Slade's gentle interjection into her mind gave Raven enough calm to recenter herself and regain control over her powers, so when Nightwing and the others were handing over the villains to authorities, she resigned herself to join her team and quietly melted into the background as their leader was being swarmed by news cameras. Raven kept her hood up and stood slightly behind Cyborg and Starfire. Changeling, of course, was trying to flirt with enthusiastic women behind the police line. She could sense Dick's excitement as reporters questioned him about the fight.
"Because of Changeling's vigilance, the Titans were able to get here and stop the villains before things got out of hand, and we're glad to say no one was hurt in their attack," Nightwing was saying.
Raven was only half-listening and was making sure to keep outside emotions as far from her psyche as possible. She didn't want a repeat of earlier on live television. It was only when Starfire nudged her forcefully that Raven brought her attention back to the moment.
Nightwing had shifted aside, giving the reporters and cameras a clear view of her as they looked at her expectantly. Her friends were grinning at her, and Raven moved her eyes between them. Nightwing tried to hide his laugh when he spoke to her.
"The reporters want to ask you a question, Raven," he said, his voice filled with mirth. She had the distinct sense they had already asked her, and she swore at herself for not listening.
"Oh, okay," Raven said neutrally, awkwardly shifting as Starfire shoved her to the front of the Titans. "What was the question?" she asked as her violet eyes scanned over the gathered group. She hated being in front of the press. The cameras, microphones all being shoved into her face was overwhelming, and today was no exception.
A female reporter at the front repeated her question as the crowd pushed closer trying to get their mics as close to Raven as possible to pick up her quiet voice. "Adonis seemed quite distracted by your new look, Raven, and I've got to say, it's quite the change. What made you decide to change your uniform?"
Raven blinked at the reporter. She's not seriously asking me this, right? Behind her, Raven heard Cyborg snicker, and Starfire was actively holding her breath to not laugh aloud.
"Um…" Raven scratched her head. What was she supposed to say to that?
"Did you design it yourself?" another reporter piped in as mics started battling to get closer.
"Who made it for you?"
"Are you trying to attract attention?"
"Will you ever go back to your old outfit?"
Raven's neck was straining trying to pick out each person asking her a question, but even when she found the voice, another would call out.
"Raven!" the original woman shouted over the growing cacophony, "what made you decide to change it?"
I hoped the alarm was for Slade, and I wanted to feel his reaction when he saw me in it. Raven gritted her teeth. She definitely couldn't say that.
"Who designed it?!" someone else shouted again.
My former enemy who also sent me a giant flower arrangement after we hooked up in a dark plane of existence. Safe to say, that answer was also not one she felt she could share.
Former enemy? Raven asked herself, wondering when she started thinking of Slade as a former villain and not the supervillain who had, only a week ago, broken into BioJump to steal data on a deadly weapon. As the reporters continued to press her for information about her new leotard, which was a ridiculous thing to focus on to begin with, Raven tried to keep her face neutral. Feigning nonchalance, she shrugged and leaned into the microphones.
"Just wanted to try something new, I guess," she answered before fading back into her teammates, hoping that would end the conversation.
Thankfully, Nightwing sensed her discomfort and stepped in front of her, blocking the press from jumping on her again. He expertly redirected the conversation, and as all eyes fell back to the Titan leader, Raven took her opportunity to peel away. They had presented a united front, and, now, Raven felt sure the others wouldn't mind if she left. It was odd for her to have stayed this long to begin with, but she had felt Dick's urge to redirect the negative publicity into something positive, and so she had stayed for him. Now, as the sun was inching closer to the horizon, Raven took to the sky. She wasn't confident in her ability to jump through darkness just yet, so she would return to the Tower through the air.
She soared over the bay, wind whipping up her long hair and tossing back her hood. The bite of the air raised chills over her skin, but the warmth of the sun's rays negated the cold. The closer she got to the Tower, the more her stomach began to knot. They had never actually agreed on a time to meet, yet Raven somehow knew it would be at sunset. When Slade had…encouraged her not to be late, she again felt the certainty that was the time he expected her. It was odd, knowing what someone else wanted without words, especially when that someone wasn't Dick Grayson. The connection between Slade and Raven was building fast, much faster than how the bond between her and Dick had formed. Perhaps it was just because of the nature of their relationship? But something in Raven told her that wasn't the only reason.
