Part seven has arrived! Joy! I don't own Teen Titans! Raven failed in her attempt to track down Shade last time, using the homing device in her brooch… will she try again at the fireworks show? And now that the Titans are suspicious, will Shade and Raven's relationship fall apart? Read and find out! Yay!

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Part 7: Who was that Masked Man, Anyway?

Raven sat at breakfast the next morning with Starfire. She'd slept late again, earning stares when she finally emerged into the common room. Beast Boy was the only one not present, probably still sleeping. She looked at them all quite gothically, and they seemed satisfied, going back to whatever they were doing. Raven made her morning tea, and sat down next to Starfire. The red head perked slightly when her gothic friend made her presence known at the table, and spoke up, "Friend, I trust you slept well, as is your habit lately?" One of Raven's eyebrows twitched, and she glared Starfire down. There was a long silence at the table. But, the alien princess found the courage to speak again, holding up the newspaper for Raven to see, "Raven, there is a show of the fireworks at the end of the week…" she said timidly, for Raven wasn't even looking at her. "We are going," She gestured to Robin. "Perhaps you would –" Starfire was sprayed with green tea, and sat there dripping. Her eyes were comical little circles, and she fountain-sprayed a little out of her mouth.

"Fireworks?" Raven said, wiping her mouth and rising for napkins to clean up the mess. They flew in formation, and soon the mess was gone. Everyone was staring at her again. She forced up a small, very fake-looking smile. "Uh… I can't. Sorry." Starfire's happy expression wilted, but Robin didn't seem to look surprised. This was not good. Raven exited the common room, thinking hard. How was she going to meet Shade with her friends running around in the park? She had to keep him a secret or things would get crazy… the teenage super hero thought and thought and thought some more. She was thinking so hard and walking so fast she ran right into Beast Boy. They fell, one on top of the other. The green teen scrambled, swearing in a squeaky voice that he hadn't touched anything he shouldn't. "Don't worry about it." She swept away, leaving Beast Boy very confused. He scratched the back of his head, wondering what on Earth had just happened.

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It was time. Shade rose, donning his mask and opening his window. He leapt out into the night. The fireworks show would start in a little over half an hour. He had to hurry if he was going to be on time. The week had flown by for him, and it was time to meet with Raven again. He smiled behind his mask as he leapt from roof to roof. The park was straight ahead, now all he had to do was –

"Oh, I am most excited to see the works of fire, Robin!" He practically skidded to a halt, looking shocked. Well, as shocked as he could look with a mask on. Was that…? He peered over the edge of the rooftop, looking down onto the sidewalk. Sure enough, two Teen Titans were walking down the sidewalk towards the park. "But why did Cyborg and Beast Boy not wish to join us?"

"Cyborg wants to finish a new modification on the T-car." Robin said as a matter of factly. "And the last time I saw Beast Boy, he had a bag with like a hundred quarters in it. He's probably downtown at the arcade. He was swearing he was going to get the high score on –" Shade lost interest there, but he had to hurry and warn Raven. If they were seen together… who knew what would happen. His eyes squinted behind the mask as he picked up the pace, flying through the night like a living shadow.

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Raven was the first to arrive at the old oak tree. Its branches were so high and wide that they seemed to blot out the night sky. When it rained, not even a drop could get through to the ground if it struck the tree itself. If three large men joined hands, they still wouldn't be able to stand in a circle around the trunk. It was the eldest tree in Jump City, and was considered a natural landmark of the park. She leaned casually against it, watching spectators go by, trying to find a good spot for the fireworks. Young couples sat around the lake here and there, talking in loving whispers. The lake was a good spot, but from the old oak, you could see everything. The entire park was in view, and the lake would reflect the light from the fireworks for twice the show. Perfect. Raven allowed herself a small smile when she heard the branches above her rustle. "Your friends are coming here. The boy wonder and the red head." He reported softly from up in the tree. No one was even close to them, but he wasn't taking any chances.

"I know." Raven murmured. "We'll just have to be cautious." She turned and looked up in the tree. Sure enough, Shade was perched in the branches like a ninja, looking down at her. Raven felt a small wave of guilt wash over her as she looked at him. "Sorry about the… uhm…" she looked away suddenly.

"No worries. You were curious, but you didn't find out anything. Sorry I have to keep something from you." He tumped to the ground, landing in a squat position. He slowly stood, only a little taller than her, and Raven turned towards the park. Darkness was falling, and stars were beginning to peek out of the sky. It was cloudless, a perfect night for fireworks.

They didn't speak for a long time, and he wrapped his arms around her from behind. It was much the way Malchior had, before he'd turned traitor. Raven's eyes smiled with happiness, and she sighed softly. Shade wasn't magic, so at least he was human… as far as she knew. "Shade…?" she whispered.

"Mmm?" he said, keeping careful eyes over the park, for whenever the other two Titans would show up. "Something wrong?"

"No… I…" Raven leaned into him just a little. "I just wanted to say thank you."

"For what?"

