Part 21: Romancing for Venus

"Speedy!" Venus yelled, "For the last time I am, and repeat, not interested in going on a date with you! And that goes for you too Aqualad!" she stomped back to her and Moon's room.

"This is all your fault!" Both Speedy and Aqualad yelled at each other before brawling.

Venus stepped into the room she shared with Moon. It had been the two female Knights' suggestion to conserve space and that the two girls were more used to sharing a room than staying in separate ones. She sighed as she sat at her desk and opened up a photo album. On the cover, written in gold, were the words 'Happy Memories'. She smiled, reminiscing, as she looked at the photographs. There was Pluto, Shadow, Moon, Draco and herself in their civilian forms. There was also another boy in the pictures with them that had short black hair and very melancholy looking eyes dressed in a dark pink shirt and yellow pants. She began to tear up, "Tazuka-kun…"

Moon, her roommate and best friend, walked into the room carrying two bouquets of red roses. Outside, the sounds of two Spanish speaking speedsters brawling in the hallways could be heard as they spat rapid fire Spanish at one another. Venus saw her, "Hey, Moon."

"Hey to you too, V," Moon then noticed the look on Venus' face. Even with that mask on, it still couldn't hide the tears. She saw the album and shook her head, frowning, "You still miss him, don't you?" Venus nodded. Moon sighed, "I thought that you've moved on. It's only been 4 months since he died and knowing him, I doubt he wanted to see you upset."

"I know," Venus wiped the tear out of the corner of her eye. "But I can't help it. Naming myself after the Roman Goddess of Love, I kind of have to fit the part." She sniffled.

"You don't have to, you know," Moon approached her friend and placed the bouquets on the table and then with super speed pulled up a chair from her desk and sat down on it next to Venus. Venus noticed the bouquets.

"Mas Y Menos again, huh?"

"What can I say?" Moon flipped her green hair back, "I'm pretty."

"And that you're a speedster like them." Venus added. "Every time those 2 get into any kind of trouble, you can keep up with them and more."

"I really do enjoy babysitting them and they like me."

"It's called a crush, Moon."

"Anyway, I heard that Speedy tried to ask you out again. Is that true?" Moon asked.

Megami answered, "Only after I turned down Aqualad for a date with him." They heard the sound of arguing outside.

"SISSY BOY!" Speedy shouted.

"FISH KILLER!" Aqualad shouted back.

Mas Y Menos were screaming at each other in Spanish.

"CAN'T YOU GUYS JUST SHUT UP? I CAN'T WORK LIKE THIS!" Bumblebee yelled. There was a crash. "THAT'S IT! I'M TAKING OUT THE STINGERS!"

ZAAAAPPPPPPPP!

Moon and Venus sighed.

"Do you still think it was a good idea to join Titans East?" Moon asked her best friend.

"I'm starting to wonder that too, Megami," Venus shook her head. She closed the album and sighed sadly. "When will I ever find a guy right for me? A guy who'd listen and not just talk and talk and talk about how great he is." She slammed her forehead on the table with a thump.

"Well, you named yourself after the Goddess of Love, maybe you should go out looking," Moon suggested.

The door slid open and Bumblebee went in, looking slightly irritated. The large popping vein in her forehead was a heavy indication of that. She soon calmed down. "Hey girls."

"Hey Bee," the two female Knights greeted.

Bumblebee then asked, "Say, why don't we all go out on the town? Just us girls? What do ya say?"

Moon and Venus looked at each other and shrugged.

"Better than staying here doing nothing, Bee. Count me in," Moon stood up and turned to Venus. "How about you?"

"Why not?" Venus placed the album into the drawer and locked it after closing it. "Got nothing better to do."

Bumblebee clapped, "Alright! Girl's Night Out it is!" she smiled. Both Moon and Venus beamed.

Steel City.

The girls were now clad in civilian clothes (I'll let you decide what they're wearing) It was a warm summer night and a lot of hang outs were open for business. They were in Steel City and something caught Megami's attention.

"How's about we drop by the arcade?" Megami suggested, pointing at the place.

Eri and Bee shook their heads, "Pass."

"Why not?" Megami pouted.

"Megami," Eri began, "The last time we went there, you spent 6 hours on the DDR machine and we had to drag you out kicking and screaming."

