I am by no means a religious man, but I'd like to express my sorrow at the death of the pope. He was a good man. I think that says enough.
Darkbird1345: You are a man/woman of many words you know that? lol. Glad you like it, and your review tends to be the first that I get. Congrats.
DarkoftheNight: I disagree with you, I'm not too proud of some parts of this story (namely chapter 1, hate that one a lot). That might just be author bias though.
Chico De Los Ojos Cafe: Glad you liked it, and that you got to really understand the storm.
Martson: I agree, RobRae pairings tend to have more depth, since the author has to set up the pairing and make it logical (usually).
kiersten: I don't find RobStar annoying, I mean, it is kinda how the show works out. You're entitled to your opinion though. Praise is great, authors need egos too you know.
Witch01: I think you'll find the ending satisfactory.
sarah: Had to point that out didn't you? I had to change that, been bugging me all week.
SPECIALGUY: Naw, can't find me if I don't leave my house. You most likely will also enjoy the ending though.
That one guy...: I've done better rants. Far better. We shall see if you were right in what that gray line was, won't we?
sha-kenren: Starfire is quite bubbly, it can get annoying. She just lacks depth in my opinion, her and Beastboy. The writers do very little investigation into their characters, unlike Raven. I wish they'd do more for them.
Cygnus De Hielo: Congrats on joining fanfiction btw, look forward to seeing what you got as a writer (that is if you're going to write anything). I've decided on Thor. It's his fault. You had a great point about that, too bad I never thought of it. Guess that means I need to read more comics. Sorry to hear you got sick after vacation, real fun way to come home eh? If you really have interest in my other story, I might continue it, even though I'm currently brainstorming something else.
Zerath: Human posts are good, but so are those that inflate my ego. You, like so many others, should like the ending.
gosscliff: Read and find out. That's all I'm saying.
pureangel: Yeah, I kinda agree on the language. I don't like swearing that much, tend not to do it (unless I get pissed). Second question, hmmmm. Will they find someone? You just have to read and see...
Lightning728: Oh, so now we're 1337, eh? Alright, I can play that game. G0t j00r 3-m41l d00d. Quite possibly the single most misleading thing I have ever read. Way to go. Yeah, seems like only you and Cygnus. I count myself lucky they don't insult me personally, I mean, who can handle "omfg, j00 r teh sux!1111oneoneoneone!" That's rather harsh. I get the feeling that you aren't fully aware of what your review says though... Calvin And Hobbes... sadly no. It's not. It's a nickname for me (Hobbs) that I got from family when I was a wee child. The day I learned of Calvin and Hobbes was pretty cool though.
Ocelot The Revolver: You're the only reviewer to get a relatively timely update. Way to win.
Sorry this is so late, the power adapter/battery charger on my laptop broke, so I've been running on battery power for the whole week, trying to make it last long enough to get a new one. Hope this chapter is worth the wait to you all.
The last chapter, the end to it all. Read on.
The Power Of A Storm
Chapter 12: True Love
Robin's eyelids twitched, fighting to open. He could hear noises around him. No, voices. There were people around him, talking. Talking about him. He could barely make out a few words, but their meaning was lost. His eyelids hurt, and felt so heavy. Forcing them open a little his eyes met a blinding white light, the intensity of it forced his eyes closed again. The voices were getting dimmer, harder to hear. He could feel himself slipping back into sleep, his last thoughts echoing in his mind. Where am I? What…What happened?
(Day 7)
Robin rolled over in his sleep, disturbed by his dream. He dreamt he was out in the storm, and that he was searching for something, someone. He had tripped on something and slid off the roof, and fell down, down into a gray abyss. The abyss never ended, and Robin spent the rest of his life falling, screaming. His life playing itself before his eyes over and over again, his parents' death, the forming of the Titans, his fight with Raven. The last few days always haunted him, never making amends, never getting to say, "I love you." Robin's eyes burst open and he sat upright. Feeling a sharp stabbing sensation, he quickly grabbed his head. Ow… Looking around him he found himself yet again waking up in the infirmary. What happened? Why am I here again?
The sound of an opening door came from his right, and Robin looked to see none other than Cyborg walking in, holding a clipboard. He had his head down, and was reading something on it. Mumbling to himself as he looked up to see the now awake Robin.
"Mornin'."
"Cyborg… what happened? Why am I here? Again?"
Cyborg put his clipboard down, shaking his head. "You went out into the storm, trying to find Raven, and fell off of the tower."
Robin looked out the window near his bed, to the rain outside. It had lessened in its fury, now almost like a normal storm. He nodded to himself, remembering the fall all to well, as well as the gray line that saved him.
"Who saved me?"
"I did. Heard you shouting as you were falling. I used the grappling hook built into my arm to catch you. It was amazing that I caught you, couldn't see for beans. You ended up blacking out before we pulled you up."
"We?"
Cyborg nodded. "Star, BB, and me. I told you to wait for us."
"Guess you were right." Robin grinned, then winced at the pain that shot through his skull.
"Head hurt?"
"Yeah…"
He nodded again. "Thought so, when we pulled you up you banged your head into the side of the tower a few times. That's prob'ly why."
Robin winced again. "Damn that hurts."
Cyborg waved a finger at him. "Serves you right for going out there. Why you think I had us go on lockdown? For fun?"
