? If he was right, then Raven's soul was not a happy place at the moment. In her eyes Robin saw so many things, fear, doubt, worry, jealousy, and many other emotions that are beyond words to describe.

"Raven?

Her gaze never left the now unwrapped gift in his lap. She didn't respond to his voice, it was like she was in another world. Gently Robin reached over and tried to comfort her. Before he could touch her she sank into the floor, leaving the boy wonder alone with the cause of all his current problems.

"Fuck."

For a long time Robin didn't move, didn't speak, didn't think. All he did was sit and breath.

"Fuck."

What now? I have to find Raven, and deal with her. But I also have to deal with Star. How do I tell her without hurting her? Can I do it without hurting her?

Robin moved his new possession over to his nightstand. Standing up he crumpled the wrapper into a ball.

"God dammit Star, why'd you have to do this now?"

On his way out he threw the ball into his trashcan. Before he left his room, he took one look backwards and stared at his nightstand.

"Fuck."

He shook his head and left, leaving behind the gift that could have only come from Starfire. Lightning flashed, the resulting light hitting it, casting various shapes around the room, of every color of the rainbow. The shapes faded and Starfire's gift faded back into the dark. The dark did it no justice, only the faint glow from his LED clock gave a portion of the beauty of it to the world.


(Raven's Room)

Raven was sitting on the edge of her bed, as far away from the door as she could get, her back turned to it. It's all over now. Who would choose me over her? He's going to abandon me, run away, just like all the others. It's going to go back, back to that hell of a life. The pain, the fear, the ever constant threat of my own feelings. How can it go back so soon?

Raven looked up to the ceiling, then down to the floor.

"Why do you taunt me?"


(Outside Starfire's Room)

Robin stopped by her door, on his way to see Raven. Maybe I should talk to her now…

At that moment Beastboy came walking down the hall, a plate of tofu in one hand, and a blank CD in the other. His head was slightly down, looking at his CD. He looked up to see Robin standing at the door of Starfire's room. That one look told him all he needed to know.

"Don't do it Robin."

Robin's head snapped up at the sudden noise, eyes small slits, his muscles tensed. Seeing Beastboy he relaxed, but still remained slightly on guard.

"Do what?"

Beastboy shook his head. "You know what I'm talking about. Don't tell her dude, not yet."

So he knows… but how? How could he know so fast? Cyborg! Robin's face twisted into an expression of anger, a look of hurt at broken trust. Seeing his leader's expression Beastboy quickly set his tofu and CD on the floor.

"Whoah, whoah. Don't get all crazy on me. I'm just saying, wait until the storm is over. I don't think I could stand seeing you two all over each other for the next three days."

Together..? So that means he doesn't know. Good, better keep it that way. Robin feigned a blush.

"Guess you're right Beastboy."

He noticed the CD on the floor. Pointing to it he asked, "What's that?"

Beastboy looked down. "Oh that. That's a brand new, pre-release version of Mega Monkeys 5."

Robin frowned. "Don't you dare try working that on Cyborg's computers again."

Beastboy blushed, for real. A bead of sweat slipped down his head. "Heh heh, yeah. Right, I think I know better now."

Beastboy picked up his tofu and game and walked off to go have a night of his own version of fun, unaware of the hell that awaited Robin from both the ladies residing in Titan's Tower.


(Raven's Room)

She was now lying on her side, staring blankly at the wall. She only had one thought. It's over. She felt herself start to slide off the bed, but didn't care. She continued to stare at the wall, unable to control the feelings in her heart. With a loud thump she fell to the floor, lying there motionless. She could feel a small amount of pain from it, but ignored it. Physical pain was the least of her problems at the time.

A gentle knocking sound came from her door. She remained lying in the same position she fell in, not even hearing the noise. A muffled voice came from the door.

"Raven?"

Robin? He knocked harder, and spoke again.

"Raven? Are you in there? I need to talk to you. Please open the door."

