A/N: This one-shot was completed as part of an Autumn writing challenge. I decided to move away from western autumn themes and do something a little different. Thanks JuniperNight for acting as beta!
Beast Boy crouched at the edge of the roof and studied the street below before asking Raven, "How do you want to do this?"
She stepped forward, trying not to scowl at the view. Anyone else would have seen a festival, dozens of lights, candles and displays glittering down Main Street, stalls lining the pavement and people gathering in what space remained. Music from about three different stalls clashed together in competition and made Raven wonder how anyone could hear anything else down there. Between the people, the noise and the lights Raven didn't see a festival, but a headache waiting to happen. What she wanted to do was go back to Titan's Tower and meditate. The fact that the team's rotations for public gatherings had left her with this – instead of the Harvest Market, for example – did not make her feel any better.
"I don't think we're going to get a good view from up here," She motioned at one of the many strings of lights that had been suspended from the buildings until they created a roof of their own over the street. "We're going to have to do this on foot."
The changeling stared at Raven, "You sure? If we're down there, we're only going to be able to deal with our immediate surroundings. You want us to split up? Cover half each?"
"If it's all the same to you, I'd much rather we stick together. I think our presence should be enough to deter most opportunists."
It was one of the main reasons the team took it in turns to patrol large events within the city – if they didn't all attend. Though there had been a few instances of supervillains using it as a time to cause trouble, most of the crime that took place was petty crime – pickpockets, small thefts, sometimes drunken brawls. While police would also be present, Jump City's mayor liked the idea of the Teen Titans visible at such events. No doubt part of this reason was for the publicity, but the mayor also felt the citizens felt safer – more comfortable – around the superheroes than the city's peace keeping force.
"You're the one with a thing about crowds – not me," Beast Boy told her but nodded, before grinning at the empath. "Race you to the pavement."
He didn't wait for her response but dived off the edge of the building, missing Raven roll her eyes at him but, never one to lose, she quickly opened a portal, stepping through it and onto the street. She looked up, quickly spotting the green sparrow before it morphed into Beast Boy and he landed beside her.
"Hey! That was cheating."
"I don't remember you specifying any rules." Raven shrugged, before turning to look at where the festivities began.
Despite most of Main Street being closed to traffic, the two titans were not yet within the festival. Even so the music was so much louder than it had been from the rooftop and a steady stream of people moved past them towards the large banner that wished everyone a 'Happy Diwali'. Despite the cooling weather a lot of the women who passed them wore bright sarees or kameez, a few people having draped delicate shawls over their shoulders, the men no less colourful in their kurtas. Parka jackets and jeans were few and far in-between.
"Ready?" Beast Boy asked his teammate with a smile. "This could be fun."
She decided not to answer him but walked towards the crowd. The festival would not end until the fireworks in three hours. She didn't think being paired with Beast Boy would make the time go any quicker. He quickly followed after her, both Titans scanning the people around them as they walked. Beast Boy was quick to smile at anyone who saw him looking – 'nothing to see here folks. Just your friendly neighbourhood superhero'. Raven didn't smile, though she didn't do an awful lot of watching the crowd as they started to pass the first few stalls. Scents of saffron, honey and spices caught her attention instead, giving her a distraction from the colourful crowd around her and their jubilant emotions.
"Think we should stop at some of the stalls? Check on how they're doing – could lead us to any troublemakers, if there are any."
Raven looked at him, before following his line of sight. He was already looking at a food vendor. Quietly, she wondered if it was the same one she was smelling. To Beast Boy, she scowled. "You're thinking of food already?"
"I can focus on work sometimes, you know." He tried to look offended, before smiling sheepishly. "It smells really good. We're here for a few hours. Robin never said we couldn't enjoy the work and we can talk to them at the same time as getting food."
Raven sighed but relented, following Beast Boy over. She didn't pay much attention to him or the stall owner, instead turning to watch what was happening behind them. She scowled as she spotted a familiar face in the crowd, bubblegum pink hair giving them away, despite it not being pulled into it's usual horns, and quickly tapped on Beast Boy's shoulder, not wanting to look away and risk losing her.
"Beast Boy,"
"Two seconds Rae."
As he went back to his conversation, she watched the leader of the H.I.V.E five move further down the street and after a quick glance at Beast Boy, who seemed to be going through the food and it's ingredients – no doubt looking for something vegetarian – she gave up and left him, pushing through the crowd, confident she could handle Jinx on her own.
