Pulling up next to the T-car at some place that Jake didn't have a clue about. Sliding off, Raven waited for Jake. The R-cycle came up beside them with Robin driving and looking quite comfortable with Starfire's arms wrapped around him.
"Alright ya'll, time to party!" yelled Cyborg with his arm around Jinx.
Smiling Beast Boy had his arm was around Terra's waist. Having no clue, Terra, Jinx, and Jake just shrugged at each other. Walking passed the 'Self Preservation Society' arriving soon sign, they stepped inside not believing what they walked into. A karaoke bar/restaurant and it was karaoke night.
"Alright you, three," said Cyborg, "We are here to have a good time, but first, you got to get up and sing."
"Sounds fun," said Terra while Jinx and Jake stared in bewilderment.
"You have got to be shitting me," said Jinx while Jake twitched.
Terra went first. Still in shock, Jake didn't know what she sang. It was a five minutes song and Terra got a large applause and he couldn't recall it. Jinx's turn.
"Fine," she said grabbing Cyborg, "but your singing with me. Unless you want to be single again."
Laughter followed as his fear set in, Grabbing her hand, together rushed towards the stage.
"How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down, into my core," drifted hauntingly from Jinx's mouth.
"Wake me up inside" blasted from Cyborg.
Five minutes of Cyborg and Jinx performance. Cyborg managed to sing all of the right parts.
Now all eyes were on Jake.
Sighing, "Fine, just so I don't have to listen to you guys complain," getting up, "but this does not mean I'm a Titan."
Grabbing the mike, "Where the last two performers were into the more energetic sounds, I've got something a bit less heard. During this song, remember what you have lost, and cherish what you have. Here is Nickelback's, Good Times Gone."
Strumming guitar haunting electronic sound leading to;
"Lost in the Chesterfield
Or maybe on a gambling wheel
Lost in it a diamond mine
It's dark as hell and hard to find
Well you can climb to the top of the highest tree
You can look around but you still won't see
What I'm looking for
Where the good times gone
Where the good times gone
All the stupid fun and all that shit we've done
Where the good times gone
Well I still don't know," watching everyone.
Couples pulling each other closer, as if afraid to lose them. The Titans, the only other people who truly felt loss, listening, and thinking of their lives, past and present.
"Out in the back of the old cornfield
Underneath the tractor wheel
Thought I'd dig till I found it first
Broke my back and died of thirst
Well you can bribe the devil, you can pray to God
You can sell off everything you've got
And you still won't know
Where the good times gone
Where the good times gone
All that stupid fun and all the shit we've done
Where the good times gone
And you still don't know,"
Something dawning in Raven eyes which caused Jake to smile and she smiled back.
"Saw it on the silver screen
Preacher says "Don't know what it means"
Last page ad in a comic book
Bought me a map, told me where to look
It ain't carved of stone or made of wood
And if you par for it then it ain't no good
And you still wont know
What I'm looking for
Where the good times gone
Where the good times gone
All that stupid fun and all the shit we've done
Where the good times gone,"
Sitting back down at the table, he noticed the Titans were staring at him.
"What, it's a good song," he replied.
"I admit, I was touched," remarked Raven.
A waitress came up, "now that your new friends performed, would anyone like to order a drink?"
"Root beer," from Cyborg.
"Diet cola," Jinx and Terra.
"Regular coke," BB and Robin.
"Mustard," Star.
Jake stared at Star for a moment.
Shaking his head, "Coke, light on the ice please."
"Herbal tea," Raven.
Looking at Raven, "So, this is the reason you were acting so weird earlier?"
Grinning, "Part of it, the rest will come later."
"I can't wait," giving her a kiss on the cheek.
They had dinner. Small talk and listening to the performers on stage that sang everything from Garth Brooks to the worst rap that haven't been produced by the record company pass the time. The others danced while Raven and Jake sat.
Watching the others, "Mind if I ask you something about the other day?"
Her attention on him.
"Why did you help revive Terra? I didn't even know that you knew alchemy. From the way you acted around Beast Boy, I thought you would have wanted to be with him."
Blushing at mention of Beast Boy, "When you freed my emotions, I approached him with my feelings," she answered, "He was shocked at first, which didn't surprise me. But he told me right there that I was more of a sister in his eyes. And when you and the Elirc brothers were trying, but started losing her. I saw the hope fade in his eyes. So I stepped in to give him some happiness. And as in the way of alchemy," lost in thought like she trying to recount something, "I don't know it. All I did was focus my magic into it, hoping that it would add the extra power that you needed. I'm just happy that I was right," smiling.
Smiling back, he pulled her close.
"And I'm happy for the fact I can hold you close, my angel."
