Practical Applications

For LillianaStone, My 100th Fan

Raven really wanted to be a good friend.

She really wanted to be encouraging, patient, understanding and kind to Elliot for the duration of this entire…thing. But honestly, he listening to music right across from him is making her entire resolve crumble. She didn't want to make a scene of forcing him to pay attention either. They were in the pizza joint they went to the first time they went out as civilians and once again, Raven had charmed her hair black but kept her eyes violet.

She wanted nothing more than to blast Elliot into a wall for ignoring her while she was teaching him. Instead, she settled for yanking the headphones out of his ears.

"Hey!" he protested throwing her a glare. "What was that for?"

"What was the last thing I said to you?" Raven asked him, fighting to keep her voice monotone.

He blinked at her.

"If you had been paying attention, you would have heard me say that in a life or death situation, everything has a practical application." Raven said. "From a pebble on the ground to something as obvious as a self-destruct button."

She reached into the small satchel she had borrowed from Starfire - the only one she had that was a dark enough shade of blue - to take out the props she had brought for today's lesson. When she looked up, Elliot had the earphones back in. Raven's mouth creased into a deep scowl and she yanked the chord, cutting off Elliot's music. He looked at her, annoyed.

"I honestly don't see what song is so interesting that you'd rather listen to it than me." Raven put the earphones in and nearly retched up the cup of tea she drank earlier. She flung the earphones back at Elliot, offended.

"That is what you listen to?"

Elliot shrugged. "I like it."

"That is the worst song I've ever heard."

"Hey, I don't insult your music." He said.

"That's because my music is enriching, inspiring, useful." Raven enunciated.

Elliot's mouth turned up in a mischievous grin. Raven knew that smile. Whatever was going to happen next would be painful. She hoped Elliot would feel the most pain.

"But Raven, I thought everything has a practical application." He said slyly.

"True." Raven said. "But that song would just ensure your death."

"I bet it won't."

Raven raised an eyebrow. "I don't bet." She said.

"C'mon Raven. It's just a harmless bet." Elliot coaxed. "If I'm able to find a practical application for this song, you have to spend a day with Midnight."

Raven scowled, she loathed that 'cat', but she knew a good opportunity when she saw one. "And if you're not, you have to…" She pondered for a moment then turned to Elliot with an evil twinkle in her eyes. "You have to let me teach you how to manipulate your magic into other forms besides teleportation."

Elliot frowned. He really didn't mind only being able to teleport; it was very handy. Nonetheless he nodded vigorously in agreement. "Prepare for some quality feline bonding." He said sliding out of his chair and racing out the door.

…

It didn't take him very long to find someone.

The girl was just passing by. She had her headphones on, bouncing her head up and down to the beat of the song, making her braided hair bounce too. Something about her seemed familiar, but he just couldn't place his finger on it. Elliot tapped her on her shoulder as she passed by. She turned to him, taking off her headphones.

"Hello." She said kindly. Her brown eyes were looking up at him. She was kind of short. "Can I help you?

"Yes, actually." Elliot said. He was using a new trick he had learned. Projecting his voice into her head as he moved his lips to mimic actual speech. By the look of things, she didn't seem to notice anything odd. "I just met you." He continued. "And this is crazy. But here's my number." He handed her a scrap of paper. "So call me maybe?"

The girl looked from the piece of paper in Elliot's hand, to his face, and back. She burst out laughing.

"Are you serious?" she asked. "Did you really just do that?"

Elliot smiled sheepishly and stuffed the paper back into his pocket. The girl stopped laughing and looked at him with remorse.

"Hey, I'm sorry." She said. "I'm not a fan of that song, even though it is catchy. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

"You didn't hurt my feelings." Elliot said shaking his head.

The girl pursed her lips, unconvinced. Then she smiled, small dimples creasing both her cheeks. "Tell you what. I actually will give you a call and maybe we can get some coffee?"

"As long as there's no sugar." Elliot said.

The girl nodded. "I'm Danica, by the way. Danica Black."

"Elliot Knight." He said with a smile.

…

Raven watched the exchange with a frown. She felt a bit of cruel pleasure when the girl burst out laughing, causing Elliot to look embarrassed. Now that they were talking animatedly, with lots of smiles going around, an ugly feeling Raven was unfamiliar with clenched her heart. She clenched her fists, trying to subdue the strange feeling.

"A frown doesn't belong on a pretty face like yours."

Raven's head snapped up. A boy with messy brown hair and eyes blocked by dark sunglasses stood at the side of her table. His hands were stuffed into his pockets and he had an easy smile plastered on his face. Raven's frown was replaced by a look of mild confusion. How had he managed to get so close without her noticing?

"That's better." He said. "How about a smile, though?"

Raven frowned again. "Do I know you?" she asked.

The boy chuckled deeply. "I would hope not, Sunshine."

"Don't call me Sunshine."

The boy smirked. "As long as you're out of the Tower – in disguise - does it really matter?"

Raven looked at him in shock. "How did – "

"Your eyes, Sugar Queen. They're a dead giveaway."

Raven narrowed her eyes at him. "If you've come for an autograph, those aren't my thing." she said.

"Of course not." The boy said as he sat on Elliot's seat, completely unfazed by Raven's glare. "Is it a crime to try and know more about my favorite Titan?" he asked with a cheeky grin.

"It is when she's on her day off." Raven bit.

The boy place a hand on his chest and leaned back in mock hurt. "That hurt, Sunshine."

Raven scowled. "What is it that you want, exactly?" she asked.

"Well, I – "

"Excuse me, that's my seat."

Raven nearly exhaled in relief. Sometimes Elliot had perfect timing.

"Of course." The boy said standing up. He winked at Raven. "Later, Doll face." He said as he left.

Elliot reclaimed his seat with an unsettled frown on his face. "Who was that?" he asked.

Raven brushed off his concern with a wave of her hand. "No one. What happened with you?" she asked.

Elliot grinned, the same grin Raven had seen far too many times and never ceased to be irritated by.

"Prepare yourself, Raven. You get to spend a day with Midnight."

/

Dear readers,

I know I owe you guys an explanation, so here it is.

I have been writing exams, which is why my updates have been painfully slow. My last paper is September 25th. After that, updates will be much more frequent.

For those of you who don't get how Elliot managed to talk, what happened is a bit like lip syncing. He would project his thoughts into the mind of the person he wants to talk to and move his lips accordingly. Pretty neat trick, huh?

Yay! We've finally reached 100 favorites, making this my most successful story yet! I couldn't have reached this milestone without you guys! Thanks a bunch!

Your author,

Psyche.