Adeste Fideles Chapter 8: Part 8, a teen titans fanfic

Part 8

December 21st

Savior may have volunteered to do all the busywork for the Titans, but Robin was tired of just letting him sit there and do it, and hence he had found a doozy of a task for him: answering Robin's e-mail, which was backlogged to the extreme.

Savior didn't mind: the Shimmer never got tired and he had vitriol and nasty witticisms to burn.

"Dear Faggot. What is your Bottom Ten? From someone who knows you all suck." Savior read, and then with a snort he reached for the backspace button. "Aw man, they filled this with typos. They forgot this…" Savior said as he erased the 'Faggot' part of the email and began typing in a new line

Dear Robin…

"And this…"

Dear Robin The Ultimate Asskicker…

"And this is all wrong…"

From someone who wouldn't know crap if it was in their pants…

"Ok buddy, you asked a question, I'll answer it then." Savior spoke out loud as he typed. Why? Because he wanted to, despite being the only one in the room. "Here is MY Bottom Ten, as follows."

"Number 10: Superhero costumes designed by amateurs. You will never see such a clashing mess of colors, and such a tragic waste of…not-body armor."

"Number 9 is that painting that's been in Raven's closet ever since…well since she let me in her room anyway…"

"Noel, could you get me my cloak?" Raven called from the shower.

"On it." Noel replied as he slid open the closet…and came face to face with a freaky stone gargoyle painting.

"JOIN US." It growled.

"Ahhhh!" Noel said, slamming the door. "Ayuhhyuyuhyuhuggggghhhhhhhhhh!" He continued, shuddering and generally acting disturbed.

"On a related note, the Jibblies currently occupies Slot No 11 on my Bottom 10."

"No 8 is one everyone should pay attention to: emails that have more then one FWD or RE in the subject line…"

"I answer this email, because I have nothing better to do!" Noel hummed to himself, as he clicked it open.

"Oh great. Lemme guess…"

Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re… Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re… Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re…

"Yeah yeah I know. It's true, you saw it on the news! Or, sounds crazy, but thought it was worth a SHOOOOOT!"

"Yeah, a shot in the face maybe!…Hey, why was I answering THAT email…anyway, No 7 is something that just keeps happening: people taking classic songs and having other people sing them, who shouldn't be singing them!"

THIS IS A LIMITED TIME OFFER! THE 8 AND UNDER TANBERNACLE CHOIR OF THE ROCKIES, PERFORMS THE HITS OF THE RAMONES!

ACT NOW, AND YOU CAN GET THIS AMAZING CD OF HAMSTERS FARTING THE MUSIC OF BACH!

MILLI VINNILLI: SURELY YOU'VE FORGOTTEN BY NOW!

"I don't. Anyway…"

"No 6. The foul stench…of wet Beast Boy."

Somewhere, Beast Boy sneezed.

"No 5…um...not…Sophie. No. She's a nice girl. And she cooks well. She's great."

"No 4. There was this one time when I had to hug a tree…"

"Keep on hugging it!" Gauntlet said.

"How did you get me to do this in the first place?" Savior asked, his arms around the trunk of the oak.

"Hug it! Hug it!"

"And why do I continue to do it?" Savior said.

"Hug it! Keep on hugging!"

"I don't even like this tree that much!"

"Ok, continuing on. No 3 is the trend of giving chocolate deserts ridiculous names. Like 'Chocardiac Arrest'! Or, 'This Brownie Might Kill You!' Or perhaps the least unappetizing name I have ever heard… 'Choconeumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanooniosis!' Who pays these people…"

"No 2 is people who take, wholesale, comedy bits from other sources such as Monty Python, or The Office, or I don't know, internet cartoons or something, and attempt to pass it off as their own humor! It's even worse if they remove a few bits and insert their own in a feeble attempt to disguise their plagiarism! Those people are the scum of the earth…"

"And No 1 on my Bottom 10 ten…"

"Hey S." Bumblebee said, suddenly next to the Titan. Savior nearly hit the ceiling.

"Don't do that Karen. People knock for a reason. " Savior said. "You want me to do something?"

