A/N: Standard Disclaimers Apply
Chapter Three: Distractions
Robin laid down a small over night bag and a metal attaché case on his bed. Unlike the other Titans, whose rooms were individually decorated, Robin's room was Spartan. It consisted of his dressing table, his closet, his bed, a small library shelf of detective novels and crime theory books, and little else. He opened his closet, pulled down one of his extra uniforms, and set it beside the attaché.
"I still do not understand why you must go alone."
Robin took a deep breath. "Kory, it's only going to take a day, two tops, to get my questions answered." He put his hand on her shoulder and smiled, "I'll be back before you know it."
Robin folded his costume and slipped it in the metal case. He turned it over and opened the other side. It was literally an arsenal of spare weapons: bird-a-rangs, telescoping staves, throwing darts, grapple lines, and a spare T-Communicator. The Teen Wonder inventoried the lot one more time and snapped the case shut. He picked up both bags and smiled at the alien princess.
He nodded and walked out the door.
Kory sighed and hung her magnificent head.
"Well, Friend Raven, what do you think? Intervention?" Kory heard from the doorway.
"Oh yes, definitely, Friend Jinx. It's time for an intervention."
Kory turned to see Raven and Jinx standing in the doorway. Raven, forgoing her usual blue cloak, wore a black, form fitting tee shirt and loose fitting black jeans. Jinx wore a purple fishnet, long sleeved shirt over a black camisole and baggy skate boarder's pants. The pair swooped in and each took one of the alien girl's arms and guided her out of Robin's room.
"No moping for you today, princess," Jinx told her.
"Not at all. Remember, I have the moping corner already covered," Raven added sarcastically.
"Where are you taking me?" Kory demanded.
"Out," Jinx and Raven said together.
Raven frowned, "Look, I know it's not my style, but you need some girl time. No boys, just the three of us, and I can't believe I suggested this…"
"What Raven is trying to say," Jinx interjected, "is that you are about to come with us to the mall."
"But, what if I do not feel like going," Kory said quietly.
"Princess, we're not giving you the choice," Jinx said. "Now you can come with us quietly or kicking and screaming."
Kory glanced to Jinx then to Raven. A small grin turned into a wide smile and she threw her arms around the pair of witches, "Oh thank you, my dear friends!"
"Hello ladies."
The three girls broke their friendly embrace and turned to see Cyborg. He rubbed the back of his head and shrugged.
"Sorry for interrupting, but any of y'all seen BB?" Vic asked.
"I am sorry; I have not."
"Haven't been looking for him."
"If you do, tell him to keep out of my room."
"No problem there, Rae," Vic said grinning. "Okay, I'll look for him downstairs. Have fun at the mall, girls."
Raven crossed her arms over her chest and touched her shoulders with two fingers. She bowed her head, and the trio was wrapped in ebon energy. They felt a gentle pull and found themselves at the very fashionable Arboretum of Jump City. It was a sprawling outdoor mall with fine boutiques, restaurants, bookstores, salons, a grass lawn for live music, and tree lined paths.
And never have three young women looked so out of place.
The young women first stepped into Karan's, a high-end evening gown boutique. The smartly dressed saleswoman greeted them so mechanically, they all had to stifle giggles. It was truly a joy to be both so conspicuous and incognito at the same time. Even Starfire, out of her customary costume, could pass for a girl with a sunburned tan. After teasing each other about the aspects of each gown, Kory thanked the clerk for at least a hundred times as Rae and Jinx pulled her out of the shop.
Next stop: Chocolates by Gerard.
"Mmm," Jinx hummed as she bit into an Amaretto truffle. "If heaven had a taste, this would be it."
"You should try these lavender pralines," Raven said. She read the description to her friends, "Lavender infused white chocolate on a chocolate cookie wafer and enrobed in bittersweet coating."
"Oh, goddess, that should be illegal."
"It is in most states," Raven commented.
Jinx laughed. "Aren't you the one who said 'I don't do jokes'?"
Kory ate her strawberry tart quietly and was thankful she had such good friends. A contented smile curled her lips and she brushed a lock of her hair away from her eyes. She looked to her companions.
Raven's eyes went wide, but hollow. The bag of chocolates fell from her hands as the young witch froze. Her skin became more ashen than usual, and she stared at her hands.
"Raven?" Starfire asked her voice full of concern.
Jinx reached out and lightly touched her friend's hand. Instantly dark energy wings appeared and batted the two Titans away. They folded around Raven like her cloak, covering her head like her hood.
The dark haired girl's heart raced uncontrollably. Her breathing shallowed, and she began to hyperventilate.
"R…r…red," Raven stammered. "Everything….red…."
