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[Chapter 4: Step Two Three]

Raven thumbed her iPod on. The sloping timbres of classical music filled the quiet room. Nerves raced through her body, wringing her hands and straightening her cloak. What kind of stupid idea was this? Teaching Starfire to dance. Like the alien needed any more help. She already floated with the grace of a falling leaf, twisting and turning in battle, eyes glowing a steady green. What did she need lessons for? Raven clenched her hands into fists. Idiotic stupid stupid stupid idea.

Starfire walked in.

Raven's hands unclenched. Her jaw slackened slightly before she clamped down again, biting her tongue in the process. No need looking like a lost little puppy dog around her. That wouldn't make a good impression. Raven blinked. A good impression? Since when did she need to make a good impression on her friend? She straightened.

Starfire sidled up to her, resting her hand on Raven's arm. "Are you ready to prepare the steps for the dancing tomorrow, Raven?"

"Yes." The skin beneath Starfire's arm pulsed. Raven swiveled around, breaking their contact, and clicked the classical music off. It seemed too much at that moment.

Starfire's grin slipped. "Why did you turn off the musical accompaniment, friend?"

"First you need to learn the beat in your head before putting it to music."

Nodding, Starfire brightened. "Yes, that does make sense. Thank you for taking the time to teach me the steps."

Raven turned away once more. Why did she agree to this in the first place? When Starfire came up to her after their shopping spree, tears in her eyes, Raven could hardly say no. Well, that wasn't entirely true. Raven could've said no, but the strange emotion wave crashed over her before she could get the word out, changing the no into a yes.

She cleared her throat and positioned herself next to Starfire. "No problem. Let's get started, okay?"

The training hall seemed much more expansive today. And yet, it wasn't suited for dancing. Heaps of weights, piles of floor mats, and heavy machinery littered the space. Raven growned. She probably should've cleaned up a little before Starfire came in.

Starfire, too, noticed, looking around. "How will we do the steps if there is so little room to do them?" She nudged Raven in the side, pointing to the window. Light streamed inside, dappling the floor. "Perhaps outside would be a better place?"

Raven tensed. "No." The word came out much harder than intended. She softened her expression. "It's not a bad idea, or anything, I just figured inside would pose less of a problem, interruption-wise." Really it was because she wanted this to be secret. She waved at the window, a flash of green snaked past. The boys were out training in the yard this particular day.

Starfire nodded again. "Yes, I could see how the boys could… pose a problem."

"Good," Raven said. "At this event you'll probably be doing some faster dances, the ones with modern music, where you just jerk around and sway to the music. Like club dancing."

Confusion wrinkled Starfire's face.

Raven closed her eyes. Ugh, would she actually have to demonstrate club dancing, too? When she opened her eyes once more, Starfire tilted her head to the side. Apparently.

"Like this." Raven moved, back and forth, hands following feet, in a simple motion. It probably looked ridiculous. But club dancing wasn't her strongest suit. She usually never even went to them to begin with.

Starfire grinned. She twirled around, pulsing her hands in the air and swaying her hips much more gracefully than Raven had. The all-too familiar wave washed over Raven again. Beautiful, the alien was simply beautiful. Wait. What? Raven shook her head, but the thoughts tumbling around persisted. How could she see Starfire as beautiful? Attractive, even? Starfire, still twirling, burst into laughter, tearing Raven from her thoughts.

"Like this, Raven? Does this count as the dancing and the steps?"

Raven gestured for her to stop. "Yes, just like that, Star."

Ceasing her twirls, Starfire beamed. "The dancing is easy, then."

"To some people, maybe." Raven shrugged her shoulders. "But you might be doing what we call slow dancing, too."

Starfire eyed the iPod. "Is that what the beat and the music was for?"

"Yes," Raven said.

"Teach me that, please, friend Raven."

"Okay. First, there are different kinds of slow dances, but the dance I'm going to teach you is called the waltz. Robin likes classic moves, so if you show him this one, he'll be impressed." Raven's powers fluttered to live, crashing against her chest. Why, though? She pushed the energy back into its cage. "There are usually three steps overlapping a beat. Classical music is played, normally, but you can waltz to anything as long as the beats line up."