"We do not want a repeat of that incident, girlfriend," Bee added.

Megami groaned, "Fine."

Bee tapped her chin, "Well, I did hear about this nightclub downtown and it's Ladies Night tonight so we can get in free." She grinned, "And Eri here might find the guy of her dreams."

Eri narrowed her eyes, "Was this an elaborate plan to fix me up with someone?" She glared at her two friends and teammates.

Bee and Megami rolled their eyes innocently, "Maybe…"

Eri sighed. "Fine." She then threatened, "But be warned that if this gets all messed up, I'm taking it out on your hides."

"Okay, okay," Megami raised her hands. "Sheesh," she rolled her eyes, "What a drama queen."

"I agree, girl," Bee nodded.

The girls arrived at the nightclub after several minutes of walking. After flashing their ID cards, the bouncer allowed them in.

In the club, or more specifically, in the middle of the dance floor, were girls all dancing to the loud and funky beat. Megami smiled and began shaking her body while Bee and Venus just stared, frightened.

"Oh no…" Bee groaned, realizing her fault.

"You just had to bring her here, didn't you?" Eri told Bee. "You know that music has this affect on her."

"I do now…"

"LET'S DANCE, PARTY AND HAVE FUN! WOOHOO!" Megami whooped before pulling her friends with her and with super speed got them on the dance floor.

"Are you crazy!" Eri whispered into Megami's ear. "You can't use your powers so publicly like that!"

"Why not?" Megami twirled and gyrated her hips, dancing. "We do it all the time."

"In costume!" Bee reminded. "Luckily no one saw us coz you were just a blur when you run. Try to be more careful."

"Okay, okay." Megami rolled her eyes, "Lighten up, will you?"

"And this is that Shadow guy's OLDER sister?" Bee whispered into Eri's ear.

"Hard to believe but yes," Eri replied. "I guess he got all the maturity genes in him."

Meanwhile, at the bar, were two blond boys. These were Grant and Joey Wilson. Grant had downed a glass of soda and watched as the girls danced.

"I can't believe we had to pay a cover charge!" Grant complained. "Why don't the girls have to pay?"

((I think it was due to the fact that it was Ladies' Night tonight, Grant.)) Joey, his younger and telepathic mute brother reminded. ((Just be grateful that the bouncer even let us in after that crack you made involving his mother, consummation and an ape.))

Grant waved his hand dismissingly and rolled his eyes, "Yeah…yeah…" he then noticed the Titan East girls. "Hey, Joey! Check it out! Hot booty!"

((Grant…)) Joey warned.

"That green haired girl is kinda cute and so is that black chick with buns in her hair. Kinda looks familiar though. Where have I seen them before?" Grant scratched his head.

Joey mentally slapped himself in the forehead. His brother was behaving like an over chauvinistic pig. He had seen Grant's attempt at flirting and they did work, 1 or 2 out of ten times at least. He took a sip out of a raspberry Coke before he spat it out.

Before him was a vision of true beauty.

Before him was an angel.

No, angel did not do wonders to compare to her beauty.

She was a goddess.

Joey was staring right at Eri who was dancing with her friends and enjoying herself as well. Grant noticed this and snickered. ((What?))

"Well, well," Grant grinned, "It seems that you have your eyes set on the Japanese girl with the short dark hair."

((I do not!)) Joey blushed.

"I know this stuff, little bro, trust me." He coaxed, "Come on. Ask her to dance." Joey raised an eyebrow. "What?"

((Grant…how am I supposed to do that when I can't even talk?))

"Okay…and talking to her telepathically may just freak her out."

((No, ya think?)) Joey answered sarcastically.

"Okay then," Grant stood up and cracked his neck and knuckles.

((What are you doing?)) Joey asked but was dreading the answer as if he knew.

"I'm gonna ask her myself after I ask that cute green haired girl to dance."

((GRANT!)) Joey screamed mentally and blushed. ((Don't even try it…)) he growled.

"Aw, come on, little brother. I'm doing you a favor here," Grant smiled. "Sides, as your big brother, it's my job to look out for you."

((SURE…)) Joey rolled his eyes. You can't even look out for yourself every time you tick Kat off.

"Just watch the master," Grant grinned confidently and walked towards the girls, who had sat down in a nearby booth to rest and get drinks.

