The Topic of Hot was an interesting place to the tall Tammaranian girl.
Loud music blared over the speakers, the fragrance of incense wafted through the air, offering a sweet delight for Star to inhale. Her emerald eyes opened widely as she carefully made her way further into the store. She walked slowly, scanning every single item she made visual contact with in fear she may miss some new and exciting thing.
True, she had been to the mall many times before, but she always stuck to stores that seemed more inviting to her. The Topic of Hot seemed to be a bit too much, with the loud blaring music, the dark interior, and the odd manner of dress she'd seen people wearing who came in and out. With Raven with her, however, she didn't feel quite out of place anymore. Raven's calmness and control of her emotions always gave Starfire of a feeling of security, that as long as Raven was nearby, things would be ok.
Raven slowly entered behind her, her hood still pulled up, hiding most of the pale empath's face. Her stomach felt sick, even though there was very little in it thanks to Joy. How could something as simple as going to the mall turn out to be the massive train wreck it had degenerated into?
It didn't take for long for Starfire to find something, as she had already picked out an item. It was a simple studded leather belt, accompanied by a large pewter skull and crossbones buckle. Star held the buckle in front of her before poking it to test how hard it was.
"Hmmm..." she thought out loud "this belt...it is some sort of earth battle armor, yes? Perhaps the sight of the the skull and bones is used to intimidate the enemy?" Raven just shook her head.
"Star, that's not what the belt buckle is for. People wear it to draw attention to themselves, not for armor." Starfire nodded, digesting the information she just learned before putting it back on the shelf.
"Are you interested in buying anything, Raven?" she inquired. Raven merely shrugged her shoulders.
"Nothing seems to really catch my interest..."
"Oh but you must try some of these garments! They are simply wonderful." the crimson haired beauty said and with that, Starfire pulled something from the rack that caught her attention. It was black and red, very lacy and frilly and looked to be rather small. "Perhaps it is a head band of some sort?" she thought out loud to Raven. Raven craned her neck over Star's shoulder to see what it she had found and upon viewing this mysterious item, quickly looked away, her normal ashen face a light shade of pink.
"Umm...Starfire? That's not a head band. It's...a thong." she said quietly. Starfire, still holding the item and now stretching it's elastic band out, turned to face Raven.
"A 'thong'? What is a 'thong'?" Starfire asked innocently. Raven felt her cheeks get hot as she swallowed her spit, taking a deep breath.
"It's a type of underwear that girls wear." she said, her monotone voice betraying the awkwardness of the situation and the slight embarrassment she felt trying to explain to Starfire the ins and outs of underwear. Starfire merely rose a curious eyebrow.
"Underwear? But why would any girl wear such an undergarment? It looks to be most uncomfortable." Starfire continued to stretch the elastic band of the thong, still perplexed by this curious article of clothing. Before Raven could attempt to answer this question, Starfire tugged a bit too hard on the elastic, causing it to sling out of her fingers like a rocket and land comfortably on Raven's head.
"...and now I have on underwear on my head. Faaaannnntastic." Raven groaned. Starfire giggled at the situation, finding it most amusing.
"Perhaps we should consider shopping for undergarments?" she proposed, but her request was quickly shot down by an annoyed Raven.
"I'll take a rain check on that." she said flatly, before picking the thong off her head and handing it back to Star. "Here...put this back. I'll be outside waiting for you on the bench." and made her way out of the store, leaving Starfire by herself.
Raven sat cross legged on the bench, giving her feet a rest from the hectic day of shopping. "It's almost over..." she kept repeating to herself, awaiting Starfire's departure from the store at any minute. She closed her eyes and attempted to at least try and keep her stress in check, taking slow breaths in and exhaling just as slow, clearing her mind of any thoughts she may have about anything.
Under her breath, she quietly muttered her mantra "Azarath Metrion Zinthos..." feeling a calm wave of relaxation sweep over her body. It would've worked too if her Titans Communicator hadn't beeped with an incoming message. Her violet eyes snapped open and with a slight sigh/groan, she snatched the communicator off her belt and flipped open the view screen.
"Raven here."
She was greeted with the smiling green face of Beast Boy.
"Raven! Dude, wassup?" he asked cheerfully.
"Beast Boy...exactly who I wanted to see." she replied, her voice void of any emotion.
"Really?" he said, his ears perking up slightly. "You're...not being sarcastic?"