It didn't take her long to catch up, the crowd quickly moving for her, and she grabbed Jinx's shoulder, spinning her round, another small push moving them close to the building and out of the street, not wanting to cause a scene.
Jinx's eyes were wide as she looked at the hero, though she recovered quickly. "I'm not causing trouble."
Whatever Raven had intended to say was lost as she realised the young woman wasn't wearing her usual black and purple outfit. "You're wearing a saree?"
The cloth matched the pink of her hair, the edges embroidered in silver. Paired with a matching pink midriff top and silver heeled sandals, she had never seen the villain look so elegant.
"Is that a crime now?" Jinx snapped back, before flinching. "Look, I'm just here to enjoy the evening. That's all. I'm not looking for trouble."
Raven let her hand drop. She almost wanted to look for Beast Boy but could feel he wasn't near them, still back at the food stall. "You still have warrants out for your arrest."
"You really want to start something here?"
Raven looked around. Everyone seemed to be ignoring them, neither interested in her or the thief – if they even recognised her."Where is your team?"
"Not here. I'm on my own." Jinx rolled her eyes impatiently, before an idea filled them, the young woman putting on sweet smile. "But if you really don't trust me, you can always spend the evening with me. I wont try and give you the slip."
She glanced back through the crowd to where Beast Boy should have been, before glaring at Jinx. She didn't want to leave her on her own, not trusting the woman, but didn't think she'd willingly follow her to find her other teammate either. If Beast Boy had concerns on where she'd gone, he'd easily shift into a bird and search above the crowd for her. But knowing the Titan, he'd probably not worry, happy enough to do his own thing.
"It's not exactly like I have much of a choice, is it?"
"Think of it like getting into the mindset of the festivities – you know, making new friends, forgetting old grievances and all that." Jinx grabbed Raven's arm, dragging her back into the crowd before she had time to protest.
As they started walking, she jerked her arm back. "I didn't take you as the type for religious festivities."
"Wouldn't have figured you being interested in them either."
"I'm not. I'm on patrol."
"Of course. Should have known that one. Just figured what with your chakra gem and all – are you married?"
"Excuse me?" Her head snapped to look at the thief, only looking away when she bumped into someone.
"Your gem is red. Ya know, if your single, it should be black."
"I am not married, and it is not a bindi, Jinx. It is for my chakra, but for completely different reasons."
"What reasons?"
"I'm following you because I want to make sure you don't cause a situation – not because I want to talk to you."
"Lighten up, hun. It's supposed to be a happy day. And get rid of the hood." Jinx quickly pulled at the material of Raven's cloak. "People will think your on duty and you'll enjoy the festival a whole lot less."
Raven automatically raised her hands to her hood, intending on trying to stop her but the woman was too quick. "I am on duty."
"You look better without the hood," Jinx shrugged. "Come on – I want some food. You like spicy food? My treat."
She led them over to another stall quickly ordering two meals of mutton curry and puri, not bothering to ask what the empath would like. She passed Raven one tray before taking her own and thanking the vendor with a cheery "Diwali ki Subhkamnayein!"
As they moved away, Jinx intending on finding somewhere they could sit and eat, she told Raven with a small chuckle, "We robbed his food market a few weeks ago."
"That's not information you're supposed to just give away," Raven told her.
"Why not? We already established you're not going to try and arrest me here." They found an empty bench, Jinx taking a seat and Raven following.
They ate in silence until Raven broke it. She hadn't been planning on talking to the woman but her curiosity got the better of her. "Why are you here Jinx? And why the saree?"
"Bonus points if you can figure it out by yourself." She grinned. "I'm not telling you my secrets."
"You look…good." Raven told her, before quickly looking back at the crowd and scowling at herself, not sure where that came from.
"Flattery isn't going to make me answer either," Jinx laughed.
"The obvious answer would be that you follow the Hindu religion. I just really can't picture that. Aren't you worried about negative karma?"
"I am one big ball of bad karma, Rae. Shani's fault, that. I was born when Saturn did it's closest rotation. That's his planet. The god, that is."
"Shani is not bad luck, Jinx. He's tasked with delivering people's karma back to them, whether that be good or bad karma. And please use my actual name."
"I'm impressed. Though if you're born under Saturn you're supposed to be more prone to bad luck, and I am back luck." She nudged Raven with her elbow. "How do you know so much about Hinduism?"
