Things were calming down some. Raven was able to scoot about a half-foot away from Starfire and Starfire was too focused in on the movie to care.

Then, "Hey guys were back with the groceries!" yelled a happy Cyborg who just kicked open the door with several huge plastics bags in each hand, "meaning we will be eating bacon, eggs, sausage, butter, and grease for breakfast!"

A sulking Beast Boy soon followed him up, "Man, this is so not cool!" drumming in as an octopus trying not to touch anything inside the bags he was carrying 3 feet above his head.

Next came Robin, looking very exhausted, "Calm down Beast Boy, you get to pick what you want next week, remember?" while plopping himself down on the nearest seat to the door, "But seriously, how much more bickering do you think you two could have done? Just because the people with the online money pool really want to know," Robin managed to splay sarcastically, obviously beat from trying to stop World War III from starting up at Wal-Mart.

"Greetings Friends!" shrieked the thoughtful Tamaranian, quickly finding herself attached to the nearest person, unfortunately for Beast Boy. "AHHH! Star, you're making me touch dead animals!" squirming to be able to breath and not touch the meat within the thin plastic.

She let go but was soon backtracking to her seat so not to miss anything. "What's up with her," Cyborg asked Raven. "She found a girl movie and now she's so far gone that I'm almost surprised she even got up to meet you."

He raised his eyebrow, "Raven was surprised?" "Almost," she retorted icily.

Cyborg raises his hands in mock defense as Raven continues to glare at him.

"I'm going up-stairs to take a shower," Robin broke in, "see you all later," waving his hand as he headed towards the door.

"Gotcha, I'm going down to the garage. You two enjoy the movie," Cyborg tossed to Raven and Starfire.

"Seeya," Raven muttered while turning her attention to Star.


The movie was getting close to the climax and everything was really tensed, leaving Starfire to nearly bite her finger off. Raven couldn't help but stare. God, she looks so beautiful. Sitting so serenely yet so spellbound. How I want to pull her into a deep, deep… umm, embrace…okay, come back to Earth Raven.

Raven was pulled out of her gaze when she heard Starfire gasp. She glances over to see what Starfire was so shocked and still intently watching. To her amazement, on the screen was a hott sex scene in progress, scrapping shots of naked body parts and faces flushed with moans of pleasure.

Raven blushed a strong crimson and quickly grabbed the remote to speed through that 'part'. Starfire was glaring at the screen, eyes wide in… well surprise for one.

Without turning her eyes, "Raven, what j-just happened?"

"Apparently that's why it was rated 'R', Star," Raven crisply replied.

Starfire, still flabbergasted (ha! I got to say flabbergasted!) gawked, "I've never seen anything so…carnal," carnal having a certain emphasis, "Does that act not hurt?" facing Raven after saying the last two words, apparently thinking she would have an answer.

Raven just stared at her for a few seconds, picking her words carefully, "It usually only hurts the first time, then it feels really good."

"Raven. Have you…." Not able to bring herself to say a name.

"Yes, Star," not at all ashamed. Starfire gave a small gasp. "I am a half-demon, and…I have done things that wouldn't be considered to be something good guys would do. When I let my emotions take control of me…I also give in and let them suggest certain things for me to do."

"These things that they made you do, did you not feel remorse after doing so?" Starfire seeming very puzzled with a quizzical look on her face.

"They didn't make me do it, they gave me ideas and I went along," turning her head down to the floor, "I felt no more guilt than any other human after doing something they know they shouldn't have, but, after time, I've come to accept it," looking Starfire straight in the eye, "and now I regret nothing." Being said almost with an air of hostility Almost.

"I see."…"Raven?"

"Yes." Raven's eyes' glistening with a look of rejection. "I understand," pulling a hand to her friend's thigh, "Do you wish to continue on to something else?" Starfire asked, aware of her friend's unease and to show her sympathy towards the subject.

Raven nodded.


Star began floating to the middle of the room. Apparently trapped in deep thought… "I KNOW!"

She flew by Raven who was sitting on the couch and grabbed her arm as she was picking up speed.

"Ah! Star, where are we going?" once Raven had finished asking they had already flown up two flights of stairs and out a window.

"We're going to see Jinx!"

"JINX? Why are we…wait how do you now where she lives? What…Starfire?"

by now they had flown into the city, Raven still being dragged by her arm over the warehouses until there were passing over some apartment complexes.

"Here!" Starfire stopped as abruptly as she started nearly flinging Raven into a broken window of an old apartment complex that looked abandoned.

"Starfire what are we doing here?"

"I usually come here to play box of X's with Jinx on the day of the fries. She is very accommodating and I thought you would enjoy some time here to relax."

Starfire had just knocked on the door with her last syllable all the while smiling sweetly at Raven.

"Starfire! It's so good to see you!" Jinx jumped out of the doorway into a leaping hug on Starfire. "Yes friend Jinx it is indeed very joyous to see you as well. I brought friend Raven to visit!"

Jinx looked skeptically at Raven, eyeing her up and down. "Starfire are you sure…"

"Oh there is no need for worry. Raven is most reliable."

"Good enough for me," Jinx put her hand towards Raven, "You fight well, even scratched up my clothes in that last jail break. Mind showing me some of those moves some time? Oh! I almost forgot!"

