Chapter Four: Flame

The next day Robin, Beast Boy, Cyborg, and Starfire had to leave on a short two day trip to help the Titans East with the battle against the hive academy and Brother Blood, who had apparently teamed up with Slade. This of course had infuriated Cyborg and Robin, who were out the door as soon as the news came. Starfire and Beast Boy had gone two, while Power Surge and Raven were left to hold down the fort, mainly because they were the most reliable so far.

"Wow," Dan said with a hint of sarcasm, "It sure is quiet here when they're gone, especially Beast Boy." Raven giggled a little to herself.

"Yeah, and you've only been here a day and a half, wait until he really starts working on your nerves."

They both laughed a little. When they were done, each noticed they were staring into each other's lavender eyes. They both quickly pulled away, blushing slightly. "Um, yeah, well I guess I better get to work on that tower security maintenance Cyborg wanted me to do. You need anything?"

"No, I'm alright, really."

"Are you sure? You seemed a little light headed a second ago, you sure you don't need a glass of water or herbal tea?"

"No, really, it's fine," She smiled to herself, "I'm okay." 'Wow, he cares, he really cares.'

"Alright then, see ya." He walked out of the room towards Cyborgs garage. 'Man, I'm being such an idiot. I like her, but we just met. There's got to be something I could do to make her think of me a little better.' He paused and thought that if he were in a cartoon, one of those light bulbs should appear over his head. 'I got it!' He thought to himself as he began thinking about every detail of his new "plan."

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As she leaned over the edge of the tower roof, looking out at the peaceful city at night she sighed again. He was one of a kind. By now she had stopped trying to push off her feelings and let them engulf her. 'I know I just met him, but he's the most considerate guy I've ever met. He doesn't think I'm creepy, or weird, he respects me and seems to care for me a little. But what do I know; he probably hasn't given me a second thought since our conversation before he went to work on the security system.' Just then she heard the door to the tower roof slowly creek open.

"Raven?" Went his voice, it was soft and gentle as to not disturb her if she was meditating.

"Yes Dan?"

"Well, I made dinner, I mean, that is if you want to join me for…"

"Of course I will," She said this almost too eagerly. 'Snap out of it Raven! Don't let him think you're after him!'

"Oh, good," He said almost like a great burden had just been taken from his shoulders, "Let's go."

As they both entered the room Raven stopped cold. The lights in the room were dimmed and the table had a lit candle on each edge with a vase of roses in the center. A fireplace (newly installed by Dan himself) was lit over in the corner and the windows were cracked giving a perfect, if not romantic, atmosphere to the room. "Wha…what is all this?" Raven said as she slowly made her way to her seat. Dan pulled it out for her to sit down.

"Well, I thought that you deserved a nice dinner, one not involving fights between meat and tofu." He walked over to the kitchen area and brought back a silver platter with a steaming red lobster on it. "One of the fun things about having powers which generate heat, you can cook things in an instant," he chuckled to himself.

"It's very, nice Dan, thank you."

"You're quite welcome my lady," he bowed and waved his hand with a gentlemen-like flair, "Is there anything else that you require?" He was using a fake British accent and Raven couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"No, come on sit down, it's your meal after all."

He sat down across from her and she noticed he was staring at her as she began to eat.

"Everything alright?" She inquired, her cheeks turning a light pink.

'Okay Dan, this is it, the moment of truth. DON'T BLOW IT' He thought to himself. "Well Raven, it's just that, I mean…"

"Yes?" She said with a false voice of questioning.

"It's just that, I know I've only known you a couple of days, man this sounds so lame." He put his hands up to his head to cover up the red hot blush dwelling on his cheeks. "It's just that, I really, well like you. More than just a friend and I was wondering if you felt the same about me…"

Raven stared at him with a look of surprise on her face.

"I'm sorry Raven, I shouldn't have said that, enjoy your meal." He then walked quickly out of the room. 'STUPID, STUPID, STUPID! What was I thinking? A beautiful girl like her would never fall for a guy like me, what was I thinking?' He trudged off towards the roof with his head toward the ground.

Raven sat there stunned. 'Did he just, just say he liked me? I can't believe it…he probably thinks he's the stupidest guy in the world right now. I've got to go find him. She stopped for a second. My gosh, I actually love him.' After a second she hurried off in the direction of where he had gone.