She landed on the roof of the Tower and phased through the floors to her room. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she pressed two fingers against her ribcage, wincing at the still tender flesh. Groaning, Raven unzipped the leotard and went to the mirror to check the damage. Her forced healing during the fight had undone the major damage, likely the only reason she didn't feel broken ribs beneath her skin, but the flesh of her torso was bruised and swollen. Already, her body was healing the bruises but not fast enough for the injuries to be gone by the time she left. Raven sighed and returned to her bed, lying out flat and sending a prayer to Azar that she wouldn't lose control. She once again surged her power into her own body, focusing on mending her physical form.
Risky, Intelligence whispered to her, the first emoticlone to speak to her since her failure in Nevermore. Raven conceded it was dangerous to force her healing again, but she hated the idea of being injured when she was with Slade more than the possibility of destroying her room. There was no one else in the Tower, so, to Raven, this was the perfect time to attempt it. As her power rushed to the parts of her body needing healing, she sensed the storm that was haunting her rumble at the back of her mind, but without the intrusive thoughts of others, it stayed distant. At least, she thought it did.
After a few minutes, Raven's eyes opened to destruction. While her powers had healed her body, they had also created a defensive shell around her and whipped out aggressively in her room. Her two-faced bust was lying on the ground, split in half. Books had been thrown across the room. The full body mirror near her closet was shattered. Tears were evident in her curtains, and the feathers of her pillows were still floating around the room. The only thing that remained untouched were the flowers still sitting brilliantly on her dresser.
"Of course," Raven grumbled as she surveyed the destruction. It was easy enough for her to cast a few spells to fix the problems, but that left her with even less time to get ready. With the room mostly returned to normal, she moved back into her bathroom and readorned the leotard Slade had given her. Given how much of a stir the thing had caused, she was looking forward to him seeing it in person. Smiling to herself, Raven brushed out her hair, getting rid of the knots and dust that had been gathered during the fight downtown, as she debated whether to chastise herself for caring what Slade thought or to just enjoy and reimagine the fantasies Slade had pushed into her mind.
With her hair managed, Raven looked at herself in the mirror. She looked… normal? Besides the new outfit, there was nothing special sticking out to her. She could very well be on her way to lounge with her longtime friends in the main room. Her hand picked up the brush again, trying to shape curls into her hair and failing miserably. She considered putting on makeup, but when she pulled out the unopened boxes Starfire had insisted she buy, she realized she didn't know where to start.
A plethora of products were now scattered on her bathroom countertop, and Raven had no idea what to do with them. Panicking, she reached for the communicator at her belt and made a direct call to the only person she thought could help.
Starfire.
The alien answered quickly, and behind her, Raven could see the outlines of many silhouettes. She was still downtown.
"Friend Raven!" Star said brightly.
"I need your help," Raven said bluntly, her eyes scrunched up at the makeup on her counter.
Starfire's face instantly became serious. "Is everything alright? Are you not at home?"
"I'm home," Raven answered, "but… I don't know what I'm doing."
Star cocked her brows, not understanding. "How do you mean?"
Raven showed Starfire the mess she had made.
Gasping, Star's face was lighting up in joy and Raven could see the background of the video becoming blurry as the alien began to fly. "I will be there momentarily!" the alien girl screamed.
As promised, Starfire appeared in Raven's room after a few minutes of waiting, practically ripping the door off as she barged inside the dark Titan's room.
"To what do we owe this splendid occasion?!" Starfire cried in joy as she began unwrapping the boxes and selecting different products among them. She knew every item in the selection since she was either the one gifting them to Raven or the one pushing her friend to purchase them.
Raven watched uncertainly as Starfire rummaged through the pile. "I'm going…" Raven hesitated. "I have a date," she practically whispered.
Starfire stopped her movements before spinning and lifting Raven into a massive hug. As she crushed Raven in her arms, her alien strength nearly broke the bones in Raven's body… again. "How wonderful! Oh, Raven, thank you for including me! We will make you look even more beautiful. This date will have no words when they see you!"
