Part 72: Games and a little Romance

Arriving back at the Tower, Draco quickly took his place in front of his latest "student". Starfire was so excited about learning how to play Duel Monsters that she almost broke Draco's ribs in a bone-crushing hug. Sitting down, Draco took out his Duel Monsters deck and laid it on the table. He also took out an official rulebook

(Author's notes: This chapter will be like a complete rip off from the official Yugioh rulebook. It may seem a bit boring in the beginning, so I'll put in a few things like Starfire's confused questions)

"Okay Star, I want you to listen closely and carefully to everything I say, got it?" Draco said.

Starfire nodded in affirmative. Draco started explaining the game

"In Duel Monsters, two players face off in an all-out battle. It will take skill, practice, strategy and luck to emerge victorious from the match, as there are many factors players can manipulate to vanquish their foe. The main battles are waged between incredible monsters split into an amazing 20 types, each with their own unique skills and fighting styles. In addition, players can use magic, set traps, change the battlefield itself, and even fuse two monsters together to form a monster of immense power!" he explained. "Do you understand what I've just said, princess?"

"Yes, friend Draco!" Starfire said. "This game involves defeating your opponent in an all out duel with monsters and we are also able to use magic and set traps to turn the game to our favor."

"Very good Starfire." Draco smiled. Starfire beamed at him. Draco continued with his explanation.

"The object of the game is to WIN. Most of the time, it is played in a single duel, but sometimes, a match, consisting of three duels, can also be played. A win in a match is determined when either you've won two duels first or have achieved one win and two draws." He took a sip of water before continuing.

"Each player begins with 8000 Life Points (LP). These life points decrease as a result of damage calculation after battle. You are the winner if you decrease your opponent's life points. However, if your opponent decreases your life points to zero, YOU lose. But, if both life points are decreased to zero at the same time, the Duel is declared a DRAW." Starfire shot her arm up. "What is it Star?"

"How do these Life Points decrease?" Starfire asked Draco.

"The most common way is to attack with monster cards. There are also magic cards and trap cards that can help you with that as well. But Star, decreasing your opponent's life points isn't the only way to win."

"It isn't?"

"If either player's Deck runs out of cards during a Duel, the first player unable to draw a card is declared the loser. Also," he reached for his card album and showed Starfire his prized Exodia collection. (You know, the set of five cards) "If at any given time a player holds all of these cards in his hand, he is considered the winner."

"How come this Exodia is in pieces?" Starfire asked, confused.

"That was how he was designed, I guess."

"He is still beautifully drawn." Starfire admired.

At the same time, Cyborg and Beast Boy were breaking into their new games. They were mostly two-player fighting and racing games. Robin was watching them. Actually, he was watching Starfire learning about Duel Monsters from Draco. Robin glared at Draco not with anger but with a tinge of jealousy. Starfire was enjoying Draco's company and was having a lot of fun learning about the game. He shouldn't be jealous, really, since he knew that Starfire was being her fun loving self and Draco was just being a friend as he taught Starfire how to play. But why couldn't HE be the ONE to teach Starfire? He had always been the one to take care of the alien girl and explain to her about Earth's "strange" customs. But Duel Monsters was out of his league. He was never really into Trading Card Games.

Next to him sat Jinx, who was reading a book, but on close inspection showed that she was also taking side-glances at Starfire and Draco. Her eyes glowed with jealousy.

It goes to show that both these two really loved their significant others.

Meanwhile, on the roof, Raven and Shadowcobra were at their usual meditation spot. However, this time, they weren't meditating. They were actually playing Dungeon Dice Monsters and Raven was actually having fun. Shadowcobra was losing to her, but he still smiled as Raven took down his last Heart Point.

"Alas Raven, You have taken down my last heart point," he stared at her. "I though you said you never played this game before."

"I can't help that I'm good!" she laughed as she threw her dice in the air. A nearby window cracked. Great! I need to meditate now.

"No you don't," Shadowcobra interjected. Raven looked at him questionably as he reached into the folds of his cape and took out a shining black pendant. The pendant was in the shape of a heart and etched with a silver cross and had a blood ruby imbedded in it. "For you," he said as he dropped it in her hands.

Raven gasped. "It's beautiful."

