Raven took in the scene before her. The club that she heard was supposed to be quiet, dark and more than a little gothic was lit up like a Christmas tree. A bona-fide red carpet flanked by a mob of cameramen stretched from the door to the street. She could pick out several local personalities walking in, waving to their respective fans that were squeezed into a huge line that disappeared around the corner of the building and continued out of sight. The club, The Desert Rose, which she had heard about from one of the small poetry clubs that she liked to attend, looked to her like the tackiest place she ever had the misfortune to lay eyes on. As she turned around to go home, she caught a look at Starfire's face. She was staring at it, open-mouthed, her hands clasped together in front of her chest. Only you…I wouldn't be caught dead in a place like this. Raven thought to herself with a shrug and a smirk. "Starfire?"

"Raven…it is…WONDERFUL!" Starfire jumped the distance between them and grabbed Raven's arm. "Let us go inside at once!"

"Umm… Alright…" The things I do for you…

Raven allowed the excitable alien to pull her across the street towards the waiting club. Approaching the first row of bouncers, Raven watched them do a double take as they recognized the famous duo. They all but tripped over each other as they scrambled out of the way and waved the two girls forward. The second they set foot on the carpet however, the media and waiting partygoers caught sight of them and the noise level increased tenfold. Despite the noise, incessant questions and obnoxious camera flashes, Raven was able to keep it together long enough to drag the now-distracted Star into the club. Once inside the huge, multi-storied affair, she managed to find a table that both overlooked the dance floor and offered some semblance of privacy.

Raven barely had time to drape her cloak over the chair next to her before Starfire grabbed her arm. "Come, friend, let us dance together to this wonderful music!"

Whoa no, going to a club like this is one thing but…DANCING? "Umm…Star…I don't dance."

"Don't be silly! With Trigon defeated, you no longer need to worry about your emotions affecting your powers, correct?"

I wish that was completely true…"It's not about my emotions, Star. I just…don't dance."

"Oh. You…have never danced before?" Raven merely nodded. Starfire looked crestfallen for a moment, than looked at Raven with a twinkle in her eye that made Raven take a step back. "Than I will have the honor of instructing you in the ways of the dance!"

If Starfire hadn't started tugging Raven towards the dance floor at that very moment, she would've caught the look of pure horror on Raven's face. Once they got down to the dance floor proper, however, a problem presented itself. It was packed solid. It might have been a problem, however, for a human, but not for someone from Tamaran. Starfire merely floated out above the packed dancers and started dancing in mid-air.

Oh no…Raven quickly clapped a hand over her eyes. This can't end well…Peeking out between her fingers, the thought was quickly dropped, followed by her hand to her side, and her jaw to the floor. There, flying a safe distance above the heads of the people below, Starfire danced. Not swinging her arms wildly, or hopping up and down or one of the hundred other bizarre contortions Raven had witnessed during Star's earlier attempts. Just…dancing. Beautifully. Arms above her, Starfire weaved gracefully through the air in tune with the music, moving slowly through a routine so perfect it had to have been rehearsed. Did she practice? For tonight? For me? Raven shook herself back to reality as Starfire floated back towards her.

"You see, friend Raven? It is quite simple and very enjoyable! There is no need to be embarrassed."

It wasn't until the last statement that Raven realized she was blushing. No, no, no, no, NO! I am NOT doing this! I'm not…Raven looked at Starfire's outstretched hand, and unconsciously reached for it. Starfire reached out, clasped Raven's hand, and pulled her out into the air above the crowd. Raven gasped as she noticed that a lot of people had taken notice and were staring at the two of them. Focus on Starfire. Focus on Starfire. It was all she could she do to keep herself aloft as Starfire tried to guide her stiff form through the air.

"Raven…"

"Y-Yes?" Raven looked up to see Starfire with a sad look on her face.

"With your emotions free, why do you still hold back?"

"I'm sorry, Star. I'm just not used to…all this. But…if it makes you happy, then I'll try, just this once." Starfire was smiling once again, and inwardly, Raven brightened a little as well. "Alright then. Maybe…like this?"

Raven pulled Starfire closer and fumbled into what looked like something more fitting a formal ballroom dance. Then, slowly, painstakingly, they began to dance together. Moving carefully through the air, so close to Starfire's smiling face, Raven began to slowly unwind the restrictions she had had woven over her emotions over the course of her life. Little by little, the dance became more fluid, more spontaneous. Soon Raven was flying freely, spinning, dipping, and dancing around Starfire. Looking into Raven's eyes, Starfire saw, for perhaps the very first time, her own joy reflected there. As she twirled close to Raven, Star leaned forward and whispered into her ear.

"Is this not better?"

And it was. For the first time in her life, Raven felt pure, unmitigated happiness, without having to worry that same happiness would result in something blowing up or someone being hurt. It was wonderful. It was perfect. For one glorious moment, the sum of existence was the music, the dance, and Starfire's smiling face. Not caring one wit what anyone might see or think, not that she even registered the outside world, Raven reached over to Starfire and slipped her arms around her waist, pulling her close. She saw Starfire's blushing face moving closer to hers as she leaned forward. And then her perfect world exploded.

She was suddenly twisted around as dust and debris flew past. Looking up, he realized Starfire had turned them around, using her own body to shield raven. Stunned, Raven could only watch as flying objects pelted the people below. After a moment, she pushed away from Starfire and surveyed the scene. Dust was everywhere, the sounds of people in pain making her insides twist as she realized she might have been able to raise a shield in time if she hadn't abandoned all sense just for one dance.

"Are you injured, Raven?"

Raven turned back to Starfire and unconsciously raised her hand to the girl's face, a black aura flickering into existence around her hand as she healed a small gash on the side of her head that was leaking blood into her hair. Starfire raised a hand to her head as well and looked surprised when it came away bloody.

"I'm fine, Star." Raven responded, suddenly reverting to her usual flat, emotionless tone.

"Thank you, friend." Starfire looked at Raven askance, as she noticed the change in tone. "But we really should-"

Both titans turned at the sound of concrete being broken. There, in the middle of a huge hole in the club wall, a hulking figure grabbed the sides of the opening he had made and leaned inside. The two girls instantly recognized the face, and the cheap-sounding depth in his voice.

"OH YEEEAH! Time for Adonis to rock the house!"