Raven laughed lightly as Starfire began her work, pulling and patting the skin of her face. "I don't want a lot, Star. It's just dinner," Raven said as the alien girl applied a third layer to her face.
"Of course," Starfire replied, sticking out her tongue while she concentrated. "Please, friend, will you tell me about this date? Is it the same person who has sent you the gifts?"
"It is," Raven admitted. "He's… well, he's something."
"Something good?" Starfire asked, her emotions soaring high as her friend said anything at all about the mystery man.
Raven laughed. Raven had no delusions about what Slade was, even if she didn't think of him as an enemy, she would not call him good. "Challenging, more like. He has a way of calming me, but, at the same time, he pushes me, too."
"He sounds fascinating," Starfire added, hanging on to every word and trying to imagine a man who could keep up with Raven in the way she described. "How long have you been seeing one another?"
"Feels like years," Raven deadpanned as memories of a very different, pre-death Slade flashed through her mind. "But it hasn't been long."
Starfire stopped in her application of eyeliner, her eyes widening as some realization dawned on her. "You have not asked for my help in the past when you have seen him," she said slowly, "yet you have asked tonight. Is tonight special?"
Raven blushed a deep red. "It might be," she said softly. "It's just the first time we'll have an actual date, I suppose. Maybe you're right, it's silly for me to ask for your help now."
"NO!" Starfire shouted. "That is not at all what I have meant. I am so happy you have asked me, Raven. Please, do not misunderstand. I wish only to help. I only meant…. Well, do you intend on returning after the dinner?"
The images Slade had shown her, and her own imaginings flashed through her thoughts. Raven smirked as the heat filled her stomach. "No," she answered confidently. "I don't."
Starfire's smile grew so wide it made Raven's cheeks hurt just looking at it. The alien girl was practically vibrating with joy for her friend and continued applying a delicate face of makeup before moving on to Raven's long purple hair and creating soft cascading curls. The whole time she worked, she chatted happily with Raven, asking questions—some that Raven could answer and others that she had to deflect—and giving advice.
When Starfire was finished, she grinned and moved aside so Raven could get a full view. Raven had to admit, she was impressed. She had been concerned Star might go overboard, but the alien girl had done a fantastic job.
"Do not be nervous, friend," Star said as Raven stared at herself. "It is very natural for humans to engage in the sex and very enjoyable!"
Raven nearly choked. "Star, please—"
"I remember my first encounter with friend Nightwing," Starfire went on, a dreamy look in her eye as she recalled the former relationship. "It was most delightful. I'm sure you will have equal fun tonight!"
Raven's stomach was churning. She did not want to think about her two closest friends having sex. She especially did not want to pick up on any of the memories emanating from Starfire's thoughts. It had been hard enough to avoid when it was going on. Now, two years after their relationship had ended, Raven had hoped she wouldn't have to be reminded.
"Thank you!" Raven said abruptly as Star started to open her mouth again. "Really, Star, you're the best. But, I've… I gotta go."
Starfire smiled before wrapping Raven in another hug. "Oh, yes, friend, do not be late, and have the most excellent time. Please, tell me everything tomorrow! I must know." Releasing Raven, Starfire stepped back and looked expectantly at her friend.
Sighing, Raven nodded. "Okay, I will. But, I do need to go," Raven said, seeing the sun nearly ready to set outside her window.
Starfire nodded, flying toward the door to Raven's room before Raven stopped her.
"Star?" she called.
The alien princess glanced back.
Raven gave her a sheepish look. "Maybe we could keep this between us for now? I don't want Dick to worry."
Starfire nodded and saluted her enthusiastically. "No one shall know where you have gone or that you have left at all. I swear it on Tamaran."
Raven smirked as Starfire flew from the room. When the door had closed, Raven took a deep breath, closing her eyes and concentrating. She reached out for the connection to Slade in her mind, finding the thread to be as thick as heavy rope and latched on to it. The bond reacted instantly and she felt Slade tugging back at her, pulling her to him. With one last nervous release of breath, Raven submitted to the power drawing her to him and let the shadows cover her. The embrace of her darkness was warm and calming, and a moment later, she was standing again on solid ground as a different, evermore familiar warmth embraced her from behind.
"Hello, Raven."