"For all this." She whispered back. "I…… I never thought I would find somebody to like me out there."

Shade gave a darker chuckle. "Sometimes, love is closer than you think." He whispered, making her flush slightly. She leaned into him a little further, sighing softly. "People say its such an impossible thing to find, but its not so bad." Even through the voice distorter he wore, he sounded noble. Raven wildly fantasized that there could be a handsome prince behind the mask… or maybe a chiseled he-man… she knew he wasn't especially muscle-bound, but that hardly mattered to someone like her. "It took me a while to realize I liked you, Raven. But after that…" he fell silent quite suddenly, and her brow furrowed. "Someone comes." He let go of her, and vanished up into the tree.

"Friend Raven!" Starfire exploded, crushing Raven in a hug. "You have come!"

"You're hugging me!" Raven warned, an alarming number of bones popping at the alien princess' strength. Where had they come from so suddenly! Robin and Starfire had spotted her, alone, under the old oak, and had come over to see her.

"I didn't think you would show, Raven. You made it sound like you didn't want to come." Robin said.

"Change of plans." Raven said simply, looking at them. She very suddenly noticed Robin was holding Starfire's hand. Her eyebrow went up, and she found the perfect way to rid herself of both of them. "If you two are gonna be all lovey-dovey, go find your own spot to watch, okay?" she didn't want to sound mean, but she had someone she would rather spend the evening with.

"Uhm…" Robin's face was stained red, and finally he nodded in agreement. He led a waving Starfire away, and Raven watched them go out of sight.

"That was close." Raven sighed, leaning back against the tree.

"Uh huh." Shade had reappeared at her side. "Those two are serious about each other, huh?" He tilted his head just a bit, watching them leave. "Can't imagine what their kids would be like."

"No telling." Raven smiled from under her eyebrows, and pinned him against the tree by leaning on him. "Don't go anywhere. The show's about to start." He nodded, placing his arms around her. She could feel his heart beating like crazy.

And, start it did! Raven saw the small switches go off, and a bunch of little rockets shot into the dark of night. There was a short silence, and everyone in the park held their breath. Raven leaned forward slightly. The darkness suddenly exploded with light, blasting away the night in a spectacular show of sight and thunderous sound. Wave after wave of blue and green rocked the sky, swirling and blasting and dropping sparks into the lake. Shade smiled behind his mask, tightening his grip on Raven. She noticed and leaned back into him. He slid down into the sitting position, and soon she was in his lap. Her hood fell back and she rested her head in the crook of his arm. The show continued, and the music started… a fast, happy sort of music that made all the young couples along the shoreline sway back and forth to the beat.

Robin and Starfire were amongst the couples that sat around the shoreline. Starfire summoned all her courage, and put an arm around his waist. He smiled at her and returned the gesture. They leaned into each other, and she rested her head on his shoulder. This is just like the day at the carnival, thought Starfire. The boy wonder heaved a sigh, stroking her hair as rainbows of light split the sky. "Look Starfire, they're starting with the shape ones!"

"Do all fireworks not have shapes?" she asked, a little confused.

"No, look." Robin pointed with his free hand. A bottle rocket shot into the sky, and when it blew up it left a diamond in the sky, made of sparkling light. The next one was a square. Then a circle. And even a few musical notes. Starfire gasped at the extraordinary display.

"Wonderful!" She clapped, giggling with delight. Robin smiled at her, and she suddenly caught his eyes. "Friend Robin… ah…" she seemed, for once, at a loss for words. Nothing could seem to break the alien princess out of her trance, and she felt herself leaning forward in disbelief.

"Starfire…" Robin's eyes fell closed as her arm pulled him closer. She tilted her head one way, and then the other. He leaned forward… and fell with a crash.

"Ouch!" He said, sitting up and rubbing his face. "What happened?" Starfire was still staring, but not at him. He felt his ego take a serious blow. She hadn't been looking at him at all, but past him. Towards the old oak tree. A pair of shapes were sitting there, and they were too far to see who it was. But, one of them was wearing a dark cloak. One of them was Raven… but the other they couldn't quite make out.

"Look." She whispered, pointing.

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Shade had Raven draped in his lap, and the darkness kept them away from prying eyes. The shade of the tree was like a blanket, only the brightest fireworks lighting them up. He held her by the backs of her knees, and cradled her torso as she was leaned into him. The shape fireworks had started, and it would only be a matter of time before the heart-shaped ones would appear. Then, he would try for a kiss, he decided.

Raven heaved a sigh, feeling his warm flesh pressed against her. Her boyfriend… the word sounded so alien to her, but it was true. She let her eyes fall shut, seeing the brighter fireworks through her eyelids. She let out a little moan, content where she was. "Uh oh." Shade ruined the moment with two words.

"Uh oh? What?" Raven's eyes snapped open.

"They've spotted us." He whispered. "Don't turn and look, keep your eyes on the fireworks." Shade sounded a little nervous. Robin and Starfire were staring at them from across the lake. They looked small from way over there, but you could definitely tell they were looking straight at them. Raven's heart beat hard, fluttering this way and that like a trapped butterfly. "What should we do?"

