Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans or anyone in this story. Poo.
Author's Note – Again, more editing in June 2009.
Dare to Love
Chapter 2
Raven sat in the ceramics room working on a sculpture. It was her recent obsession. Raven usually got an inspiration and couldn't rest until she gave life to it. This was a vision of a man and woman dancing a waltz of some sort. The man was rendered in gorgeous detail from his face and hair to his clothes. They flowed around him with movement and music. Raven was currently working on the woman. She had the figure finished, her hair and face beautifully rendered. Today Raven was working on the dress. The top was a tight bodice with flowing sleeves. Using a pin, Raven was adding lacework to the sleeves and bodice.
"Hey Rave. Watcha doin?" An annoying voice floated around her.
"Go away Red X. I'm working." Raven gritted her teeth.
"Ya know what?" He was leaning over her shoulder. "I don't like it."
"I didn't ask, nor do I care. Now leave me alone."
"Ok Rave. I just gotta get something over here." Red X grabbed a large plywood board that he obviously couldn't see around. Turning, he slammed the board into Raven's back, knocking her forward right into the soft clay of her sculpture. "Oops. Sorry Rave." There wasn't even a hint of remorse in his voice.
Raven turned away from the ruined sculpture towards Red X, face contorted in rage. She began screaming at him and throwing random things. Stunned, he ran from the room. Suddenly out of energy, Raven sunk onto her stool, looking at her ruined sculpture. The figures had been smooshed together. There was no way to pull the damp clay apart without ruining it even more. Raven raised her fist and dropped it onto the clay.
A hand caught her around the wrist, holding her fist in the air inches about the poor clay figures. Raven looked up. Robin had stopped her. She stared at him, eyes full of hurt and despair, cheeks still flush from her outburst. Robin moved her arm away from the clay and gently lowered it onto the table. "Tell me about it?"
Raven stared at him, then turned her eyes to the clay. "They were waltzing." Her voice was sad and defeated. Robin peered close, admiring her work.
"I was never too fond of the waltz." Raven looked at him oddly. Robin stood and offered her his hand. To the surprise of both, she took it. Robin pulled her up and into the waltz position. "This is very stiff, you know." It was true, Raven realized. Robin's hand was on her waist, hers on his shoulder. But they stood straight-backed and far apart. "I'm much fonder of the tango." He suddenly pulled her close, right against his body. She stared at him for a moment before breaking away and looking at the figures again. They were still in tact, for the most part. The man needed a little fixing but that wouldn't take long. The woman was pressed against him, literally molded to him. Since Raven had yet to put her billowing skirt on, the woman's legs were showing. The figures had meshed into the perfect tango position. Raven immediately went to work, fixing tiny details and reshaping the woman's form. She removed the billowy sleeves and added a short tango skirt.
Robin kept her company all through lunch. They actually had the next class together, Math, although they never talked. When the bell rang signaling the end of lunch, Robin picked up his and Raven's bags and waited for her at the door.
"May I walk you to class?"
"We're going to the same room, no point in saying 'no'." Raven was giving him an odd look, having finished cleaning up her supplies. Robin allowed her to go out the door before following himself. She gave him a small smile. "He's such a gentleman. Wonder where he learned manners. And to dance the Waltz and Tango. Or at least enough to pose."
They arrived at the Math room, Robin still carrying Ravens bag. He set hers down with his by his usual seat. 'Maybe she'll sit with me?' Robin couldn't help but think. Sure he had been dared to do this, but he really did want to get to know her better. She seemed so interesting. To Robin's surprise, Raven actually sat next to him. She kept giving him odd sideways glances, as did most of the class who knew that the two didn't speak.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" Raven had leaned over and was whispering to him. Before he could answer, their teacher arrived with an announcement.
"As you know, you all have to do a group project for a grade. Well now is the time. You and your partner will be teaching a 10 minute lesson to the class about a concept we haven't talked about yet. Your partner will be the person sitting next to you."
Raven and Robin looked at each other. They would be partners for this project, which shouldn't be hard. Robin was an A student who never minded speaking. Raven, although she never talked in class, was also getting an A.
"You will need to meet with your partners outside of class. By next class, I want you to tell me your topic choice. You will choose from this list. Only one pair per topic, first come, first serve." The teacher proceeded to pass out the list and begin class.
"I guess this means we get to spend some time together." Robin whispered to Raven with a smile.
"Why are you being so nice to me?"
"I just want to get to know you better. I mean, we see each other every day but never talk." Robin felt bad now. He was worried Jinx's dare would make it back to Raven. But he had accepted because he really did want to get to know her better. And, he admitted to himself, his pride got in the way. "Want to meet after school to talk about the project?"
Raven just nodded, still confused about the whole situation. When class finally ended, they went their separate ways; Raven back to the Art department and Robin to History.