"That was GREAT!" Megami giggled.

"I have to agree with you on that girl!" Bee smiled.

Eri shrugged, "I guess it was okay…" Megami and Bee groaned.

"Girl," Bee began, "We need to get you out of your funk."

"I just don't feel like, I don't know, having fun or something," Eri frowned.

Megami eyes sparkled, "Ooh! Ooh!" she shook Bee's arm.

"What?" Bee asked.

"There's this really cute guy and he's coming this way!" Megami bounced in her seat.

"Megami!" Bee scolded, "Control yourself!"

"It's no use," Eri told her. "When she's boy crazy like this there's little anyone can do."

Grant approached Megami and smiled his most charming smile. He began to ask, "Would you like to da-" but he was unable to finish as Megami grabbed his arm and dragged him onto the dance floor.

"YES!" she squealed, nodding rapidly.

"Oh boy…" Bee groaned.

"Told you," Eri said a matter-of-factly. She then noticed Joey staring at her and then he hid his face from behind a magazine. She nudged Bee with an elbow. "Bee? Do you see that guy?"

"What guy?" Bee asked.

"That guy at the bar with the curly blond hair and the magazine."

"That guy?" Bee pointed. Eri nodded. "What about him?"

"I think he was looking at me."

"So?"

"I'm gonna go talk to him." Eri stood up and made her way towards the bar. Bee smiled.

"Looks like the girl just got herself out of her own funk!"

Joey was pretending to read the magazine. Okay, I'm alone at a bar in a night club and Grant's off dancing with some girl. He sighed. I'm never gonna find anyone. Who'd want a mute boyfriend anyway? He took another sip of his drink.

"Hey," Eri said as she sat down on the stool next to his. Joey did a spit take and then stared at Eri with wide eyes. "I saw you looking at me."

Joey didn't know what to sign right now as his fingers were frozen. Plus, he couldn't reveal his telepathic abilities by speaking into her mind. He took a deep gulp and raised his hands, attempting to sign "Hi." Eri saw this and gasped, realizing.

"So, you're mute huh?" Eri asked. Joey nodded. Eri smiled, "Don't worry. I can understand sign language." This relaxed Joey, but only by a bit. "What's your name?"

Joey used his hands and did the sign for his name.

"Joey, huh?" Megami smiled, "That's a nice name." Joey felt his cheeks burning and his hands were moving about, signing gibberish. "Okay! Okay! Calm down! Take it easy, kay?" Joey took a deep breath and relaxed. "Better?" she asked. He nodded. "Good." She introduced herself. "My name is Erika Takada, but my friends call me Eri."

Takada? Where have I heard that name before? Joey thought. He mentally shrugged, thinking it wasn't important.

Eri then asked, "So, are you here with someone or are you alone?"

Joey looked from the corner of his eyes to see Grant dancing with Megami. He then signed, Alone.

Eri told him, "Well I'm with my friends." She then asked, "Wanna dance?" Joey's eyes widened and then he tensed up. Eri realized, "You can't dance, can you?" he nodded. She took his hand and his face flushed red. "Come on! It's easy! I'll show you!" she didn't even wait for him to protest before taking him into the crowd of dancing teens. Grant saw this and grinned.

Bee soon joined into the crowd, dancing with a large African American male that just asked her to dance.

Later, back at Titans East Tower, the girls entered the living room, completely spent but satisfied. Moon ran quickly into her room, giggling, after saying goodbye to her friends. Bumblebee said goodnight as well and turned in for the night. Venus waved and then reached into her pocket, pulling out a paper napkin with a phone number on it. She smiled.

Meanwhile, Joey was in his room and looking at the paper napkin with a phone number on it too. He sighed and kept it securely under his bed.

This had been a good night but will this turn into a case of star crossed lovers?

To Be Continued…

I decided to write a fic about Moon and Venus since they didn't get much screen time since the whole Super Supermodels arc. Anyway, Looks like a hero and villain are falling for each other. Ok, I know that in the comics that Joey/Jericho was good but this is my fic and I can do whatever I want with it.

So, the Titans East thing will be like a side story if sorts. If you want to suggest anything, don't be too scared to put it up in your reviews or e-mail me. Sayonara…