She moved her head a little, but still made no effort to open the door. She knew what he wanted to say, and she didn't want to hear it. In her mind the words she dreaded echoed, never fading away. I love her, not you…not you…not you…

"Raven! Please! Open the door! I don't want to have to break in, I just want to talk to you."

She managed to muster the energy to speak.

"Go…away…"

Silence. Then a series of beeps, and the door slid open. Robin took one look into the room and saw the crumpled body of Raven lying on the ground. He rushed over and kneeled by her side.

"Raven! Are you okay?"

She only mumbled some incoherent response. Shaking his head, he scooped her into his arms, and placed her on the bed. He sat down next to her, his back to her.

"Raven. Listen to me please."

She rolled over on the bed and now had her back to him.

"No. I don't want to hear it. Go tell her, go pour your soul out to someone that cares."

Her words cut into him like knives.

"Rae… please-"

"Don't call me that." She was blunt and her voice was hollow.

"Why won't you listen to me?"

"Because I don't want to hear about how you're sorry for leaving me, and how you'll be seeing Starfire now, and how you hope it doesn't bother me." She made a mockery of his voice, hoping to hurt him more.

Robin shook his head sadly. She just doesn't get it. He got up to leave, there was no point in staying here. Words meant nothing to her. He could only prove it by action. Before leaving the room he stopped, to once again deliver the last word.

"It's not about her you know. It's about you. You're the one that sets my soul on fire, not her. You're the one that has depth, the one of mystery. She's too simple for me Raven. It's not her I love."

He left, letting the door close behind him. Raven remained on the bed for a few moments. Then she slowly sat up and looked at the roses he had given her that morning, now in a vase across the room. It's not her he loves…


(Starfire's Room)

She had remained cooped up in her room since the last night, afraid to face Robin and what he might say. She regretted giving him that gift. It was something she could never receive again, there was only one in the universe. She had given him her most precious belonging, the symbol of her heritage. She had given him the ring that her mother gave her on her deathbed. She moved over to the crib in the corner where Silkie slept. He was sleeping at the moment, taking his afternoon nap.

"My lucky little bumglorf. You need not worry about such things do you?"

She heard a knock at her door and shrieked.

"Star? Open up, it's me, Robin."

Robin! Oh joy, he has come to see me! That means he found it! But… what if he does not like it? Oh no! He has come to tell me that he does not like it and is returning it!

"Star?" Dammit. Not her too.

Starfire moved to the door, her hand trembling as she pushed the button to open it.

"Hello friend Robin. What is it you wish of me?"

She tried to fake a smile, to convince him she was okay. He frowned at her, but ignored her strange behavior. He had grown accustomed to her strange ways, she was from another planet after all.

"I wanted to talk to you about that ring you left outside my door last night."

Starfire's eyes grew into huge green saucers. "Oh that! Yes, yes, please come inside so that we make speak of it!"

She pulled him inside and slammed the door shut, making sure no one had seen or heard him.

"Star, why did you give me that?"

She was taken back at his immediate course of action. He wasn't wasting time.

"It is because…"

Robin cocked an eyebrow, waiting for her to finish.

"…Because… My mother gave me that ring, before she died. I never knew her that well, I was raised by my Kinorfka, so I never knew my mother that well. Before she died she wanted me to have that."

Tears had begun to well in the young woman's eyes as she thought about the sad story of her mother.

"No one could hope to recreate the intricate details of that ring. The designs were made long ago by the best artist on Tameran, as a gift to the first queen. It was her wedding ring. It has been passed down in my family for generations untold, each mother giving it to her favorite daughter. When my mother gave it to me, it was proof that she loved me, even though she never got to see me grow up. That ring is the only thing of hers that I have…had."

"If it was so important, then why did you give it to me?"

"It is because…" She gave him a tear filled smile. "You are important. You are important to me."

Robin's eyes grew wide, stretching the fabric of his mask. "Star… are you… are you trying to say that you…" He swallowed hard. "… Love me?" He had always known that she had a crush on him, but love? It was too much to believe.

