-Swipes all Christmas cookies during dramatic entrance- I, The Hooded Menace, am back with another chapter of The Power Of The Sea! Love me yet? If so, review - ketcup and marshmallow cookies to those who do!

Disclaimer - I am hoping for the Teen Titans to be in my stocking. Until then, they do not belong to me.

The Power Of The Sea -

Call A Friend

A new morning dawned bright and clear for the few who were awake to see it. Aqualad was one of the few. After receiving Robin's message, he immediately headed to the tower of the original Teen Titans. The problem he had mentioned was completely foreign to him – water was life for him; how could someone fear it? – but Robin believed Aqualad was the solution. "I need you to help Raven overcome her fears," he said, "Teach her to swim, that she has nothing to fear from the ocean." It intrigued the Atlantian, and he agreed to come. He needed a break from the Titans East anyway, and a change of location would be nice. Not to mention people. Cyborg and Robin were pretty cool, Beast Boy awesome when you got to know him, Starfire less bossy than Bee, and Raven, dark and full of secrets, like a hidden grotto.

Maybe a bit of exploration is in store, he thought, his lips curved into a half-smile. But there'll be time for that later.

With that in mind, the dark-haired Titan increased his speed towards the tower.

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Robin stretched his lean frame across the roof of the Tower, working out all his kinks and tensions. He had been awake for about an hour, but traces of sleep remained. After all, it was early, but Robin was an early bird by nature. Normally, he would be inside, training, researching the whereabouts and flaws of current villains, and generally being an overachiever. Today was different because he was expecting a visitor. Aqualad said he'd be there today, so Robin decided to keep an eye out for him. He needed to see him before the other Titans, especially Raven, as he hadn't exactly told anyone that the Atlantian was coming. The Boy Wonder knew that Raven would refuse help if he offered beforehand, but if Aqualad just showed up, she wouldn't turn him away. In fact, judging by the last time the two met, she would be quite pleased to see him. It was a brilliant plan, if he did say so himself. However, waiting for him was incredibly dull. He scanned the horizon for the umpteenth time. Nothing – no, wait, there he is! Robin ran down to greet him.

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Her dreams were troubled. The empath had fallen asleep that night, due to sheer exhaustion, but the Pool Incident lingered in her mind, adding a visual to her dreams. Now the mocking voice was accompanied by the moments when she was swallowed by water, playing on repeat all night long. Due to Murphy's Law, Raven was unable to awaken until midmorning, far later than usual. Physically refreshed but emotionally drained, she left her room in search of the elusive herbal tea. Her goal was in sight when Robin appeared, blocking her way. He had been waiting, all sneaky-like, for her to arrive so he could tell her the news.

"Morning Rae," he said casually, standing so that she could not get past him, "I was wondering when you'd get up."

She stared at him in a way that would have made Beast Boy run away screaming. Fortunately, the leader of the Titans was nothing like Beast Boy.

"How touching," Raven drawled.

"Just for you," he smirked. "But really, I do have something that I'd like to discuss with you."

Her foot was tapping restlessly. "Can it wait?"
"Actually, no. It's about yesterday."

"I told you I'm fine. What do you need, a doctor's note?"

Robin took on a more serious tone. "Raven, we both know it was more than that. I haven't seen you that afraid since before your father's defeat. It doesn't take Batman to figure out that you're afraid of water."

The teen's lips tightened into a thin line. "Everyone has a little thing that bothers them, Robin. Why can't you just leave it at that?"

"Because it's more than a little thing. And that's why I brought someone in to help."

"I do not need –" Raven became speechless when Aqualad appeared, coming out of the kitchen, behind Robin.

He waved. "Hi Raven," he said, not noticing the look of shock and adoration in her eyes. Robin grinned. "I told him about your water 'issues.' He agreed to come and help."

All thoughts of herbal tea vanished from the empath's mind. Struggling to remain composed, she replied, "I suppose it could work.

But for that moment, she honestly didn't care whether it did or not, as long as the gorgeous Titan was with her. She was starting to like the ocean already …

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