"Yeah. I have my own bottom…"

"Oh for the love of, I'm not going to type out your bottom ten!"

"Not my bottom ten. My bottom. I heard you're taking…special pictures." Bumblebee said. Savior rolled his eyes: do someone one favor and suddenly you're transformed into a burlesque photographer.

"Fine fine." Savior said, closing his laptop as he headed over to get his camera. "Where do you want to go, I'll…" Savior's words cut off as he turned around and found Bumblebee was already undressing in front of him. She was wearing a bikini, of course…but it wasn't much of one. Especially in the back.

"…You know, you should be careful with suits like that. Can lead to infection." Savior commented.

"Yeah yeah yeah." Bumblebee said as she hopped on Noel's bed. Noel did a double take again. "Shoot me! Before I change my mind!"

More like before you lose your nerve. Savior thought, sighed, and began taking pictures. He would have much preferred to do this in his controlled environment, not his room, where he had to shoot around his personal possessions. At least he didn't have to give Bumblebee instructions: she knew just how she wanted to pose. Savior wondered who she wanted the photos for…and decided he'd rather not know.

"All right Karen, we're down to only a few shots, so unless you want another roll and more costs you better make the most of them." Savior said. Bumblebee responded by striking a VERY provocative pose, one that even raised Noel's dander, just a tad.

"Well, girl knows what she wants." Savior said, as he clicked off another photo. "Now…"

"Noel." Raven said as she walked into Savior's room, not knocking because she never did. "Mas Y Menos ran by some gifts too fast, their wrapping paper needs to be re…place…" Raven said as she stopped dead, staring at the nearly naked Bumblebee posing on Noel's bed, and Noel with a camera.

Noel blinked as he stared at his girlfriend's shocked face.

"Um…leave it on the table?" Noel said.

Groaning, Noel crawled back to his laptop and re-opened it.

"And No 1…when Raven acts…instead of asks…ohhhhh…she's been working on her punches…ohhhhh…that will be $7.50…Simone…" Noel said, and collapsed to the floor.

December 22nd

"You know, I expected this to end when we got close to Christmas, but we're three days away and you're still in here. You certainly are stubborn Noel." Scalpel said.

"I think you're the ones who are stubborn. I said this is what I wanted, and you keep insisting on trying to drag me out. Why?"

"Why? Because this is Christmas! People spend time together! Come on, I bet even the villains are celebrating!"

Jinx continued to twirl the spoon in her ice cream, her eyes, languid and dreamy, staring into space on a man who may have seemed impossible to think of in such a way but was always there in her mind. Unaware of what was around her, unaware of what was happening. Certain feelings, feelings for a certain tech master was kind of getting in the way. Whether it was love, or a strange sort of lust, she was unsure, but she did enjoy the idea of it.

She did not enjoy the sudden high-pitched voice in her ear.

"Yo! Bimbo!" Gizmo shouted as he tapped her on the side of her head.

"What?" She replied indignantly, her mood shifting dramatically from the leisurely and unenergetic to the hateful and resentful.

"Listen, you're dreaming again. Dream all ya like, but you've spilled your ice cream down your front… kinda makes certain somethings stand out with the weight on the cloth."

Jinx's eyes bugged out a little as she stared down, and indeed she had dripped chocolate Neapolitan on her top, and of course because the dress was the only thing she had on she had to replace it. She stood up and started to take off, trying to avoid the glances at her.

"Wow, look at the dirty girl go!"

"SHUT IT!" She snapped, and continued to run at near top-speed.

"Rraow, look at her storm off." Gizmo said to himself as he watched her go. He paused and turned to Mammoth, who was sitting near by. "Is it wrong to be strangely attracted to her? Or her ass?"

"No but I wouldn't." The giant replied, finishing off a light dinner, well light for his size. "Just gonna end in your humiliation. When she turns ya down and all." The large metahuman stated, a shrug in his actions.

"Come on, I'm like the smartest guy in our age bracket."

"You're also three feet tall. You know what they say about height." Arturo, aka Progeny said. "She, on the other hand…She's a rare prize."