She nodded slowly, tears still falling down her cheeks. She let her head fall down, and she just stood there, in a pool of her own sorrow and embarrassment. She felt something brush away her tears. Starfire looked up to see Robin standing right in front of her, close enough for her to kiss. He wrapped his arms around her. She put her hands on the arch of his back, a feeling of content growing inside her. She tried to draw him closer, to feel his body against hers, but he resisted and broke the hug. He looked up into her eyes, seeing the tears that only amplified their beauty.

"I'm sorry Star. I'm sorry you had to lose your mother."

She nodded slowly, he understood her grief. He too had lost his parents when he was young.

"I'm sorry for something else."

Fresh tears began to form in her eyes. She knew it was coming. He hates my gift I know it.

"What you gave to me was beautiful. I've never seen anything like it. That's how I knew you gave it to me. Nothing like that could have come from Earth."

Starfire gave a weak smile, this was not what she was expecting.

"But…" There's always a but, isn't there? "… I have to give it back. I cannot accept something that your mother gave you. Not on her deathbed. It's too important to just give to some boy."

"But Robin-"

He held his hands up to silence her. She would have none of it though, and brushed his hands away.

"You are not just some boy Robin. Not to me. You are the leader of the Teen Titans, you are young, and strong, and handsome," Starfire blushed at that part. "And you have dedicated your life to helping those in need. You are not some boy, you are a hero." She added softly, "You are my hero."

"Star…"

He raised his hand to her shoulder. "I had no idea that you felt so strongly for me. That's why it breaks my heart to tell you that I can't return your love."

Starfire's eyes grew wide. She shook her head dumbly. No. No, this cannot be so.

"My heart belongs to someone else Star. It belongs to…" He took a deep breath. Tell her. "It belongs to Raven."

Starfire backed away from him, still shaking her head back and forth. It was like she was in a bad dream and couldn't wake up. She kept going until she hit the wall with her back. She fell forward onto her knees, her head slumping down, fixing her gaze to the floor. "No… please Robin, no."

Robin knelt down beside her, his arm over her shoulder, attempting to comfort her.

"Tell me the truth Robin. Tell me that you love me, not her. You cannot love her, you cannot." She spoke without looking at him, her eyes glued to the floor.

"I'm sorry Star, but I do."

Tears fell free from her emerald eyes. He had broken her heart.

"Please leave. I wish to be alone." Her voice rang with hurt.

"I'm sorry Star, I really am."

She finally looked at him. "If you were truly so sorry, then you would not have done this to me. You would not have broken my heart."

Robin's mouth opened, but no words came out. She turned her gaze back down to the floor.

"Star…"

She didn't respond. He gently nudged her shoulder, but she still made no sign that he was there. For the second time that day Robin left a young woman's room defeated. This time he had no last words for her.

The door closed and Starfire heard only one word from the other side: "Fuck."


Want to know something readers? Writing this made me sad. I hate to be cruel to Star, but for the sake of the story I had to do it. Things will get a little better for her, if only a little.

Now I know some of you are upset over the total lack of detail on the ring, and I'll tell you right now. That's on purpose. If I were to actually describe it, or at least what I personally imagine it to be, then there would be someone who would be dissappointed, given the amount of attention that little thing has earned. I left the description out so that you, the reader, would have your own personal image of it. So that it looks like whatever you think is beautiful. If some of you don't like that, well tough. Just use your imagination, (it may be hard, but you can do it) and come up with your own description for it.

I'd like to take the time to announce that the end of my story is nigh. That's right, it's all going to end. By my figuring, it should only be another 2 or 3 chapters. I have my ending all set, and am ready to start writing it. No more suggestions are needed, but if you want to give 'em, go ahead. But please be aware that they will be most likely ignored. I think that everyone will be happy with the end, at least those that have been reading thus far. Not sure what i'll do when this is done, but I will continue to write.

My next update will most likely be a little while, i'm going to be working hard on those last chapters, to make sure that I address all the issues that have been presented. That means I'll be rereading all the chapters, making sure everything gets resolved. My hopes is that the end will knock your socks off, and for those not wearing socks...well damn.

Review mes amis.