"I've studied several different religions."
"And you follow none of them?"
Raven sighed before going back to her curry. "Forget I asked."
"So, what do you think? Food good?" Jinx lightly nudged her with her elbow.
"I've had worse. Exactly how long are you going to be here for?"
"If you're bored, hurry up and finish eating – there's loads of stuff to do."
"If you're expecting me to enjoy having to follow you round, we're really not on the same wavelengths."
"Of course we're not. I'm fun, exciting and living life to the full. You're…" Not wanting to insult the Titan and push her luck, Jinx trailed off before offering weakly, "You."
"How very perceptive of you." Raven responded dryly.
"I'm trying really hard not to upset you here. But I mean, you're welcome to prove me otherwise."
Finished with her food Raven stood. "Let's get this over with."
She spent the first half of the evening shadowing Jinx as she visited all the stores, getting one call from Beast Boy to find out where she had gone. She quickly reassured him she was fine, though stuck following Jinx who she had spotted in the crowd. They agreed to stay split during their patrol, while Jinx happily shouted at the Titan's communicator, "Shift into a cow – the kids'll love that."
Jinx led the Teen Titan down Main Street to a large stage that had been set up, blocking off that end of the street, and they stayed to watch a traditional dance group – the women wearing bright silks in vivid yellows and red, and belts of bells round their ankles that chimed with every step – before several musicians took the stage, all with instruments Raven had never seen before. They started to play a traditional ragam, Jinx quickly losing interest before dragging Raven to the next thing that caught her attention.
As the sky darkened, the hundreds of tea lights and fairy-lights on the street cast a subtle glow over everything. Raven saw more coats coming out, the temperature dropping. As they joined a cue of women and a few men, Jinx hugged her arms to herself.
"Didn't bring a coat?"
Jinx gave the woman a sheepish smile. "It's my first time wearing a saree in years. Didn't want to ruin the look. Why? You offering me your cloak?"
"No chance. Just pointing out that you're an idiot."
Jinx truly grinned then. "And here I thought you'd be a gentleman. Just hold you arm out – I'm sure I can fit under there with you."
Raven rolled her eyes, not bothering to reward the comment with a response, instead asking, "Exactly what are you queuing for?"
"We. We're queueing, because you're taking part too."
"Somehow I doubt that."
"Come on Raven – don't be a spoil-sport. It'll be the fireworks soon. Just this one thing, we watch the fireworks, then I get out of your way."
"What are we queuing for?" Raven amended, though had no intention on taking part.
"You'll see." Jinx grinned. "Don't worry – it's nothing too exciting."
Raven scowled at her. "I should be putting you in handcuffs – not following you around." She tried to lean round the queue to see what was happening, but too many people blocked the way.
"We can always arrange that for the after-party. Maybe you'd rather be in the handcuffs this time?" She teased without missing a beat.
Raven blushed. Jinx decided her scowl was much less intimidating because of it and quickly tried to think of some more ways to get that reaction.
Raven's communicator rang, saving her from having to come up with a response and Raven quickly reached for it, flipping it open. She was met with Beast Boy eating something, the changeling offering her a hasty smile before asking, "How goes the babysitting?"
"She's behaving." Raven glanced at the thief in question. "Everything been alright your end?"
"Nice and quiet. I've checked round most of the stalls and some of the crowd. No issues raised. Not seen much of anything walking round either. I'm gonna try and do another lap before finding a good spot to watch the fireworks from. They always do really good fireworks. Meet you after that?"
"I'll make sure Jinx leaves the immediate area first." She nodded.
"Probably best not to mention it to Robin," Beast Boy told her quietly. "He'll only ask why we didn't arrest her."
"No point in causing a scene when we don't need to. We'll get her soon enough the next time the H.I.V.E Five try something."
"You wish," Jinx told the empath before stepping closer, trying to look over her shoulder at the communicator. "Hey grass-stain. Enjoying the festival? What'cha eating?"
Beast Boy didn't know how to respond, his eyes wide, and Raven quickly stepped away, removing her as much as she could from the call. "It's been a long evening."
"I'll bet," Beast Boy nodded. "I still wouldn't mention it to Robin though. You know how he gets. I'll let you go. Beast Boy out."
Raven flipped the communicator shut and hung it back on her belt while Jinx pouted. "I was only gonna recommend some good food for him to try."