"It is nothing compared to your beauty, Raven." Shadowcobra smiled at her. Raven's cheeks reddened at his compliment. She quickly pulled up her hood but Shadowcobra stopped her. "There is no need to cover your face, Raven." He offered, "May I put it on you?"

"Yes."

Shadowcobra took the pendant and put it on Raven. He then leaned closer and surprised her by brushing his lips over hers. Raven's face went tomato red as steam came out of her ears.

Shadowcobra explained, "My father once wore a crucifix to keep his powers in check every time he was around my mother back when he was younger." He pointed at the pendant. "This pendant follows the same principle, except that it doesn't suppress your powers. Instead, your powers won't go out of control every time you express emotion." He continued, "It also means that I no longer need to neutralize your powers when we're together like this. Using my powers can tire me easily, even that one."

"So I can show emotions now?" Shadowcobra nodded. "So you won't mind if I did this!" She grabbed Shadowcobra's by the face and pulled him towards her, giving him a passionate kiss. Shadowcobra was a little surprised at first but was able to kiss back. He wrapped his cloak around the two of them as they kissed. Breathing got in the way, so they reluctantly broke apart. "I can't believe I just did that." she smiled.

Shadowcobra was blushing like mad. "Me neither. You're a pretty good kisser."

"You too. You're really the first guy to ever kiss me, or for me to kiss, you know."

The snake knight bowed, "I am honored." He then leaned towards her. She closed her eyes. Their lips met in another kiss. This time it was more gentle, but still full of passion. When they broke apart, they both whispered, "I love you."

Suddenly they heard clapping and whirled around to see the rest of the Titans grinning.

"They won't let us live this down, you know," groaned Raven.

"I don't know how they're going to tease us about this, but I assume that it won't be pleasant," Shadowcobra said.

"But we don't care, do we?" Raven smiled at him as he smiled back at her. Shadowcobra telekinetically packed up their game and walked back into the Tower, hand in hand with Raven.

Inside, the girls were admiring Raven's pendant while the guys were teasing Shadowcobra and pretty much getting on his nerves.

"Friend Shadowcobra gave this to you friend Raven? It is most beautiful!" said Starfire as she fingered the small pendant.

"It is, isn't it? It's also very practical," she smiled widely and blushed, causing the others to take a step back. "Don't worry girls. As long as I wear this pendant, I can show emotion without losing control of my powers."

"The snake really does know how to charm you, huh Raven?" Jinx said.

"Pretty nice ruby," said Terra.

The guys were still getting on Shadowcobra's case. Of course the only people who got on his nerves were Beast Boy, Pluto and Cyborg.

"Dude! You're pretty slick, you know that?" said Beast Boy as he grinned.

"Way to go dawg!" said Cyborg, "I mean, snake!" he corrected.

"Never knew you had it in you, you cold blooded snake you!" Pluto teased, grinning.

Shadowcobra's only reply was to glare daggers at the trio before retreating to his room. He locked the door and fell back on his bed.

Shadowcobra's room was painted black and he had a bookcase filled with various books, ranging from horror novels to spell books as well as general stuff about venomous animals. On his table, he kept a plastic case with his pet python in it. Another case nearby held his pet tarantula. At the far corner was a fish tank filled with his pet piranhas. There were also vials of potions and containers filled with anti venom (just in case) stored on a few shelves. There was also a small fridge filled with medical blood for him to feed on. His bed was strangely shaped like a large coffin. He rested his eyes and dreamt only of Raven.

Raven retreated into her mind and found that in Nevermore, all her emotions were happy. Even Happy (Pink Raven) was happier than usual. Everywhere she looked she saw pictures and statues of either Shadowcobra as himself or in his armor. There was also a picture of them kissing that made Raven blush.

Later, for dinner, Shadowcobra made lamb chops for everyone (Tofu chops for Beast Boy.). He must've been in a good mood to cook dinner for everyone. He even wore a black chef's hat with a black apron saying "Kiss/Kill the Cook!"

"This is great," Cyborg complimented.

"I never realized how delicious chops of lambs could be," Starfire added.

Shadowcobra smiled. "Like Draco, I also learnt how to cook from the family chef. This is but one of the many dishes I can cook."

"Maybe you could teach me sometime," Raven said, smiling.

"It'll be my pleasure."

Suddenly, the alarm sounded.

"Titans! Trouble!"

To be continued…