"Stay here." Raven said firmly. "They've spotted us. They know about you, so what's the point in running for it?" She looked at him, suddenly moistened in the eyes. "Are you ashamed to be associated with me, hiding from my friends like you are?"

"No, I'm not." He said it quickly enough that Raven believed him. "I… just didn't want things to get too complicated before we had more time together… that's all…" he looked uncomfortable, staring at the boy wonder and alien princess across the lake. "Here comes the finale." He said, watching an enormous bottle rocket shoot into the sky. He stood, helping Raven to her feet. "Let's give them something to talk about, then." He embraced her. She nodded in agreement.

Raven took over right then, enveloping him in her cloak. "Hold onto me." She whispered heatedly. His grip tightened as he was pulled against her. Her powers opened a portal right beneath their feet, and darkness fell over the park. All the other fireworks had gone dead, and the last one was still climbing into the sky. It was pitch black, and suddenly the park was lit as though the sun had come out all at once! Brilliant sparks and flares, all from the same giant bottle rocket, brought cheers and clapping from everyone present. But, by the time it had exploded, Raven and Shade had vanished.

"Did you just see……?" Robin was pointing to where he'd seen them, but he couldn't finish his sentence.

"I did." Starfire whispered, unable to believe it. "I was correct from the beginning. It is a boy that occupies her." The red head sat there, wondering in silence for a long time. "Should we speak with her about him?"

"I think so." Robin said. "If she wants to keep him hidden, then there might be something up with him." The boy wonder stood and helped Starfire to her feet. "He didn't look too different from Red X, but something tells me this is different…" he stroked his chin thoughtfully. Starfire continued to look at the old oak tree, but found no sign of her friend… or her friend's boyfriend. The thought made her blush, but she could find no words to say. Who was that masked man, anyway? She'd certainly never seen him before.

"This is a rather unexpected development…" Starfire murmured.

"Yeah… yeah it is." Robin said, taking her hand as they started home.

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"Where are we?" Shade was disoriented from the subspace travel. Raven held him steady until he could see straight again. The thanked her, shaking his head a couple of times to get his sharp eyesight back.

"This is… this is where we first met." Raven said, gesturing. They stood in a dirty, broken down alleyway. The nearby dumpster was filled to the bursting with garbage, and an alley cat ran by with all speed. The bricks were dirty and covered with graffiti. It looked… very different at night. When Mumbo had been running through here, it had been night as well… but neither of them had really stopped to look at the place.

Shade chuckled slightly. "Interesting place to meet, huh? When I heard Mumbo coming, I thought this might be a good place to take him out and talk to you… in private."

"I know." Raven said. "Now I've got a question. How did you beat me back to the tower the other night? You can't fly. At least… not that I've seen." She looked him over. He didn't have rocket boots or a jetpack on…" Raven's powers flared for just a moment. On the astral plain he didn't show up with any sort of psychic energies… so how…?

"There's more to you than meets the eye too." He said cryptically. "I got back the same way you did." This confused Raven only further, and she knew she wouldn't get a straight answer out of him. Giving up, she turned to leave. "What? Not waiting for a riddle, and not leaving one either?" he asked.

"I'm not done with you yet. C'mon." Raven led him down the street, avoiding street lamps and moving through shadow. He followed at a distance, in case someone would be watching. She stopped in front of a café. Her café, The Fireplace. "This is where I come sometimes, just to be alone." There was a long silence of him staring up at the sign. "You… wanna go in for some tea or something?"

Shade tapped the part of his mask where the mouth on a face would've been. "There's a little problem with that. Otherwise, I would say yes."

Raven allowed herself a small smile. "I forgot. That mask pretty much is your face… at least to me." She'd forgotten all about the mask thing that he had going on. She wondered, perhaps for the hundredth time, why he didn't want her to see his face. Was he ugly or something? No… she'd felt his smooth skin when they'd nuzzled at the graveyard. They were close enough to kiss, but not look at each other equally? A small surge of annoyance made itself known, but she quickly quelled it. He'd promised to show her someday… whenever that was.

"Well… I'd say this is where we split up for now." Shade said, reaching into his belt.

"Wait." Raven said as he produced a purple rose. "I… uhm…" Raven held something out to him. He took it, seeing it was another of her glass brooches. "This one's not booby trapped." She promised. "I took the homing device out." He laughed for a moment, then tossed the rose high into the air. Raven's eyes followed it obediently… and when it landed on the ground he was gone. She shook her head, allowing one more smile for the evening. Shade had a style all his own… and that was why she liked him so much.

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I love fireworks! That was part seven out of eleven! I guess Raven's gonna wait patiently for whenever Shade wants to unmask. But, that brings up a bigger question… who's behind the mask? A new addition to the Teen Titans, maybe! That would be cool, huh? Well, as usual, if you have the time… please leave a review so I know what's up with my readers. Thank you, and see you in part eight!