Robin tried to laugh, only to cause more pain. He swore again, cursing himself for going out there.
"As for your next question, she's fine. She slipped in the rain and hit her head, that's why she was lying there. As far as effects from the storm, she was worse off, being less clothed and out longer, but banging into the tower made you worse off overall. She's out in the kitchen having tea if you want to go see her."
Robin nodded, and attempted to get up, his arms weak from being in the storm. Cyborg moved towards him, trying to help him up. Robin was strong enough to push him off, refusing to accept his help.
"I'm fine."
Cyborg nodded. "Why was she out there?"
Robin shook his head, letting a sigh escape his lips. "It's…complicated."
"Better deal with it then."
"Yeah."
Robin walked slowly out of the room, working hard to maintain his balance, his body still weak.
(Kitchen)
Raven sipped her tea slowly, taking in the relaxing scent of it. She felt the air move near her as someone sat down. Glancing over to the chair she spied none other than Robin. She shifted her gaze back to the tea leaves swirling on the surface of her drink.
"Hey."
Raven said nothing. Hey? Is that all he's got to say to me?
"How are you?"
Oh dandy, you know, heartbreak, broken trust, the usual. Just. Fucking. Dandy. "Fine."
"Good."
Raven said nothing, she just resumed drinking her tea. Robin sighed, and remained sitting next to her. He too said nothing. The next move was hers. He could wait her out. Finally the silence got her, and she spoke.
"Are you going to say anything else, or are we done here?"
Robin shook his head slowly. He turned in his chair to look at her.
"Why do you have to be this way Raven? Why do you have to push me away?"
She set her tea down slowly, and turned to face him.
"Why? You want to know why? It's because of you. You and people like you. People who say they care about me, then turn around and lie to me, betray my trust, and then pretend it never happened."
"Is that what you think happened? That I lied to you for fun? You think that I take some sort of sick, perverse pleasure in torturing you emotionally?"
"I don't need to think that. Your actions say it."
Robin stood up, despite his aching limbs. He had had enough. He was sick of her attitude, of the way she just sulked around and acted like everyone was against her. His rage threatened to break him apart at the seams, it took all his effort to control it.
"Listen to me Raven. Why don't you get it?" He spoke through gritted teeth in an attempt to control his rage. "Just because Star was hugging me does not mean that I've eloped with her."
"…I saw what I saw."
"Dammit Raven!"
Robin grabbed the chair he had been sitting in and threw it across the room, where it broke into pieces after hitting the wall. Raven's eyes grew wide at his sudden outburst of violence.
"Why don't you get it! How many times do we have to do this! What the fuck is your problem!"
Raven said nothing, she was still in shock. Robin's shoulders sank low, his energy and anger fading from him.
"I'm just so sick of this Raven. I am tired of doing this. I am tired of trying to convince you. I shouldn't have to do this. If you feel the same way for me, then you should trust my words, and not go running off whenever I make any contact with Starfire."
Robin sighed, catching his breath for a minute before continuing.
"Okay, so fine. Your mother died, your father abandoned you. Fine. You're insecure. That's all fine and good, but that does not excuse the way you've been acting. Just believe me Raven. That's all I ask. I want to make this work, but I can't unless you trust me. And if you can't trust me, then I'm not going to bother chasing after you, no matter how much I love you."
Raven's eyes grew even wider. His last words echoing in her mind. I love you…love you…love you…
"W-what…Did you just say…love?"
Robin sucked in his breath, amazed he had spoken those words aloud. Did I really just admit it to her? His voice quivering, he tried to speak again, only to have a jumble of meaningless noises come out.
"Robin? Is it true?"
Hope. Her voice rang of hope. Robin looked up into her eyes, seeing the love and hope they held. How could he deny her the truth? Slowly he nodded, "Yeah Raven. It's true. I…I love you."
A single tear wound its way down Raven's cheek. Never had she hoped to imagine someone telling her those words.
"I love you Raven, with all my heart and soul. The world be damned, all I want to do is be with you."
Robin reached up and brushed away her tear.
"I'm sorry I took so long to say it."
He turned away from her, preparing to leave.
"Robin."
He turned back around, to find her standing now, as close to him as she could be without touching him. Being so close to her made his heart skip a beat. Her arms reached out to him, grabbing his shoulders, and in one fluid motion she pulled him to her, pressing her lips against his. Robin's eyes flew as wide as they could get, the sudden kiss taking him by surprise. After his initial shock he closed his eyes, savoring the soft touch of her lips on his. His heart soared free, the feelings coming to him were indescribable. His mind reeled at the thought of how something so simple could make him feel so complete. He kissed her back, pushing his lips against hers, afraid to end the single greatest moment of his life. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her whole body up against his as he continued to kiss her as passionately as he could, pouring all his love and longing into that single action. Time was lost upon the two lovers as they stood there. To each it was if there was nothing but the other, and the passion that they shared. Life was perfect.
Outside the rain had slowed, now merely a drizzle. The clouds began to part, and for the first time in a week, the sun shone down on Titan's Tower, right into the room where Robin and Raven stood.
Raven broke the kiss briefly, to share the words that she longed to speak.
"I love you too, Robin."
The End.
Do I really need to say more? It'll just ruin the feeling from the end.