"You're pushing your luck," Raven muttered, before wincing at the irony of the phrase.
"Sounds to me like I'm lucky it was you two here and not bird-brain, huh? Didn't think you'd be one of the softer titans. Your reputation is obviously much scarier than you actually are."
"I try and arrest you and we're going to end up fighting. We are both primarily long-range fighters. While I am not happy you are here – I wouldn't be stood here with you if I was – I don't want to ruin tonight for other people so long as you don't give me reason to, or put them in danger unnecessarily. That does not mean I'm soft. It means the next time I come across you breaking the law, I'll hit you twice as hard – to repay you for today."
"You sweet talker," Jinx responded, unphased as she moved forward with the queue.
They were almost at the front. The stall they had been queuing for was not a stall but a long table, three women sat one side, each with their own customer.
"Body paint?" Raven asked sceptically
"Mehndi." Jinx corrected her. "Supposed to bring good luck, and it's real pretty. Well, on most people. It looks really orange on me because my skin's so pale. I'm curious to see how it reacts with grey skin."
"Then you will have to remain curious."
The woman opened her mouth to respond, but one of the ladies at the table interrupted her, passing over a small bound book. Jinx thanked them before flipping it open, moving closer to Raven as she shoved the book in front of her face, showing her two delicate and slightly floral patterns.
"At least have a look? You might find something you like. If you want to ask me, lotus flowers are a great choice for Diwali but you can get whatever."
"How long does it stay on for?" She asked reluctantly.
"I mean, depends on your lifestyle, but from a week to a few weeks. It'll fade of course during that time. It's a dye – it stains your skin." Jinx changed to the next page, pulled a face and continued flicking through the booklet. "Ooh this one is pretty."
Each page had an outline of a hand, so the person could see exactly how the design would fit. Raven studied the image that had drawn Jinx's attention for a moment, before muttering, "I would rather something on the palms than the top of my hands."
She grinned at the book, then continued looking, glancing up at the table to make sure it wasn't their turn. She found a smaller pattern – a small lotus flower at the heel of the palm, surrounded by some decoration, complimented by a simple line and dot pattern on the fingers. "This one? It's small."
Raven frowned before letting out a sigh. "Very well."
Jinx could help feel a sense of accomplishment as they reached the table and – after throwing some cash down – she pointed to the design, letting them know they both wanted the same one. She felt Raven glare at her as as placed her hands on the table, palms up, but despite the hostile look Raven mimicked her.
"Matching, Jinx? Really?"
"Heh. What can I say? It's a nice design."
Raven froze up as the woman opposite grabbed one of her hands, and Jinx laughed at her.
"It doesn't hurt. I mean unless you have a reaction to it. But most people are fine with the brown henna. It's the black one that causes issues."
"That's not the problem," Raven told her unhappily. "I… like my personal space." She watched as the woman held a gold tube, narrowed at one end, and gently squeezed out a paste in a thin line, starting the design.
"So that's why you always fight long distance, huh? I mean I've seen some of the punches you throw – you must be at least as good in hand to hand combat. Exactly how strong are you? Stronger than most of us, at least. Maybe not as strong as Mammoth."
"You know exactly why I fight long distance, unless you're more incompetent than I took you for."
"You really like those subtle insults, don't you? If you're gonna make me prove a point, I've noticed you don't tend to use your powers if someone is too close to you. Is that a concentration thing or a 'powers might backlash on you too' kinda thing? Because I don't think I've quite figured that bit out."
"I'm not telling you my secrets." Raven threw back, earning a laugh.
"Touché. I'll figure it out eventually. Maybe send Mammoth after you next time – we always seem to end up fighting each other."
"Your hexes destroy Robin's equipment, could probably cause Cyborg to melt down and Beast Boy struggles to get close. What do you expect? Not to mention, whoever fights Mammoth is better off matching his strength."
"Could you match his strength?"
"Change your tactics and find out." Raven told her with a small smile. The woman swapped with Raven's hands, the smile quickly dropping from her face.
"You're coming off way too confident about that. You could, couldn't you? What other tricks are you hiding?"
"None that I need to use to beat you."
"Again with the low key insults. You might hurt a girl's feelings."
As the designed were finished and they were shooed from the table, Raven holding her hands out awkwardly in front of her, she asked the thief, "What now?"
"We wait for it dry. And I mean really dry. You don't want it patchy." Jinx laughed, despite holding her hands out in the same way. "You look so stupid."
