A/N: Reviews are greatly appreciated!
Raven stood in the shower, letting the hot water run over her body. The crime alert hadn't been anything major. Mumbo Jumbo had been attempting to rob a jewelry store. Although Mumbo wasn't much of a threat, his pathetic parlor tricks often left Raven feeling kind of gross.
As she lathered her lavender-scented shampoo into her short, purple hair, Raven thought about what Beast Boy had said earlier about her going to the party. As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. She had never really been to a party before. She honestly might enjoy it. Plus it would be a great way to forget about the day's earlier scrape with Mumbo. The pale sorceress sighed with resignation. She was going to the party.
She quickly conditioned her hair and washed her body. She grabbed her razor and can of shaving cream and quickly but carefully shaved. Once she was done, she turned off the water, stepped out of the tub, and towel dried off. She wiped the steam off her antique mirror and brushed her hair and teeth.
Putting on her lilac colored robe, Raven stepped into her room. She crossed the floor, opened the door, and poked her head out. Finding the hallway empty, she darted to a room a few doors down. Timidly, she knocked on the door.
After a few anxious seconds, the door slid open to reveal Starfire standing in a white robe with her long, red hair wrapped up in a white towel atop her head. "Friend Raven?" she said in confusion.
Raven looked down at the floor and shifted her weight a little. This must be how Beast Boy feels when he comes to apologize to me, Raven thought before she looked back up and awkwardly responded. "Hi, I, um, was thinking, and I decided to go tonight, but I don't have anything to wear. Do you think you could, um, help me?"
"Are you for the reals?" the Tamaranean questioned, excitement already starting to seep into her voice.
Raven meekly nodded. She felt her cheeks flush as she realized the mess she had just gotten herself into.
Starfire squealed in glee and pulled Raven into the room. She sat Raven on the bed and rushed into her bathroom.
"Please, not too much," Raven begged as Starfire returned with her arms full of makeup and hair supplies.
"Of course, friend!" Starfire replied. "I have just the look for you!" She knelt in front of the seated girl and began.
After what felt like hours of eye poking, hair pulling, and hot styling irons uncomfortably close, Starfire stepped back to look at her masterpiece.
"Can I look?" Raven asked, wanting to assess the damage.
"Not yet," the orange alien replied. "You must be the completely ready first." She walked into her closet and returned with a yellow plastic bag. "This dress will work." She handed the bag over.
Raven pulled the dress from the bag. "Why are there so many holes? And what about the sleeves? How am I supposed to wear a bra if there aren't any sleeves?"
Starfire giggled. "You are not. But you came to me for help. Now you must trust me."
"Fine," Raven sighed. She stood up, removed her robe, and pulled the dress on.
"And these shoes," Starfire said as she handed Raven a pair of shiny black pumps. She waited patiently but excitedly while the other girl put the shoes on, then dragged her to the full-length mirror on the closet door.
"I don't know, Star, I feel exposed. My arms are naked and I feel a draft."
Starfire pointed to the mirror, smiling. "Just look."
Raven obliged and what she saw shocked her. The first thing that caught her attention was her lips. They were done in a deep red, a color that would normally make her look like a clown had Starfire not offset them with a dark smokey eye. Her cheeks had just the slightest touch of blush to give Raven a little more color. Her hair had been curled into loose beach waves, a style that looked surprisingly good on her short bob. The dress was black and sleeveless with a high neckline, which left Raven's shoulders completely exposed. It was tight-fitted down to her waist, where the skirt part flowed out and down to her mid-thigh. There was an arching hole about three fingers high on each side of her waist. The seam where the torso met the skirt had a faux leather "belt." All hens except the bottom were lined by the same fabric. Overall, the dress had a sexy ballerina look to it. The black pumps lengthened Raven's legs and defined her muscles. Although she had her doubts, Raven had to admit Starfire did a good job.
"Are you pleased?"
At a loss for words, Raven just nodded. She turned to look at her friend.
"Wonderful!" Starfire said as she French braided her hair. She was now in her dress as well, and Raven was glad she wasn't given that one. Starfire's dress was in two parts, a bra and a skirt. The maroon bra had one strap tied around her back and another that haltères around her neck. The skirt, also maroon, was tied with the bra at Starfire's sternum and dipped down to just above her rear in the back. A built in slip went tightly to her knees, and a sheer overlay flowed all the way to the floor. A slit ran up the left side of the overlay, revealing Starfire's maroon, strappy heels. Her ribs and back were left completely bare. The ensemble made the Tamaranean appear impossibly tall.
"Wow, Star. You look amazing," Raven said in a rare moment of openness.
"Why, thank you, friend!" Starfire walked into her bathroom and started applying her makeup.
A knock on the door drew Raven's attention away from her reflection. She glanced at Starfire, who nodded as if to say Raven could answer. Raven crossed the floor, thankful her natural gracefulness kept her up in her heels, and pushed the button to slide the door open.
"Damn, Rae!" a deep voice bellowed. "You actually look nice. Are you going tonight?"
"Hey, Cy," Raven greeted the half-metal man. "Yes, I'm going. But did you just imply that I don't normally look good?"
Cyborg's face dropped as he realized what he had said. "No! I - uh - that's not what I meant. You just don't normally try."
Raven was about to say something when Robin stepped out from behind the stuttering man. He was wearing a slick black suit that reminded Raven of Barney Stinson. "You're just digging yourself a bigger hole, Cy," he said with a laugh. "What he means is this look suits you."
"Thank you, Robin," the sorceress said, shooting Cyborg a small smile so he'd know she was just giving him a hard time.
"Is it the time to leave?" Starfire asked, walking up behind Raven.
"Yep!" Cyborg replied. "The T-car is all ready." He stepped to the side to let the two girls exit the room.
"Will Beast Boy not be joining us tonight?" Starfire asked as she stepped into Robin's arms. The two had been steadily dating since Tokyo almost three years ago.
"He left already," Robin answered. "Roy came by and picked him up."
The group of four walked to the elevator and rode it down to the basement. Raven stood in silence, unsure whether to be excited or filled with dread at what her immediate future held. The three other Titans loaded into the T-car, Cyborg driving and the happy couple cuddling in the back.
"Friend Raven, are you coming?" Starfire asked.
"Yeah, I ain't driving Miss Daisy here," Cyborg added.
"I do not understand. Neither Robin nor I are named Daisy," Starfire said as Raven climbed into the passenger seat.
The T-car roared to life and took off down the exit tunnel while Cyborg and Robin tried to explain the dated reference to a confused Starfire,p. Raven stayed out the window at the passing lights, deep in thought. I guess it's too late to back out now.