"Of course not." Raven replied, just as monotone. "I'm never sarcastic. Especially not with you."
Beast Boy let this slosh around in his head for second, analyzing and then re-analyzing what she had just told him. "I'm confused..." he finally said, admitting defeat.
"Wouldn't be the first time." she replied coolly. "Now what is it that you want?"
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Robin wants to know when you guys are coming back. He says you're late."
"And why couldn't he just call me himself?" she responded, slightly perplexed why Beast Boy had to be the messenger. Beast Boy merely shrugged.
"I dunno. He said something about being too busy tracking down a new lead on Slade, but..." Beast Boy lowered his voice to a whisper "...I think he just misses Starfire."
"I heard that!" Raven could hear Robin holler in the background. "Don't act like it's not true!" Cyborg could be heard shouting back in the background. Raven sighed.
"Boys..." she thought to herself.
"Tell Robin we'll be back at the Tower shortly. Starfire is at her last store and then we're done for the day."
"Cool...hey Raven? Wanna hear my new joke?" Beast Boy asked
Raven merely raised an eyebrow as she calmly replied "I think I'd rather rip out my eyelashes."
"Awww c'mon! Just this one! I promise you'll love it!" he pleaded. Deep inside, Raven knew he'd keep pestering her till he finally got his joke out and secretly, she did find his jokes amusing, though she would never admit that to his face.
"Fine." she responded firmly. "Let's hear it."
"Awesome! Okay, so these two midgets walk into a bar, right? And they eventually work up a huge tab, right? Well, then the bill comes and first midget says 'Dude, would you mind paying this for me?' and then the second midget says 'Sorry man, I'm a little short!'" Beast Boy howled with laughter at his joke. "Get it? SHORT?" he repeated, just in case she may have missed the punchline.
Without saying a word, Raven merely clicked the communicator shut and re-stuck it to her belt. About this time, Starfire came bounding out of Hot Topic with two big bags full of clothing.
"Friend Raven, I was unaware that the Topic of Hot contained so many glorious items! Are by chance you ready to leave?"
"You have no idea..." came Raven's reply and not wasting a moment, she grabbed Starfire's slender wrist headed outside the mall doors, to the sunny parking lot to fly back to the tower. Raven looked up at the sky, concentrating on getting herself ready for flight when a familiar voice cut her off.
"Well, well, well...if it isn't everyone's favorite goth-she-bitch and her hottie friend?"
It was Rick, accompanied by three of his goons.
"Hello Rick." came Raven's icy cold response. "Does your Mother know you're out this late? Almost past your bed time." Rick laughed to himself
"Oh you've got quite a sense of humor, don't ya? Well let's see if you're still laughing once me and the boys get done with ya."
"It's your funeral." she said and with her eyes flashing white, she stuck her hands out.
"Azarath Metrion ZINTHMFFGGHH!" She was cut off by Starfire's hand covering her mouth.
"Raven, this is no way to treat out friend Rick! He merely wishes to do the 'hanging out' with us and 'do it' with me, whatever 'it' is. Perhaps it is a game of some sort?"
"Oh yeah, a game." Rick replied "Just like Twister..."
"Star, let me tell you what 'it' is." said Raven as she removed Starfire's hand from her mouth. Raven learned forward and whispered in the girl's ear what deviant desires Rick had. Rick couldn't hear what Starfire was being told, but judging by the fact her emerald eyes were getting wider and wider, he knew Raven must be laying things out in extremely blunt terms.
"You...you perverted Gnorkbark!" Starfire hollered and before Rick could react, he found himself being hoisted high above the Tammaranian's head. With a loud holler, she chucked him into a nearby dumpster before slamming the lid shut. Raven had to smirk at Rick's final fate being in the trash.
"Fitting..." she thought.
The other three goons stared on in shock at the dumpster, but when they finally returned their gaze to Starfire, they were shocked to see her levitating three feet or so off the ground. Her eyes were now a solid green, both her fists charged with large starbolts.
"It would be wise for you to start running now." she said calmly. The goons quickly scattered in random directions, leaving Raven and Starfire by themselves.
"Well that was interesting." Raven finally said, breaking the silence. Starfire was still shaking with anger.
"Those bad men! Boys can be such stupid florgs!" she hissed. "Come..." she said "let us return to the tower. I have a surprise I wish to show you and the boys..."