There are four episodes about this friendship, but is it popular? NOOOO, Let's write more about KF and Jinx WHO ONLY HAVE ONE EPISODE.

Sorry, I'm a little frustrated at the lack of content there is on this beautiful friendship. They're totally the kind to geek out together, FIGHT ME!

DISCLAIMER: I wish.

That accident was supposed to be the end for Victor Stone. In a way, it was. Victor was dead, and in his place was a monster, a freak of nature. His parents tried to tell him otherwise, but how could he believe them when all he could see was that blasted blue and metal? When all he couldn't even go outside without people edging away from him, pulling their children away, telling them to "stay away from the scary man".

No, Victor Stone was dead.

He dropped out of school and, eventually, chose to go out on his own. He thanked his parents, and he ran away. Because there was no place for a monster in this family.

His journey led him to Jump City. it was peaceful enough, and the people didn't bother you so long as you didn't bother them. It was perfect for a freak like him.

And then the alien crashed into his town, and he knew he had to do something. This was the only place he could rebuild his life, he would not let it be destroyed by an alien throwing a tantrum.

That tantrum ended up being the catalyst to something big, something more than a crew of evil alien-traffickers trying to destroy his town.

It founded the Teen Titans. It marked the day he found a place where he belonged, here amongst four equally strange people: a goth with freaky powers, a green changeling, an alien ex-slave, and a very emotionally constipated teenager with an attitude.

It's a strange bunch, but it's his bunch.

They formed a team, something he's not exactly foreign to. He used to be on a football team, he knew how team dynamics worked. When it came down to choosing a leader, though, he hesitated.

He so badly wanted to be the leader, to finally become a man with his own team and purpose, but he knew who really deserved that title. Robin was definitely younger than him, and at 5'4 he barely looked older than 14, but he was the most capable. He knew exactly what to do in an unknown situation, and he led them without hesitation. That was the attitude of a leader, and he didn't even need to try when he fell into that persona.

The answer was obvious.

So Robin became their leader, and the rest is history.

Their little ragtag group was strange, but maybe that was exactly why he felt so at peace with them. He's left his old life behind. Now he was no longer Victor Stone, but a Teen Titan. One that… didn't have a name.

Until he did.

It was a few days after the whole alien fiasco, and he was going over some plans for their new home with Robin, his new leader. The kid had some great ideas and combined with his own engineering genius, they came up with the perfect plan. He had to admit, it felt amazing to finally be able to geek out about physics and engineering with someone who understood what he was saying.

"I'm so glad you're smart, man," he grinned at Robin. "BB is cool and all, but I can't really geek out without him being lost."

Robin laughed. "I hear ya. It's been a while since I've met someone who understood physics so complex."

"You any good at robotics and tech?" He asked. Maybe he could finally share his passion with someone. Not everyone found tech and computers a fun past-time, and having a partner in that for a change would be pretty nice.

"I know a few things," Robin smiled that smile that he has come to translate as "hell yeah I'm good".

"Cool! So, for the security, I was thinking-"

"Before we get into that," Robin cut in, raising his hand in a 'stop' motion. "What do you want me, us, to call you? We can't keep calling you 'dude' forever."

He paused, unsure what to say to such a heavy question. He could tell them his first name, but he just couldn't associate himself with that name anymore. He had a new life with the Titans, he couldn't move on until he left everything behind.

He focused on the blueprints as he answered, "I'm… I'm not sure. I don't want to use my old name, not anymore, but I can't just go without a name. You know?"

No, of course, he didn't know! What was he thinking-

"I understand," Robin said. He looked up in surprise. Robin's smile was strange, it wasn't one he'd seen before today. It almost felt… nostalgic. Sad. Understanding. "Trust me, I do. There are days when I want to just go by Robin for the rest of my life, but my ID isn't exactly a subtle one, you know?"

"Yeah," he breathed. He understood him. "I do."

"I chose Robin because it reminds me of who I used to be, but in a good way," Robin said as he turned his gaze to the ocean before them. "I can't leave this part of me behind, it's too important to me."

He looked at Robin for a moment, really looked. He thought the kid was just another cocky tenager with an attitude, but right now, at this moment, all he could see was someone that was lost.

Like him.

"So, how did you choose your name, then?" he asked.

"I thought of the one thing that defined me, that made me feel like me, but not me. I hope that makes sense?" Robin said, his voice sounding unsure.

"It makes perfect sense," he agreed. "So, something that defines me but doesn't define all of me."