The resident Hive Casanova leaned, in that casual semi-seductive manner he had, on the table with a mug of coffee.

"No one in this place has had the pleasure of her company yet, she is 'uncharted territory' so to speak. Take it from a man who has gotten EVERY woman in this school, you won't get her." He laughed and sipped as the others looked at him.

"Every woman Gracie?" Mammoth asked, raising a brow.

"Well, with the exception of Scorcher and Rocko. Scorcher I understand and Rocko's off limits in all aspects. Besides that, every one."

"That's it?" Most of the men asked, or rather should I say hope. Though it may be at the fact they don't always get laid most of the time.

"That's it."

"….. You make me sick." Gizmo stated as he also stormed off.

"With jealousy. Remember those words too." Arturo said, and sipped at his coffee.

Jinx stormed into her room, not caring who was there, and to her great surprise no one was. Usually her roommate, the young Shimmer, Mammoth's sister, was with her cat avoiding people. But luckily she was on her own.

She did not notice it until she was halfway done her undressing. On her bed lay a gift. It was unopened, and it was wrapped in generic wrapping paper and adorned with a bow that would make bridesmaids weep with envy.

Looking around, making sure the door was closed and no one was about, she threw the dirty dress to one side of the gift, and sat on the other in her underwear and boots to examine the item. The thought came through her mind, perhaps she should report it. Or maybe it was a trap and she should get someone to throw it in the fire.

…Perhaps she shouldn't.

In a fit of uncontrolled instinct and curiosity, she reached and pulled apart the delicately made bow, taking it in one last time. The lid lifted off easily enough, though she did check it for resistance, to see if it was wired. It wasn't, and she peered inside. The top was covered in the usual gauzy material used for cushioning: she lifted it off and removed a smaller box and an envelope.

In the envelope were the pictures of Cyborg, which gave her mixed signals.

"Dude, how did you get the pictures in anyway?"

"Blood thinks his password is uncrackable. He never changes it."

"What is it?"

" 'Ain't I Great'."

"No you're not."

"HEY!"

Jinx stared. What was this? Was he playing with her? Toying with her? Or was he… returning the favor?

A blush came across her as she opened the small box. Inside sat a ticket to dinner and a show at a local restaurant/comedy club, 'The Hyena Bar'. A curious look came across her face as she looked at the small slip of paper. Under another layer of tissue paper lay a small tubular object, with one small button on it and a clip, alongside a small note.

"Just a little 'disguise'. Careful, it will only work once. See you there. C."

A smile. The only thing she asked for this Christmas, for the first time ever: to have a smile over this holiday. Jinx was raised in an orphanage run by nuns, and she had never had the best life, and was notorious for never being happy at this time of year, so a smile was perfect.

"Llarenes?" A voice suddenly came. Not an expected voice. Expected would be Shimmer or maybe Floral. What the voice was was the pyrokinetic leader of the Elementals, Scorcher.

Who should have no reason to be there. Jinx panicked.

"CAN'T! ACK! COME IN! NO! I…" She fumbled her words. Scorcher, aka Dannielle Foster, decided to take it upon herself and wander in anyway. Obviously something was going on in there, and as a teacher of the Hive, she had a right, no, A DUTY to go in and stop anything bad from happening…

….

Alright, she was just damn curious! Alright?

Curiosity killed the cat.

But satisfaction brought him back.

Though it was lucky that Scorcher, as a fire user, was a lightish red/dark orange color, as it hid the blush of embarrassment that came across her features when she found the half naked Jinx.

"Er…"

"Door." Jinx called the flush on her face far, far more prominent. And as requested, Scorcher closed it.

"What are you up to?" The southern belle asked, her dress quite fancy and old fashioned. After all, it was Christmas, and there was a Christmas truce on, even if it wasn't official.

"Nothing! Nothing at all! I'm.. er… usually like this!" The witch said, still hunched over the box and it's contents, though this only made Scorcher more curious.

"Oh… really… you're usually hunched over…in your underwear." Scorcher said, in what could almost be described as an exasperated tone, even though she allowed humor to seep into it.

