A Kiss Is Still A Kiss

Story 2: Tactic

"You're about as annoying as Beast Boy is when he wants something from me."

"Am not!"

"Are too!" Raven shot back at the red-head who had folded his arms and started scowling at her. The girl closed her eyes and rubbed her temples in annoyance and fatigue. Speedy was indeed acting like a child and it was seriously starting to get to her.

The girl could just feel the steam blowing out of her ears as she glared at the terribly persistent boy. He'd been pestering her ever since he got here with that one stupid question. He knew that she hated parties and balls and all these social get-togethers.

So why you ask, did Speedy want to ask Raven to the opening party of Steel City's modern art museum? Well, the answer is actually quite simple; they were what you would technically call dating. Well that's what Speedy called it anyway. Raven thought it was more like 'something more than just friendship.' But at times even those words felt like lies.

"But Rae, I have no one else to go with!" the boy complained, his hands open in front of him.

"Why do you need to go with anyone at all?"

An exasperated look came over the boy's features. "Hello? The mayor invited me and my 'partner'," he gestured inverted commas with his fingers, "to go and by 'partner' I think he means you."

Violet eyes narrowed. "Take Aqualad."

"He's a guy!" he exclaimed with a slight look of horror.

Raven gave him a look and folded her arms. "So?"

"So, I don't know, maybe I'm straight?" Sarcasm dripped on every one of his words and for a split second, the girl was quite impressed. "Besides, the whole team is going and he's taking some girl he met at a bookstore."

"I'm still not going." With that, she walked away from him into the kitchen where she started making herself a cup of hot tea, leaving an annoyed Speedy to storm after her, groaning at her stubbornness.

"What's the big deal anyway? It's not like we're gonna have to wear formal stuff!" She sent him a raised brow as an answer and he rolled his eyes behind his mask and said quickly, "Ok so maybe we are, but hey at least it's not some Victorian fancy dress party or anything."

The sorceress considered this and cocked her head from side to side. She did feel a little guilty about turning him down. After all, he had driven all the way from Steel City just to come and ask her. Why he didn't just call her on the T-com, she had no idea but the gesture was still sweet.

But then the reminder of how much she hated dressing up came back to mind and she shook her head. "It could have been a Halloween party and I still wouldn't go." She took a sip of her tea and then asked, "Why don't you just not go?"

"Does the word 'mayor' mean anything to you? MAYOR! As in the important person who looks after the city and whatnot and will probably have my head – or my mask – if I don't go." He gestured wildly with his hands and the dark haired girl had to crack a grin at that.

"I don't think the mayor takes these things that seriously. Besides," she tucked a strand of violet hair behind her ear, "he'll probably be so busy with everyone else that he won't notice your absence."

The red-head opened his mouth to say something then paused and looked at her with a frown. "Was that meant to be an insult?"

Violet eyes rolled in exasperation. "You are so dramatic."

The boy folded his arms and snorted, "Look who's talking."

A dark brow rose in question. "What's that supposed to mean?"

The boy fixed her with a square look. "You think parties are evil just because they ask you to dress up."

"That's not true. I just think they're a hassle. Not to mention a waste of time." She uttered the last part under her breath and the boy sighed in defeat.

"Well maybe if you just tried, you'd have fun!"

"I don't do fun."

He smirked. "Sure you do, we do it all the time."

She whirled around eyes wide and a slight blush evident on her cheeks. "Speedy!"

"What? It's true!"

"Well if you keep this up it won't be anymore," she said in a dangerously low tone and from that, Speedy got the hint to back off and he exhaled in defeat.

"You know what? Fine, don't go." His tone was tired and deflated and a flicker of guilt crossed Raven's features as he turned to go and the girl bit her lip and she too, turned around and away from him.

"I guess I'll just ask Alison to go with me."

The words that spilled from his lips made her freeze in her depart and she whispered lowly, "What did you say?"

A slow, calculative grin grew on his lips as he continued to walk away. "Oh nothing, I just said I'd take Alison. You remember her."

"Indeed I do," were the girl's dark thoughts. Alison had been Speedy's former girlfriend and she did not like that brunette one bit. "I swear, if you take her-"

"I bumped into her the other day actually. She looked pretty happy to see me."

"Oh I'm sure she did."

"Maybe I should give her a call now…"

Raven heard the sound of him sliding his T-com of his belt and her eyes narrowed dangerously as he continued to walk away from her. Spinning around with death written all over her face, violet eyes flashed dangerously and she stormed up to him, yanking the T-com from his hands and pulling him around to face her.

The girl reached up and took a firm hold of his collar, pulling him down and planting one hard, angry kiss right onto his lips. Eyes widening behind the mask, the boy just stood there lamely, shocked by the girl's actions. Pulling apart roughly, she glared up at him and hissed warningly,

"If you ever pull a stunt like that again, you'll have more than hell to pay."

She let him go and took a step back. "You can pick me up at five. But don't expect me to be so willing next time." Turning around, she hid the smirk on her lips and threw his communicator over her shoulder which he caught after clumsily stumbling a little.

Still stunned, he watched her disappear around the corner, a small goofy smile tugging his lips. "Now that's tactic."

End

A/N: And here's the second instalment. I hope you guys like it. And thanks to all of you who reviewed last time  As you probably already know, this story's theme was jealousy so I decided to have a bit of fun and see what Raven would be like when jealous. I actually really like the way this turned out so if you guys feel the same way (or if you don't) please tell me so in a nice little REVIEW!! And constructive criticism is always welcome so please tell me what you think!

Peace out!
Rex