Recoiling a bit, "Angel? But I'm part demon, how can you…"
Putting his fingers on her lips, "Even a dark soul can be an angel to a few, " he spoke softly to her, "And you, fair Raven, are my angel, not matter what happens."
She smiled. Leaning into kiss, "Ahem," stopping them. Looking up, they found everyone standing there.
Leaning forward, "If you're done putting the moves on our Raven," remarked Cyborg "we need to pay the bill and get out of here," pointing over his back towards the waitress.
Standing beside her were Terra and Jinx wearing aprons with a pissed look.
Smiling, "And since you three or any other new people in the group," replied Robin, "you guys get to pay off this," tossing a piece of paper onto the table.
Picking it, Jake saw a five hundred dollar bill.
Looking at him, "A hundred I can stand, but five," said Jake, "we didn't get all that much."
"We buy the drinks and food for everyone else," said Raven with the largest grin on her face, "when we come with new people,"
Looking at her, then the other Titans, then back at her, "I would hate you if I didn't love you."
Her grin just grew bigger. Surprising it didn't cause her cheeks to cramp .
Pulling out a small stack of bills, "Since I'm not a Titan, like I keep telling you people, I wouldn't be doing this," said Jake, "But since you did it to Terra and Jinx, I can't stand see them work off a large bill cause they're new," counting six hundred bills, "that should cover it," handing it over to the waitress.
Counting, "This is six hundred dollars here," she said causing all the Titans mouths to drop.
"And keep the change," causing the waitress to faint.
"How can you afford that?" asked Robin.
Taking a napkin and the waitress pen, Jake wrote, "I took out a level 5 demon before, that alone give me a bank account of $60,000,000. $600 is chump change," handing to him which caused him fainted.
Grabbing the napkin before anyone else could, "He can tell you when he wakes up, but I don't want to drag all of you home," turning to Terra and Jinx, "You gals can take those off now," shaking them out of the daze they were in.
Ripping off the aprons as if they were going to eat them alive, they smiled at him turning to their respective boyfriends. Sticking their tongues out at them, they walked towards the door. Taking a half full water glass off a nearby table, Jake emptied the glass onto Robin's face awaking him up startled.
"Come on, boy blunder," Jake said, "let's head home."
Nodding, he stood up.
"Did you really make that much on one demon?" asked Robin.
Jake nodded causing Robin stumbled a bit more.
Shaking his head, they walked outside. A once was a bustling parking lot had only three vehicles beside ours.
"What time is it?" Jake asked, "I thought we just got here a half hour ago?"
Looking at the clock on his arm, "It is two in the morning," remarked Cyborg, "wow, were leaving early for a change."
Shaking his head, "Let's just go home," offering his arm to Raven, "Coming?" .
Nodding, she waited for the others to load up in they're respective vehicles then headed back to the tower.
Placing his palms against her cheeks, her beauty unmatched. Kissing her forehead, his loyal warrior.
"Averaging husband, father comes. Go play your part."
Pushing the button on her gauntlet, she teleported away. Sensing his opponent nearing, he checked his wrist gauntlets.
"Nighthawk!" causing his eyes rest on Rath wearing purple combat armor.
"Keeping them under radar, that's why you're number one," noticing the unsheathed katana, "Rath this won't end like you think," beeping from Nighthawk's gauntlet.
Ion beam blasted Rath and Nighthawk.
Arriving back at the Tower, each guy escorted they're date to they're rooms.
Standing in front of Raven's room, "Truthfully, a karaoke bar is too lively for my taste," remarked Jake.
"Me, too."
"So maybe we should go out one night," with a slight grin, " just you and me?"
"And where may I ask," she asked folding her arms across her chest, "Where are you planning on taking me?"
Shrugging, "Where ever the pretty lady would like to go, it would be fine with me."
Leaning up, "Then be ready tomorrow," kissing him on the check,"and nothing fancy just the two of us out by ourselves."
Turning to kiss her lips, "I'll be ready by five, my sweet angel."
Stepping back, she shook her finger at him.
"Sorry, no kissing until the first date."
Smiling, she closed the door.
"Oohh, denied," came from three male voices causing Jake's attention onto Cyborg, Robin, and Beast Boys with grinning faces trying they're best not to laugh, and failing badly.
Shrugging heading towards his room, "At least someone didn't hook me up with my girlfriend like you guys."
Not paying attention to the angry arguments coming from behind him, he was off in his own world dreaming of tomorrow night.
Using his katana to brace himself, Rath watched Kirk Breed and his HDC soldiers had Nighthawk on his knees and handcuffing him.
"Demon hunter business, immortal," said Kirk.
Flipping Kirk the middle finger was Rath's answer. Getting blasted by Kirk's ES-pulsar rifle was Kirk's reply.
Unconsciousness claiming him, "I've been waiting to do that for years," from Kirk's mouth to Rath's ears.