Raven chuckled. "And you don't?"
"Holy Vishnu, she can laugh! Don't tell me you're actually having fun?" She started walking, motioning for Raven to follow. "The fireworks'll be starting any time now. We should find a good spot."
The 'right spot', as dictated by Jinx, had led them back up to the top end of Main Street. They leant against a large concrete flower planter – the flowers long since dead and yet to be replaced by the usual Christmas decorations. As the henna dried, Jinx ordered the hero to rub her hands together until the paste crumbled away, leaving the design behind.
Raven resisted the urge to pull her hands back as Jinx grabbed them, looking at the stains. "Still orange. You thought it'd be a little different." She let go of Raven and held her own hands up to the empath's.
"If you even think about getting into a fight with us before this wears off, Robin will have a ton of questions." Raven told her as she looked at the matching designs.
"You and the grass stain really not going to tell him then?"
Raven shrugged as she dropped her hands back to her sides. "Like I said, no reason to cause an issue when there isn't one."
They fell into silence as the fireworks started, both looking up at the sky, people falling in place around them. Jinx started to shiver, the air cold enough to show their breaths and Raven chewed on her bottom lip a moment, battling with herself before she grabbed the corner of her cloak and held her it out with her arm in a silent invitation.
Jinx grinned as she stepped closer without hesitation, letting the woman drape the material over her shoulders, inching closer to the empath as she wrapped herself with it as best as she could. Raven kept her gaze fixed on the fireworks, unable to look at Jinx or fight the blush that rose to her cheeks. She stiffened up as Jinx's head found her shoulder and knew the woman had noticed but stood her ground. There were shouts of appreciation and wonder around them as the firework finale started.
They stayed still as the firework display finished and everyone else went back to their activities, Raven no longer tense but feeling, strangely, happy.
"Well, better get out your way then," Jinx finally said, stepping away from the woman, unwrapping herself from the side of Raven's cloak. "I actually had fun. Thanks. I mean, I know you were only watching me cause I'm a bad guy and all that. But thanks.
"I… had fun too." Raven admitted quietly.
"Great. Same time next year then?" She grinned, not waiting for an answer before she turned and started to walk away, stopping briefly to offer the titan a wave.
Raven watched her go before grabbing her communicator and contacting her team mate. "Raven calling Beast Boy. Ready to go home?"
(…)
"Haven't you got anything better to do?" Cyborg shouted as he ducked under the glass cabinet Mammoth had thrown at him.
"Could ask you snot munchers the same thing!" Gizmo had leapt forward, seeing his opening, and threw a small round disk towards Cyborg.
Raven quickly surrounded it with her dark energy. It exploded, the shock-waves bouncing off the shield until Raven felt it within her mind but it had contained it and Cyborg was able to continue forward in his attempt to reach Mammoth.
She let the dark energy drop and turned her attention back to Jinx however she had been distracted long enough for the woman to move closer without her realising. The hex bolt hit her directly in the stomach, knocking her back and leaving her feeling sick. Jinx leapt forward, her foot in the perfect position for her to land a kick. Raven rolled quickly before her hand shot out, grabbing Jinx's ankle and pulling hard, upsetting her balance. Jinx hit the floor on her side, her eyes wide with shock.
Raven started to scramble to her feet when the thief quickly, but quietly, told her, "Hang on. I just wanted to ask you something."
Raven raised her brow in a silent question as she dusted off her legs.
Jinx smiled. "So I was planning on going to that carnival that's setting up in two weeks time. Wanna come?"
(...)
A/N: Those of you who know my version of Jinx will know I write her as being Indian and somewhat tied to Hinduism – mostly because Jinx's original character was Indian and it's that extra bit of diversity the show probably could have needed, even if she is one of the bad guys. (any discrepancies with regards to the celebration and Hinduism itself please let me know!)
Diwali follows a lunar calender, so doesn't have a fixed date but it usually around the start of November/end of October. It celebrates light beating the darkness in a time when the evenings get longer (as well as prosperity for the months ahead)
kurtas – A long, almost tunic type top, worn over (mostly) loose fitting trousers
Saree – a garment made from one length of material, paired with a top.
Kameez – a long tunic with a high waist, also worn over trousers
Puri – a deep-fried disk of dough that goes all puffy and yummy. Can be served at breakfast or dinner, as a snack or with a meal.
Raga/Ragam – a type of classical Indian music.