Disclaimer: DC not mine + Teen Titans not mine

I Don't Like Parties

"Hey Raaaven…"

Raven peered over her book to see Beast Boy stood before her with his hands behind his back and a grin on his face. She had learned to hate it when Beast Boy grinned. It always meant he was planning something, or that he was carrying out a plan. These plans invariably involved annoying either herself or Cyborg, occasionally putting Robin in the mix. He usually left out Starfire after she had practised her Tamaranian acupressure on him, although he would sometimes include her in his pranks. But right now, he was looking directly at Raven.

"What?" she snapped, hoping that the irritability in her voice would dissuade him.

"Aren'tcha gonna come downstairs? Y'know, join the party an' all that?"

Said party was the Halloween party that Cyborg had been planning since early October.

"No."

"Aww, c'mon Raven. You know you want to."

Raven raised an eyebrow and put her book down, placing a bookmark inside and gently placing the book on the table in front of her. Shortly after the party had begun, Raven had left and gone to the common room area, finding herself a comfortable spot on the sofa and had, to coin a phrase, 'curled up with a good book'. Not literally, mind you. Raven would never allow herself to be found by the other Titans in such a position, most definitely not Cyborg or Beast Boy. She pierced Beast Boy with a sharp stare.

"Is that right?"

Beast Boy nodded enthusiastically. "Yep. You really like these parties; I know you do!"

"No I don't."

"Yes you do."

"No, I don't."

"Yes, you do!"

Raven sighed and rolled her eyes. "No I don't, Beast Boy."

Beast Boy frowned and sat on the table in front of her. "How come?"

Raven thinned her eyes. "Why?"

Beast Boy shrugged, leaning back on his arms. "Just curious."

"What are you up to, Beast Boy?"

Beast Boy's eyes widened. "I'm not up to anything! I was just asking, jeez!" Beast Boy turned away, scowling, choosing to concentrate on looking out the window.

Raven let the silence permeate around the room before replying. "Why are you here, Beast Boy?"

Beast Boy turned, but didn't face her. "I dunno – it makes me feel kinda bad to be havin' fun down there when you're all alone up here."

"Beast Boy, I prefer to be up here. I'm not a party person."

Beast Boy looked up at her, smiling. "Well, at least not Cy's kinda parties, huh?"

Raven half smiled. "Exactly."

"Y'know, he thinks you left 'cause of Robin and Star."

Raven cocked her head slightly. "And why would I leave because of them?"

"Because you're maybe, kinda… jealous?" Beast Boy said, wincing as he prepared for the response.

"Why would I be jealous?"

Beast Boy opened his eyes to see Raven looking at him with one eyebrow raised quizzically. He shrugged. "'Cause he thinks you've got a thing for Robin. Pretty crazy, huh?"

Upon getting no response, Beast Boy's jaw slackened. "No way. You… like Robin that way?"

Raven shrugged. "I used to."

"When?"

Raven's eyes thinned once again as Beast Boy became just a little too interested in her romantic life. "It's not important, Beast Boy."

"Was it during the whole Trigon thing? It was the Trigon thing, wasn't it? I knew it!"

"Beast Boy."

"Yeah?"

"Drop it."

Beast Boy was about to say something else, and then saw the look on Raven's face. "Got it."

Another silence followed. Beast Boy looked around the room, his eyes lingering on the Halloween decorations thrown haphazardly on top of the tables and chairs. "So… what do you think of Halloween?"

Raven shrugged half heartedly. "It's just another holiday. It's not like I can tell the difference in here."

Beast Boy nodded in agreement. "Yeah… kinda lose track of time in here sometimes, huh?"

"Exactly."

"But I would have thought you would have liked it. Halloween, I mean."

"Why?" Raven asked, a thin eyebrow quizzically raised.

Beast Boy shrugged. "'Cause you're a witch, or whatever."

Raven's face darkened. "I'm not a witch, Beast Boy."

"Okay, okay, Sorceress, or whatever. I'm just sayin' that-"

"I'm not a witch, Beast Boy."

Beast Boy stopped and looked at his friend, seeing the unpleasant look in her eyes. There was anger in there, for sure, but there was also an element of… hurt? He raised his arms defensively.

"Sorry… I didn't think that-"

"Well, maybe you should next time; it would certainly make a change from the usual."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just think about it. It'll come to you eventually."

Now it was Beast Boy's turn for his face to darken. "I'm not stupid, Raven."

"Really?" Raven asked as she tilted her head and thinned her eyes, smiling sarcastically. "You could have fooled me."

"Oh yeah? Well I'm smart enough to know a witch when I see one!" he shouted, instantly regretting the words as they spilled from his mouth. Raven's eyes widened for an instant before she suddenly rose and walked out of the common room.

"Raven, wait. Raven!"

