1Disclaimer: Same as last time....me don't own them. How depressing?
AN: Now this would be the second chapter huh? Who would of thought there'd be a second chapter?! Well you're in luck because I'm writing the third right after this one, so I won't run out of steam and I'll actually finish the story! Never thought I'd say that either.....enjoy!
Summary: Look at the last chapter to know what's happening.
Sometimes I find myself making love to my own misfortune
-Norma O. Abrego (food for thought)
The Christmas Spell
"Raven, we did the correct amounts of ingredients, did we not?" Starfire asked picking up the cauldron, now empty of all concoctions. After the mishap of earlier, the liquid had changed into a small handful of blue sparkles. Raven stood off to the side, using her telekinesis to straighten the room up. So far, all had gone well. None of the boys had run up to Star's room to wonder what had happened and nothing exploded.
"Yes, Starfire we did." She drawled out. The girl had been asking her as soon as they started to work on the room if what they had done was right. If Raven didn't know any better she would have thought Starfire had a list of things that could of gone wrong written done somewhere. She shook her head and flung the giant purple rabbit on to Starfire's bed.
"And we did not think of certain boys to make them fall in love with us?" Starfire continued. She lifted the caldron up to the other side of the vanity to hide it from plain sight.
"No we didn't."
"And we..."
"Starfire! Stop!" The orange tinted alien stopped startled. Never had Raven raised her voice to in that way. Raven looked at Star, eyes blazing with annoyance and took in a deep breath and held it for a few seconds slowly chanting inside of her mind. 'Azarath.....Metrion.....Zinthos...'
"I mean Starfire, that was probably part of the spell. The lights and display was telling us that it worked out fine. Don't worry over if the spell worked, worry over who your true love is." Raven explained, more calmly and monotone than before. She fixed her hood and closed her eye lids half way. Starfire merely nodded, her shock replaced with happiness.
"Alright friend Raven, if you say so then it must me true. Correct?" She clasped her hands in front of her chest again and Raven sighed. Sometimes it was a full days job to be friends with Starfire.
"Uhhh sure Star." She turned around to the alien's bed and grabbed the small tube full of the blue sparkles. As she turned around Raven could of swore she saw a face reflecting from said potion; and it wasn't her own.
"Starfire, the spell said to sprinkle the dust on to the tree on the Christmas Eve of Christmas. That's tomorrow. I will hold on to it in my room, we don't want anyone to find it. Is that alright with you?" She asked. It was rhetorical question. She teleported out the pink obsessed room and into her darker and draftier room.
"Home sweet home." The empath said as she crossed over to her bookcase and placed the small tube on to one of it's many shelves. Silently she stared at the dust, some could call fairy dust, and briefly wondered if she made a horrible mistake.
"I hope the consequences aren't as horrid as I feel they are." She whispered, her voice showing a rare tracing of emotion. "Hopefully Starfire gets who she wants, otherwise I can't imagine how many split tears there will be over this."
x T x T x
As soon as Raven had teleported from Starfire's room, the young bubbly alien flew at top speed down to the main room. Luckily the door's were on auto again.
The main room was decorated beyond anyone else's thoughts, ideas or imaginations. The ceiling was alive with dozens of lights that were strung about, the carpet was covered with tintsle colored of reds and greens, golds and slivers. Then in the center was a huge tree that just barely touch the top. The star took care of that. It was ablaze with a shimmering gold color, and the lights on the tree twinkled merrily. Thousands of ornaments decorated the tree and only added to its effect. Underneath, present were abound and wrapped colorfully.
Around the room, garland decorated the walls, and in two of the doorways mistletoe hung just waiting to catch someone. But on the counter top, a menorah sat with fire dancing wildly. Granted the eighth night was awhile ago, the team decided to keep it going. Starfire never knew why it was there though, in the first place.
She walked over to it and gazed at it mystified. Robin carrying in an arm full of presents saw her expression and after, dropping the presents by accident under the tree went over to join her.
"Hey Star. What are you looking at?" He asked uncertainly. She just stared at the flames. Then it was as if a finger snapped in front of her face and brought her back to reality. She turned to him and she grinned brightly up at him. If Robin didn't know any better he would have swore he saw her blush. He shrugged the thought off.
"Oh I am admiring this, candle holder. What is it's name?" Robin smiled good naturally at her innocence and sat down on a stool on the other side of the counter top, facing Starfire.
"It's called a menorah Star. It's a way to celebrate the Jewish faith." She nodded at his explanation. She too took a seat across from him.
"And why do we have one? Are you Jewish?" She leaned forward, her eyes widening to look at him with her keen perception. She could get lost in his voice for hours on end.