"Yes… I…er… dislike clothes in my own company." Jinx said, trying to bluff her way out of the fact she had just been caught with one of the most important things of this year, of EVER!

"Riiight." Scorcher walked around to the side of Jinx, her pace slow and her mind as sharp as it had always been. Jinx, despite her embarrassment of having most of her dignity torn away with her clothing, kept as much of an eye on her teacher as possible, though as they say the hand is quicker than the eye.

A brief flash of flame drew Llarenes' gaze from Scorcher, but before she could realize she had been duped, it was too late.

"A ticket to the Laughing Hyena?" Scorcher asked, an eyebrow raised and a smile on he lips. "Not easy to get. Someone must be thinkin' a lot of you to go to all the trouble."

"Give me that!" Jinx shouted, lunging for it…and of course, being Jinx, missing and landing face first on the floor on the other side of the bed in what could only be described as a rather undignified position.

"You alright?"

"I'm never talking to you again." Was the reply. After everyone got the right way up, the two decided to sit down, take a load off, and find out what was really happening.

"Who is this from Llarenes?" Nothing came forth, a silence, not even the whispers of a mouse. "Llarenes?" A small muffled reply came. "Llarenes?"

"…Cyborg." She finally replied, unwilling to divulge such...delicate information, information that could very well spell her downfall if she ever told anyone else…Scorcher? She'd been a hero once, before she switched sides for personal reasons. Perhaps she was trustworthy? Perhaps she would understand?

Too late now.

Far, far too late. She had found her with the one thing, the only thing that she really needed this Christmas, and the one thing that was most forbidden to her by Brother Blood.

"Listen, this is going to sound a little crazy, but I need you to understand it. It's not going to do me any good but you'll find out one way or another…"

Jinx paused because of Scorcher's look. The look wasn't one of hate, or pain, or of betrayal, but of light and simple understanding.

"Love?"

"Not sure… But… I do like him. A lot."

"Well, listen. No one can have everything they want. He's a hero, and that's the price you pay for the l'ove in which you have been going for. Even if it isn't the L word you have to at least try to do something…try to work out your differences in the way that best suits you."

"Like you'd…."

A pause.

"Like I'd know right? I was only engaged to a hero who persuaded me to change my lifestyle right? Come on girl, think. It's your choice in the end, but until one of you moves over to the other side, there won't be anything there."

It was a simple, but painful truth.

"You think?"

"I think."

"Damnit, I don't want this to die before it gets off the ground, and he won't change sides…"

"Well then, what would make you compromise?" Scorcher asked, or rather stated. It was, after all the big question. What was she prepared to do? Give up everything she knew? Everything she has ever done? For him?

"…"

"Well?"

"Maybe, maybe."

"Well I suppose it's a start. Come on, we'll talk more about if, if you wish."

"…Oh god, I could use that. I need someone to spill my heart too, good lord I need someone." Jinx joked, knowing that it was probably best that Scorcher knew. Unlike Blood, she understood the pressures and pains of love and she also knew how to keep quiet, as Blood would have paraded her up to the front of all the HIVE, to be shot either physically or figuratively, or perhaps one followed by the other. Who knows? She wasn't intent on finding out. Last thing she wanted was someone like Lucinda DeFoe to find out and suddenly pull her into some twisted mind game.

She was freaky as hell.

"Well any time you need to, just say so and I'll do what I can to help, but in the meantime… Perhaps getting dressed might be a good thing?"

Jinx looked down at herself and laughed. She was having a heart to heart in her underwear. Tongues would wag for all of this, if any of it were to get out. Which it wouldn't.

"Listen, you're not the first girl to fall in love with the 'wrong guy' you know." Scorcher stated, leaning against the wall.

"Let me guess, you've fallen for a few."

"Not really, though the Laughing Hyena, while very reputable, and VERY expensive, isn't exactly a very romantic place. It's basically a rich person's 'Jonulars' or 'Comedy Store'. Hardly the most romantic place for an official first date." Scorcher noted.