"Exactly!" Robin grinned. He didn't say anything else, and it took him a second to realize that he was waiting for him to decide.

Something that defined him… he wasn't even sure of who he was anymore, not after that accident took everything away from him. He was nothing more than a freak, a monster, a-

The realization hit him hard all at once. A cyborg.

He would probably never be fully human again, but a lot of his personality hasn't changed. He was still the same person he used to be, but not, at the same time. Cyborg.

"Call me Cyborg," Cyborg decided, smiling when Robin sent him a proud grin.

"Cyborg" he tested. "Sounds good. Well then, Cyborg, what did you have in mind for security?"

Looking back on that day, Cyborg was sure that was when Robin went from being his leader to his friend. In a sense, Robin freed him. No, that was wrong. Robin didn't free him, he just made it easier for Cyborg to do that himself.

God, Robin has no idea how many he's helped without even trying. Cyborg may not be able to read emotions like Raven can, but he prides himself in knowing Robin pretty well. So well, in fact, that he can tell when Robin is brooding about Slade just by looking at his facial expression.

His mechanical eye was handy when it came to things like that.

So, when Robin started flaking on the team while "following Slade leads", he knew there was more to it. Robin wasn't just brooding, he was plotting. Cyborg had half a mind to investigate the matter, but there was a rogue thief on the loose that had access to his systems and he needed to be ready.

The rogue thief, Red X. Who, as it turns out, was Robin the whole time.

Cyborg had no idea how to feel about that. He was angry, obviously, that their leader had gone behind their backs like that, but he knew logically that they probably would've eased up on him if they'd known. Still, the betrayal stung.

He scoured the tower for Robin, and his search eventually led him to the gym. He heard the usual panting and the rattling of a punching bag. A loud thud and Cyborg knew it had been knocked off the chain. Only one person did that.

"You might wanna have mercy on the poor thing," he kept his voice even and light, hoping that Robin wouldn't be aggravated by it. He was a ticking bomb as it was, just waiting to explode if someone pushed him enough.

Robin grunted in lieu of a greeting, otherwise ignoring him in favor of fixing the destroyed bag. Cyborg heaved an internal sigh. Getting Robin to open up was never an easy task.

"I could spar with you if you want a better workout," Cyborg tried again. Sparring always helped Robin, most likely a habit he'd gained from being raised by the Bat himself.

"No thanks," Robin said curtly, right back on punching the bag.

Fine, if this was how it was gonna be.

"Look, man, you've been on edge all week and it's been putting us on edge. What's bugging you so much?" If small talk was a no, he had to stick to the usual tactic of prying.

"Nothing is on my mind," Robin panted.

"Totally," Cyborg rolled his eyes. "Look, if you would just talk to us-"

"There is nothing to talk about!" Robin snapped, finally turning a withering gaze at him.

Oh, no. Robin may be his leader, but he will not let this kid take up an attitude with him.

"Listen, we're just trying to help," Cyborg glared right back. "What is it with you and bottling things up? Why can you just trust us?"

"I don't need help!" Robin affirmed. "Why does everyone keep telling me I need help? First Slade, and now you guys? Seriously!"

"Because we're your friends you dick!" Cyborg caught the hint of a flinch, but he pressed on. "We're a team for a reason. We're supposed to help you! As leader, you should know that more than anyone!"

Robin seemed to deflate at his last phrase. Then, with a sharp voice and a sneer, "Then why don't you be the leader if you're such a leader on team etiquette!"

Cyborg froze. When the team had formed, they'd unanimously voted for Robin because they trusted his ability to lead them. He was cocky and rude, but he was their leader and their friend, so that didn't matter. Cyborg figured he had it in himself to lead, and it was probably why Robin's named him second-in-command, but to hear Robin suggest something like this now-

"What are you talking about?" Cyborg asked incredulously.

"If I'm so bad at being a team player, why don't you just lead the team?" Robin said bitterly. He clenched his fists. "I know I'm not the best at this job-"

Uh, what?

"But I'm trying! I can't just suddenly change my ways overnight, but I'm trying for you guys. But it seems that me trying isn't enough. You're obviously more suited as leader in terms of connecting the team, so why don't you just handle the ropes if I'm so bad at this!"

Cyborg stood in stunned silence. Robin doubted his position as leader? He wanted to hand him the role? A part of him felt a swell of pride because this was all he's ever wanted (his own team), but it was very small next to the crushing dread that Robin didn't think he was good enough.