Jinx ran inside and yelled back, "Come on in and makes yourselves at home."

Raven and Starfire walked inside and Starfire took a seat down on a purple coach as Raven just stood next to a counter top. As bad as it looked from the outside it was actually a pretty well kept house.

"Here," Jinx floated into the room from a door down one of two halls, "you left your necklace last time you were here."

"Oh, thank-you Jinx. I was up the last two nights looking for it," Starfire said as she flew in and gave Jinx a choking hug before taking back a silver chain necklace with a hex pendant.

"Isn't it beautiful, Raven? Jinx made it for me, it's supposed to keep away bad magic."

"Does it work," Raven asked dryly raising an eyebrow.

"Sure does, I made it myself and hexes are my specialty. If it doesn't work then someone's cut the line in the middle there. That's the one that holds the necklace together," Raven kept her cynical expression, "go ahead and see for yourself," Jinx tossed the necklace to Raven.

Raven tried to capture it with her powers but it wouldn't pick up on the necklace. Raven jumped to the side before it could touch her. "You're right, I'd keep that in hand Starfire, it's a good piece."

"Why thank-you Raven, I'm glad I could impress such a strong demoness as yourself," Jinx said while mock bowing. "Hey, any of you want a soda?"

"I'd be most grateful Jinx. Raven do you wish for a beverage of caffeine and sugar?"

"Sure, I'm a little thirsty anyway," damn, that thing really works. It would have burned like hell if it touched me. …is Jinx the one Star was talking about?

Raven breathed in sharply. Jinx stopped and flew straight toward Raven grabbing her arm and pulling up her sleeve. "Shit, that magic contact burned you," Jinx grabbed a sharp wood carving knife and cut a straight line down a purple and red figure eight looking apparition glowing on Ravens forearm. Raven just looked away at the opposite wall.

"There," Jinx said as she finished up and rapped up the incisions with a medical bandage, "It'll take a little while to heal because the magic will have intercepted your healing powers. Sorry about that."

"I've had worse happen. You're not bad at this though, but I could have done it myself when I got home."

"Sorry, I just thought it better to take care of it now."

"So everything is okay, Raven is not harmed? Are you okay Raven?"

"Yes Starfire I'm fine, like I said I've had worse purifying charms put on me."

Jinx raised her eyebrow at Raven for a second. "I guess that's to be expected, huh?"

"Jinx can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure Raven. Star help yourself to the TV, remotes where you left it."

Raven's lip twitched.

Jinx led the way to a room off in one of the halls, apparently a guest room with only a bed and a dresser. "What's up Raven?"

"What are you trying to do with Starfire? Who do you think you are to come here and take…" Raven stopped mid sentence, barely keeping her monotone façade.

"Raven I think you've misread something here. Starfire's my friend and I'm not playing her. Why would you care if I was after her anyway? Are you?"

"No, Starfire's like my sister. I'm looking out for her. That's ALL."

"She's open Ravy. Go for her. And lighten up a little, huh? After all, it's not like she doesn't want you."

"What?" Raven spun on her heel, shock wiping over her face.

"She like's you Ravy. She's told me so herself. I told her not to tell you because I thought you'd hurt her by rejecting her like everyone else on this planet. Raven, don't hurt her." Jinx was staring right at her with the consequences of such an act obvious.

"Jinx!" shortly followed by a spastic scream.

Raven twitched as the two hurried to see what had happened only to find the disheveled alien girl bent over the couch's arm with her feet in the air. Jinx started laughing convulsively as Starfire let out an exasperated sigh.

"I wish you would just inform me how this mechinised lever controls the place of sitting so I would not fly into the ground every time I touch it!" exclaimed Starfire.

Raven started to giggle mutedly realising that not only has this happened before but that Starfire's bewilderment of something as mundane as a reclining chair never ceases to make her smile inwardly. Jinx helped Starfire back up to the couch while Raven sat herself precariously close to the same spot.

Why does Jinx being a friend of her's bother me so much? Can I really see her as that much of a threat?

"Is everything alright, friend Raven?"

"I'm fine, Star."

After helping Starfire, Jinx had gone back to get the sodas from before and was presently placing them on a center table.

"Hope you don't mind generic," she said towards Raven, "as you can guess, I don't have much to live off of."

Never crossed my mind with you being a two-bit theif and all...wow, that was harsh.

"I grew up on the streets, it makes no difference to me."

"You too, huh?"

"What is this 'streets' where the growing up act had taken place?"

"It's a phrase for not having a home," Raven answered.

"It adds personality," Jinx beamed with a quirky optimism.

Starfire still remained confused but decided to let the answer suffice. Raven snapped her soda tab off and took a quick drink while Starfire and Jinx begain talking about childhood games, Jinx stating that her favorite was hopscotch and Starfire's being something called cklarvesclo that involved what sounded like very sharp spearheads tied to the ends of a some animal's body.

"Raven, are you ready to go back? The boys will be having dinner soon," Starfire said as their conversation began to die down.

"Yea, Star. Let's go."

"Goodbye, friend Jinx. I shall see you on the day of the fries?"

"Of course! Oh, and don't forget to bring chips!"

Jinx stared at Raven while Starfire floated out the door. Raven mouthed toward after her, "I won't", and walked out with her.