"No, but then again I'm not the most romantic person. Unlike that Titan Starfire, I don't have my head in the clouds." She laughed, reaching into her wardrobe and fiddling amongst the techno-punk, Goth/punk chic and her uniform black dresses with the purple trim on the shoulder, as she pulled out her basic uniform and slipped it on.

"So what will you do? These tickets are for the Christmas day evening show, leading through to Boxing Day; Blood won't let you out at that time." Scorcher commented, holding up the slip of paper to her pink haired student. The young mage pondered while she did up the corset like trappings around her middle that made up the majority of the dress. This was one of the later modifications to the dresses, and hence had a zip, unlike most, which had a collection of string.

"THAT is where you come in." Jinx said, as she dragged the pyrokinetic adult to the side and started to plot and plan.

Probably involving a mysterious fire at around the time she got back to disguise her entry, or maybe one before she left to mask her exiting. Damn those new sprinklers that were installed the other day, so unreliable.

Jinx thought she had privacy and secrets. She thought wrong

In her little room below, Lucinda just stared at the monitors while all this was happening. She never stopped watching the Hive. After all, one of them might have what she wanted.

"File under 'possible information' until further notice."

"Very well." Her computer replied.

"While I have no interest in their raging hormones, this could be useful to Blood or to myself. Could, though I can't see how likely. Keep it there till later." Lucinda said, her voice as cold and flat as a blade throughout the entire statement.

"A wonderful piece of exposition Ma'am." The computer replied.

"Get back to work."

"Yes Ma'am."

"I doubt it." Savior said. "What could the villains have to celebrate?"

"Lots of things!"

"Nothing to do with us. Besides, most of the villains are in jail. I doubt that's much fun." Savior said.

"Not all of them!"

"Then they're on the lam, or hiding. What possible fun could they be having…"

"Dingle bells, dingle bells…" Kurai sang, as he walked by the door…and saw something.

"Huh, what have we here?" He said, picking it up. "Well well well. If it isn't a mysterious package for Master Slade. From…the Hive Academy? Wishing the best of the season? Hmmmm…but which season? There are at least four…and winter traditionally represents a time of death before the renewal in spring…which means that the best of the season is DEATH!" Kurai yelled, and then blew the package to bits with an energy blast. "Hah! I fooled you this time, Brother Blood!"

"…And why did you pick him for your apprentice again, Dad?" Rose Wilson asked, looking on the sight. Slade just sighed and sipped his champagne.

"So, do you think Slade will enjoy that selection of Scandinavian Smoked Meats I sent him?" Brother Blood said back at the Hive academy.

"Like anyone actually eats those disgusting things." Gizmo commented, and retched.

"Well, it is the thought that counts, my student."

"What thought? You just rewrapped the gift the Titan Gauntlet sent us last year!"

"Oh right. At least this year he had the good taste to get us a Gamestation 470."

"Actually, it's a Gamestation 450." Gizmo said.

"What's the difference?"

"The disk skips before it's done making the revolution, so it can't run any games."

"What? Then what good is it?"

"You should have seen Buzz Bomb's face when I put a box with the exact same weight and dimensions of a Gamestation 470 under the tree with his name on it. Now he won't preorder, CRUSHING HIS SPIRIT ON DECEMBER 25! MWAHAHAHAHA!" Gizmo cackled.

"…Anyone want to tell Shorty I pre-ordered Buzz Bomb a Gamestation 470 back in August?" Flay said.

"Nah. Let it be a surprise to both. Besides, it'll give Buzz Bomb enough components to make a revenge bomb." Platinum Blonde replied.

"I can't wait to see his face!" Gizmo continued.

"…Wait, you CAN'T see his face." Brother Blood pointed out.

"His metaphorical face. You know. He kinda gestures with those antennae things…"

"ARRRGHHHHH!" Came an interrupting bellow. "For the last time, Billy Numerous, it doesn't matter how many of you there are YOU ONLY GET ONE GIFT!" Mammoth snapped. Billy responded with a comeback so 'Southern' that most of the Hive couldn't understand it from Adam.

"…Wait, what was the pig doing in that insult?" Brother Blood said.

And then, right about that time, the sprinklers came on from a certain just-set fire. Wonder what could have caused that.