The doors shut behind her, and she was engulfed in the darkness of the corridor. She stopped and took a deep breath. She checked to see if any of the other party guests were wandering, and decided to go to the roof. She opened the door and looked around. Sat on the side of the roof was one person, their silhouette clearly defined by the moonlight; Starfire. Raven tried to make a quick getaway before Starfire's voice interrupted her escape plan.

"Friend Raven! Please, join me!"

Raven sighed and turned, considering trying to make some excuse before turning and sitting down next to her friend.

"Is there any particular reason you're sat by yourself on the roof?"

"I am not alone. Robin has merely gone to get something to drink."

Raven nodded. "Ah."

The two friends sat in silence as they looked out to sea. Starfire looked over at her friend.

"Something is troubling you?"

Raven frowned as she looked over at Starfire. "Why would you say that?"

Starfire raised a hand. "Do not try to fool an old Zopfnar. I am a Tamaranian; we are very accomplished at spotting emotional… turbulence."

Raven sighed as she nodded her head. "It's nothing Starfire; just something stupid."

Starfire tilted her head. "Beast Boy?"

Raven smiled. "Why would you say that?"

"Because friend Beast Boy is usually linked with things that are, as you say, 'stupid'."

Raven wanted to laugh. She didn't, but she wanted to. "It's nothing to get worried about, Starfire."

Starfire was silent for a moment. "Very well. But if you-"

"You'll be the first person I go to."

Starfire beamed and looked back out to sea.

"So," Raven began, "did you not enjoy Cyborg's party, or…?"

"Oh no, it was most wonderful. But-"

"Raven?"

The two turned to see a very confused Boy Wonder holding two drinks. "What are you doing here?"

Starfire spoke up before Raven had the chance. "I invited her to come and sit with us, Robin!"

Robin smiled and sat down, handing a drink to Starfire. He looked over at Raven. "If I'd known you were here, I'd have gotten you a drink too. Actually," he said, standing, "you take mine, and I'll get another one for me."

Raven held up a hand and stood. "Thanks, but I'd rather just go inside anyway."

"Are you sure? Because I wouldn't want you to go on account of-"

"That's not it. Don't worry, have a good time."

Robin nodded. "If you're sure…"

Raven let out a small smile and left, leaving the two alone to enjoy the night sky. As she came to the bottom of the stairs, a metallic arm grabbed her and pulled her aside. Raven looked up in annoyance at Cyborg, who had a similar look on his face.

"Yo! Where is everybody? I'm the only Titan in there who isn't from the East!"

"Robin and Starfire are on the roof."

"And BB?"

Raven shrugged. "I don't know."

Cyborg frowned. "Well, someone's gonna come with me, and it looks like you're it."

"Cyborg, if you even-"

But Cyborg had already begun pulling her along, ignoring her angered protests as he pulled her by the arm back to the party hall. As they reached the hall, Cyborg released her arm and turned to face her.

"And here you go," he said, opening the doors with a flourish. As light from the dance hall dazzled Raven's eyes, she could have sworn that she saw the outline of a witch hanging from the ceiling. As her eyes adjusted to the light, the outline became that of a piñata that was dressed like a witch. Raven scowled and stormed into the room.

"I am going to rip Beast Boy-"

The words stuck in her throat as she realised the piñata was of Beast Boy dressed like a witch, with a sign written on the front saying 'Beast Boy is a Stupid Dork'.

"Y'see? I'm smart enough to know when I've been stupid."

Raven turned to see the smiling face of her friend Beast Boy, who held a baseball bat in each hand. Handing one to her, he grinned. "You'll never get another chance to beat me up proper."

Taking the bat, she smiled slightly. "And why's that?"

Beast Boy turned towards the piñata and pulled the bat back behind his head, taking aim. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye and winked at her. "Because from this point on, I'm a smart Beast Boy."

He swung the bat and completely missed the piñata, twirling around until the bat came back and hit him in the head. Cyborg roared with laughter as Beast Boy fell to the floor, dazed. Raven took aim at the piñata, swinging her bat at such speed that the piñata exploded on impact, showering everyone in range in candy. Raven rested the bat on her shoulder and stood over Beast Boy, who was sat up and gaping in amazement. He looked up at her.

"Practice makes perfect," she said, smiling. Beast Boy grinned back.

"So, you still don't like Cy's parties?"

Raven surveyed the dance floor and sat down next to Beast Boy. "As long as witches and stupid guys stay away, they're… okay."

"Can't argue with that."

Cyborg, Robin and Starfire sat down next to the pair, looking around the area.

"What happened?" Robin asked, a very puzzled look twisting his mask.

"Some stupid guy annoyed a witch," Beast Boy said, winking at Raven. The others looked at each other and shrugged before grabbing pieces of candy and chocolate that lay strewn around the floor.

"Shall we, Ms Witch?" Beast Boy asked, indicating the floor.

"We shall, Mr Stupid," Raven replied.

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(A/N: Y'know, since it is Halloween, it felt kinda wrong not to have a Raven fic in here, so… here you go! Like Piñata? Hate Piñata? Review!)