"No, I'm not." He laughed slightly. "But Beastboy was never too sure what religion Terra was before she....she left us." He worded carefully. Starfire and Beastboy were still sensitive around the subject. Cyborg talked like nothing bad had happened; he seemed to still admire her spunk even while she wasn't there. The only one who wanted you to be blunt about Terra's 'accident' was Raven. If you were to talk to her on the subject, she wanted face values. Non-sugar coated. Something he liked about Raven. And it never restricted his talks.
"So he celebrated this religion just 'incase' as you would say?" Starfire asked continuing the story. Robin nodded.
"Yea. That's exactly it." They sat in silence for a moment, Robin watching the fire burn and Starfire watching him. She had to break the silence.
"What about Cyborg? What does he celebrate during this month of December?" Robin turned his attention back to the pretty young girl. He had forgotten for a second she was still there; his thoughts had gotten the best of him again.
"Cy? Uh..Kwanza I think. Why do ask?" He was still fighting off his thoughts, this was the only way to daze back in. He asked her questions. It kept him grounded, a little.
"I was curious. I have read about many religions lately. This season is one that has many different festivities going on all at once."
"That's true there is. Oh by the way, I invited Speedy to spend the holidays with us. Apparently his guardian is going somewhere for a business meeting and can't bring him along." Robin said and shrugged as an after thought. It wasn't that he didn't want the boy there, he did! But he also knew what it was like for his guardian to get called away during the holidays. Starfire gasped.
"Ah my goodness! That is most horrible! Then of course he can stay with us for the holidays. I will make him feel comfortable at once." She said with an air of finality. Robin smirked.
"Good Star, thanks. He's a good friend of mine, I'm glad you don't mind it."
"Nonsense Robin. A friend of your's is certainly a friend of mine!" She giggled to herself afterwards realizing how strongly that came off. "I will prepare a guest room for friend Speedy yes?" Robin nodded and watched as she flew off to the lower bedroom levels. 'Good now, Speedy can have some time with Star like he wanted.' Robin thought, chuckling to himself as he walked off, back to the tree, to fix the presents he dropped.
x T x T x
Raven walked out of the room, nose stuck in a book, got into the elevator and entered the main room when it stopped. She walked past the decorations, past the menorah, and avoided the tree with Robin underneath it. She plopped down on the couch, both hands on the book, covering her face and opening her eyes and imagination up to the wonders of the story.
Robin looked up when Raven had came into the main room and silently watched her. A smirk played at his features as he rose and joined her on the couch. She didn't stir when he sat down.
"Speedy's coming." He stated simply. Raven lowered the book and cast an eye over at Robin who leaned back in the couch.
"Is he? Why?" Raven questioned, fully closing the book and placing it on her side. Her eyes never left Robin's face. With the mask on, she had to watch for smaller clues as to what he was thinking like the twitching of his mouth, how straight or slumped his shoulders were, and so on. But then she realized something: 'Why do I watch him so often?' She asked herself mentally. That crept her out slightly.
"Green Arrow needs some time alone to handle a business meeting. He didn't want Speedy by himself for Christmas and–"
"And you volunteered us right?" Raven interrupted. He smiled over at her.
"Right." Raven nodded and picked her book back up to begin reading again. But Robin interrupted her once more.
"Don't take this the wrong way or anything, but what do you want for Christmas Rae?" She met his eyes, or where his eyes should be, and slowly raised an eyebrow at him. He grinned at her.
"I thought you already did all your Christmas shopping?" She asked in an even tone. He shrugged and the grin disappeared. Now he looked slightly amused but serious as well.
"I did. But I don't know if I got you what you absolutely wanted. Wanna give me a hint just incase?" Robin looked at her and this time she didn't meet his eyes. She brought the book up to her face and began to read.
"All I want is for all of my friends to have someone during the holidays that cares for them. That's all. I don't think you can buy that Robin." She said dejectedly. Robin blinked. He wasn't expecting that sort of answer.
"Really? That's all you want this year?" The leader inquired, a mixed understanding showing through. Raven let her eyes travel to him, but did not remove her book.
"That's all I've wanted every year Robin." She stated emotionlessly and turned back to her book. A minuted passed and two pages flipped before Robin leaned over to her ear and whispered:
"Do you want someone who cares for you too during the holidays?"
x T x T x
AN: And that would be chapter two! Whoa at the pace I'm going there might be a fourth chapter to this thing instead of three. Yea. Like anyone's complaining! Did I leave it at a cliffhanger? I try not to but it gives me more momentum for the next chapter. Alright so here ya go. Now if everyone would be a dear and review for this one I'll feel loved. Thanks to all. And to all a good night!
Peace215 :)