"AUUUGGGHHHHH! I swear, if Sabotage has been showing off again…!" Brother Blood cursed.

Somewhere else, a man dressed as Santa rang a bell on a street corner, snow falling softly on the streets around him. The hat and beard mostly hid his face…which had one long tightly tied braid of hair coming from an otherwise bald head…and a face so blank and predatory that children would have run screaming.

But the hat and beard concealed it, so the man just rang the bell, nodding to people who dropped money in.

At least until some punk ran by and snatched the pot.

"SO LONG SUCKER!" He yelled, running off. 'Santa' glanced around, saw the street was empty…and then pulled out a silenced pistol and shot the punk in the back.

A few moments later, the body hidden in an alleyway, and the money back in the pot, which was once again hanging from the hook, Killjoy adjusted his beard and continued to ring his bell.

"I don't know why I'm here…" X The Eliminator yelled. "But I will say this! I got Harvey Birdman a pony AND thirteen of his favorite CD's. and what do I get? A CARD! A friggin' CARD! I am TOTALLY going to get my revenge!"

"Will you be quiet?" The young, bespectacled man sitting at the table next to X hissed.

"NO! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" X laughed.

And then he suddenly found himself in the middle of a cornfield in Utah in his underwear.

"…Huh. I don't remember poking that weird little kid again. Oh well." X said. Back at the restaurant, the young man reappeared and sat down.

"Sorry for the interruption mother. Now I suggest this wine, for the season…"

While Jump City was hot, indoor cooling allowed some great things to exist, like an ice-skating rink, as dozens of people skated, fell, and did it all over again.

And one…one danced.

She glided on the ice like she was trying out for the Olympics, doing leaps and spins and twirls like it was as easy as walking. She was not practicing though, nor showing off, though plenty of people were watching her. She was just relaxing, in her own way, through physical activity and concentration, her long red hair flowing behind her.

Not everyone was watching with admiration though. One blonde haired teenage girl was so livid with jealousy that it was amazing she didn't melt through the ice. Before the redhead had showed up, she had been the greatest skater, and now she had swiftly been made to look like a child, though the redhead had no idea of the fact…

"DADDY! FANG!" Kitten shrieked. "SHE'S MAKING FUN OF ME!"

The redhead suddenly noticed people were screaming and fleeing, and as she turned around she saw why: a man in a biomechanical moth costume and a teenage boy with a giant spider for a head had jumped on the ice and were heading for her.

Strangely, she seemed unconcerned.

"Women." She sighed, and turned and rapidly skated away, heading for the exit.

"You won't escape!" Killer Moth yelled, as the redhead apparently tried to propel herself over the edge of the rink and failed to do so, falling back on her feet into the skating rink.

Until she turned around and revealed what she had really been doing: grabbing something behind the boards, something that she was slipping over her arm.

"Men." She said.

Killer Moth and Fang only got a brief look at the gauntlet weapon before the girl opened fire on them, ultra-hard spheres slamming into their body at precise pressure points, sending pain and numbness exploding through their forms, even through Killer Moth's body armor.

But that was just the setup, as the redhead stopped firing and started skating, zipping up to the two men, who were standing side by side…and then leaping up and snapping up both feet, burying the toe of each of her skates under the chin (or in Fang's case, the chin equivalent) of her would-be attackers

Kitten watched in horror as the two men in her life went down for the count, insects dancing around their heads, as the redhead flipped over and landed effortlessly…and then turned her gaze on Kitten.

"EEEK!" Kitten went, and tried to flee, but the redhead had skated over before she knew it, stopping abruptly and sending a spray of ice up onto Kitten, who yelped and fell on her rear.

Nightwalker looked down on the girl. Not even worth it.

"People." She said, and skated off. She needed someone to spend the night with.

And she had just the person, as she hopped the railing and landed perfectly on her skates. Her companion did not look impressed.

"Show off." She said, adjusting her hat around her long ears.

"You should skate. Your feet would make you a natural, Becky." Nightwalker replied.