In all the years he's known the kid, he has never seen him look so unsure of himself. So hateful. What had caused this sudden shift? Things were just fine until a few days ago-

Red X.

That's why Robin's been so distant and moody. He wasn't hurting from their anger and disappointment because Robin was more disappointed in himself than they were. They might've moved on and forgiven him because they knew his intentions, but to Robin, whose plan literally exploded in his face, all he saw was that he'd betrayed them.

A few days ago, he might've been happy that Robin realized his mistake, but Cyborg never wanted it to go this far. None of them did. No matter what Robin's done, he had good intentions with his plan, and that made all the difference to them because it meant Robin didn't betray them. He did all of it for them. He played the bad guy to take down the one guy that posed a real threat to them.

He was protecting them.

Cyborg felt like such an idiot. How hadn't he noticed this earlier? No one could wallow in self-hatred more than Robin can, how had he not seen this coming? Could Robin even recover from this now that he knew he could play the bad guy?

"Robin," Cyborg uttered. Something in his voice must've been different because Robin was finally looking at him. Despite the mask, he could see that Robin was anything but calm. His fists were shaking and his lip was twitching. He was sure that if he could see Robin's eyes, he would see anger and agony.

"What happened with Red X," he started hesitantly. "I can't pretend that the team wasn't hurt by this, because we were, but we've already said our pieces, so I won't say it again. And you know that already, don't you?"

Robin nodded curtly, his body tense. He waited for the inevitable "okay" because he knew how much Cyborg wanted to lead. He would be more suitable, especially since the team had more faith in him. He wasn't worthy of that faith. The tears stung in his eyes. Not anymore.

He parted his lips to speak, but he was cut off suddenly.

"YOU IDIOT!"

Here it is. Robin closed his eyes and braced himself. He was not prepared for the hand on his shoulder, nor the compassion in his teammate's eyes.

"You absolute idiot," Cyborg sighed, his voice softening. He has never sounded more like an older brother than he did now. The hand on his shoulder burned. What was happening?

"I refuse."

Huh?

"Huh?" he gaped at the taller male.

"You heard me," Cyborg huffed, pulling away his hand to cross his arms. "I refuse."

"What the-" Robin could not believe what he was hearing. He was supposed to agree and tell him what an asshole he is! He wasn't supposed to refuse! "Cyborg, this is your chance to finally be the leader! Isn't that what you've always wanted?"

"It is," Cyborg relented, "But not like this. Besides, the way I see it, this team already has a leader, and I'm lookin' right at him."

"Cyborg-"

"No, Robin," Cyborg reaffirmed. "I'm not letting you give up your title just because you wanna punish yourself or something. You made a bad judgment, so what?"

"'So what'?" Robin stared incredulously. "I betrayed the team and tried to team up with Slade! That's why!"

"Yeah, tried to," he pressed. Robin didn't look like he believed him, so he took another approach. "I know that you messed up, okay? And we all were hurt by that, yeah, but we thought over it and decided as a team that you did it for the greater good."

Robin was silent as he continued, "You didn't betray us for the sake of being evil, you did it for us. You calculated the risks and decided the best course of action would be to hurt us in the short-term, thus saving us from Slade in the long-run."

"You guys," Robin whispered. "Just like that?"

Cyborg grinned. "Hell yeah, man. You're our friend, and nothing will ever change that. You might be an asshole, but you're our asshole, so deal with it. You're stuck with us."

Robin sniffled, but a smile broke out on his face anyway. "I really don't deserve you guys. Thank you."

"We'll be the judge of that," Cyborg deflected. "Now, how about we go for some pizza? I'm starving!"

Robin laughed. This all felt so surreal. His friends forgave him. They didn't hate him. They still trusted him. A warmth spread in his chest, and his smile felt more genuine than ever.

He will never give this up, never again.

He bumped the fist waiting in front of him, and he grinned. "Hell yeah!"

"Awesome!" Cyborg cheered. "First person to the pizzeria gets first pick!"

Without warning, he raced towards the door. Robin laughed, it is so on.

"Hey, come back here you cheater!"

Cyborg ran ahead, grinning all the way. Yeah, Robin was a total ass, but he was an ass that cared about them, maybe a little too much sometimes. But that didn't matter, because no matter what Robin did, he would always be his friend.

Robin is obviously smart af, and Cyborg is Cyborg, they'd TOTALLY geek out about science together! *sigh* wasted opportunities.