"Oh shut up. I refuse to be like you, all jumping around and skating on one leg and doing sextuple-quintuple-quadruple-triple toe loops. I halfway expected you to screw yourself into the ice.

Nightwalker stuck her tongue out at her. Much to her surprise, her companion zipped in and nipped the end, causing Nightwalker to recoil at the slight pain, holding her mouth.

"Serves you right." 'Becky' said, and grinned, showing her own sharp teeth.

"Just for that, you're sleeping on the floor."

"Make me!"

"I will!"

"I'd like to see you try…no no not there! HAHAHAHAHA! STOP! STOP!"

Nightwalker grinned. Yes, she was glad she wasn't spending the night alone.

Savior would have preferred to spend the night alone, considering his company.

"You're NOT going to convince me." He said to Gauntlet.

"No no. Just have some gifts for you to wrap."

"I thought we were all done…all right, who to?"

"Jack."

Noel went still.

"…Jack." He said.

"Yes."

"My Jack."

"Yes."

"My evil doppelganger who framed me for murder and who revels in strangling women no matter how much I maim him Jack."

"Yeah, I got him some mittens."

Savior started opening his mouth again…and then paused.

"….I'm torn." He finally said.

"I always get villains gifts. I gave Slade a picture of myself saying 'Glad you're out of that coma, big guy, I got Doctor Peregrine 'Chicken Soup for the Megalomaniac's Soul', and I gave Brother Blood that Gamestation 450 we had lying around."

"Not torn any more." Savior said, producing the frying pan. Gauntlet chose that time to make a quick exit.

Raven floated, meditating and concentrating on her problem.

It wasn't Noel: she had put that out of her mind. He had made up his: if he wanted her to have fun with the other Titans, she would. Her problem was her feeling that something was still off, and she still couldn't put her finger on what.

And considering that she had written off Noel at his request, he kept appearing in her thoughts a lot. She frowned. What was going on? She was independent, a partner in a relationship rather then a devoted girlfriend, and quite capable of surviving without him. So why did she keep thinking of him?

Maybe she missed him a bit more then she was willing to admit.

A knock came on Savior's door.

"Come in." Savior said, writing in his journal. He expected it to be Robin or Nigel again.

It wasn't. It was Starfire. Savior sighed inwardly. He hated this. Of all the Titans, he felt like he was personally kicking Kory in the heart when he told them he wanted to be alone…but even those feelings couldn't change his larger, bleaker ones.

"Hello Noel." She said.

"Look Kory…"

"I know. I do not like your choices, and I think it speaks volumes about certain truths about your intelligence, but you are my friend Noel. I will respect your decision." Starfire said. "I have come because I have heard you are taking pictures of Titans, for various reasons. I would like some."

"…You? Uh, sure Kory." Savior said. He felt awkward that he had to do this AGAIN, after what happened to Bumblebee…but considering what he was doing, he owed it to Starfire.

"I wish for them to be in my room. Please head there posthaste." Starfire said, and left.

Savior was halfway through getting his equipment together when he realized this could be a setup. He wasn't sure, if that was the case, whether to be annoyed or touched by his friends' persistence…though knowing the way he thought it was more likely he'd be annoyed. Well, he'd burn that bridge when he came to it.

In the end he didn't have to: Starfire was alone and now dressed in a robe.

"Oh, are you changing? I can wait…"

"No I am done. You may come in Noel."

"All right." Savior said, entering. "Now I'm not sure about this Kory, so I'll ask just to be certain…" He continued as he turned away to put his stuff down and put a few things together. "We've been photographed by newspapers and such, but there's a difference between that kind of photography and this kind, there are certain factors that need to be addr-ARRGGGHHHHHH!" Savior yelled as he turned around. He had thought he had had it bad with Bumblebee, but her swimsuit was nothing compared to Starfire's, which was quite literally nothing: she wasn't wearing a speck of clothing.

"KORY!" Savior yelled, covering his eyes. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"

"Something is wrong?" Starfire asked.

"Yes! Kory! You're…naked!"

"…I am ugly?" Starfire asked.

"No! It's just…" Savior said, peeking out, as he hated to be blind, but Starfire was still wearing nothing so he covered up again. "I can't take these kind of photos of you!"

"They are for Tim. Should he not see all the woman he loves?"

"Well yes…but Kory…it's considered…inappropriate for a woman and a man who are just friends to be in a room where one is naked…and one has a camera…" Savior said, as he looked high and peeked again. Still naked. He covered his eyes again.

"You are said to be good at this Noel. I wanted it well done. Why are you shy?"

"Because…oh geez." Savior said, doing a rare thing and blushing. "Star, it's hard to explain, but I really shouldn't see you like this…"

"With some of our needed on the battlefield medical treatments there is nothing here you have not seen before."

"That's different! This is…very…intimate…and that's not something we should be sharing! You should have one of the girls do this…not me…"

"Noel…I want you to do it."

"I'm pretty sure I can't take photographs blindfolded…"

"Noel…look at me. I do not feel ashamed. Why should you…oh. Yes. Your culture and upbringing is different…I forgot again. I am sorry." Starfire said. "I have behaved inappropriately and caused you distress…I shall leave…"

"Whoa. Whoa. Hold it Kory." Noel said, as he turned around so he could see again. He really wanted to let Kory do what she had suggested…but she sounded so sad…

"Kory…this is just for Tim right?"

"Yes…"

"This isn't some kind of Tamaranian friendship repair ritual something or other that requires this lack of clothing and close physical contact or anything like that?"

"No Noel. My species may be freer then yours, but if you even begin to think I would somehow offer you sexual favors to try and make you feel better when it's quite clear you don't want to, Robin wouldn't have any bones in your body left to break because I would do it first." Starfire said. Her voice may Savior feel a bit better: back to the old fierce Kory, rather then the sad and guilty because of Noel's actions Kory. Of course, he still had to take the pictures.

He rolled his eyes. All right. He'd just set a speed record.

"Ok Kory, I'll do this. But I must be quick, because this…" Savior said, and turned around.

And found out why Starfire hadn't said anything recently.

Raven must have warped in, silently entering the room, apparently to speak to Starfire…and walking in on a scene that made the previous one look positively innocent.

Savior stared at Raven, she doing likewise, as Starfire's eyes darted back and forth between the two.

"…I'll save you the trouble." Savior said, and punched himself in the face.

When Savior came to a minute later, he found Raven leaning over him.

"…Oh hello Raven. I just had a terrible nightmare where Kory had asked me to take pictures and she was naked and you came in and you were going to kill me and oh crap it really happened." Savior said as Starfire appeared behind him, back in her robe. "…Can I have a big funeral?"

"I'm not going to kill you." Raven said.

"You're not?" Savior said. "Oh right. Just maim me so I can suffer more."

"Or that." Raven said. "Starfire explained…not to mention I entered the room while you were turned around and making sure this was just pictures. I'd know if you were trying anything else. You're good at fooling people at times Noel, but not that good."

"…Oh."

"However, there is the problem that I don't really approve of you taking pictures of another woman, naked, no matter the circumstances."

"I figured."

"So I fixed the problem. Kory?"

Off came the robe again.

At first Savior thought Starfire had slipped on a bikini. Then he realized it wasn't cloth. It was energy. Black energy.

"Spell on your eyes. You won't see anything, but the camera will. For Tim. I can understand why Star would want to give such a thing, and that Tim deserves it." Raven said. "But Noel…this is the last time. Next time…" Raven said, and gave Savior a look so black he somehow turned even whiter.

"…Gotcha." He said weakly. Raven nodded and left.

After the photos were taken, Savior went down to the dark room and developed the several rolls he had snapped over the past several days, using what he had observed from Cyborg. Once that was done, he carefully slipped the photos into envelopes. He'd give them to the respective gift-givers on Christmas Eve.

And to his surprise, when he got back to his room he found one last thing.

An absolutely mammoth pile of paperwork, done up with bows and ribbons, and signed with a note that said "Christmas Busywork".

It was in reality all the paperwork Nigel was backlogged on.

Scalpel found it back in front of his office the next morning, with another note.

NICE TRY.