Starfire, looking like an eager student, blinked a few times. "I do not understand. Can you show me the steps?"

Raven swayed, stepping back with her right foot, diagonally with her left, then pulling her right to meet it. She moved forward with her forward with her left, diagonally with her right, and pulled her left in again, completing the square. Simple, elegant and easy. She spared a fleeting glance over her shoulder. If any of the boys saw this.

Starfire, however, seemed thrilled. "Amazing, Raven, amazing! Do it again, please."

Raven completed the steps again and again, while Starfire followed her lead. Raven turned on the music and counted out the beats. Soon, Starfire mastered the steps.

She still had questions though. "What do we do with our arms?"

Raven demonstrated, holding out her arms as if holding another person. "While waltzing you don't look at the other person, but I'm sure Robin won't mind if you don't follow all the customary traits of the dance."

The thought of Robin and Starfire looking lovingly into one another's eyes flashed through Raven's mind. Why did she have to say that? It would be better if they didn't look at each other at all. Her powers pounded through her. Control. Emotions. She took a breath, recited her usual mantra, and shook herself free of its grasp.

Starfire thrust out her own arms and tried waltzing, but soon stopped. "I still do not understand. How are we supposed to dance together if we have our arms out like this?"

Raven winced. Of course she'd ask that. "Well, we're doing the woman's steps. The man's steps are just like ours, only backwards. And, when you're dancing, you're holding onto one another."

Dropping her arms, Starfire frowned. "The man is backward to the woman while doing the steps?"

Raven sighed. Perhaps the waltz was a bit too complicated. Demonstrating how would put them in very close proximity. Her powers hummed inside her at the thought. "Not backwards, really, umm… more like opposite our own."

"Can you show me, please?"

Raven couldn't say no. She positioned herself in front of Starfire. "So, the man would put his arms around the woman, like this." Raven rested one hand on Starfire's waist and slipped her other into Starfire's hand. Raven's breath caught. Breathe idiot. Breathe. Control emotions and breathe. "And the woman would put her free hand on the man's shoulder. Like so."

When Starfire rested her palm on Raven's shoulder it seemed as if the world stilled. Just for a second. The heat from Starfire's skin permeated Raven's, shot tingles through her body and hummed gently in her core. Her powers settled, relaxing. Yes, definitely attraction. Just breathe. Move and breathe.

Raven met Starfire's green eyes. "And now, we move in the way I taught you."

They danced in a slow circle. Music filled the space, keeping a steady beat, creating the flow of movement as Raven and Starfire drifted. Everything in Raven's body stilled. She had never felt so at ease. Starfire looked happy. But did she feel the same way? Could she?

As if hearing her thoughts, Starfire asked, "You said the man would be the opposite, is there ever an instance where two women dance together… in the parallel?"

Raven's heart skipped a beat. Heat crept up the back of her neck. Down, down girl! No need to get excited about a simple question. Starfire's an alien to Earth after all. "Yes, I'm sure there is a dance like that… though I can't think of one right now."

Truthfully, she could think of many. But none decent enough to say in front of her friend.

Starfire's lips turned down. "Ah. Well, there should be many where two women dance together."

Raven smiled. "I agree."

The music stopped.

Raven had to pull away. If the pounding in her chest got any louder, Starfire would be able to hear it. Her powers stirred inside. Odd. They had never acted to erratic before. Some emotion must be controlling them. Raven pushed the thoughts away, focusing on the here and now.

"You learned quickly, Starfire, good job," she said.

Starfire rubbed her arm and tilted her head. Was that a blush spreading over her orange-tinted cheeks? "You are a good teacher. Thank you for taking the time to help me."

"Anytime."

Starfire clapped her hands once, a smile brightening her face. Her eyes sparkled in the dim lights of the training hall. "And now, Robin will be most pleased! He and I will be the best dancers of the steps in the entire ball!"

Robin? Of course. Raven's chest tightened. Robin. Her powers surged within her, knocking against her body, wanting to be released. That's why she was teaching Starfire to dance. How could she have forgotten?

"Dance," Raven said. "But, yes, you two–" her voice failed. She cleared her throat and started again. "You two will be the envy of everyone."

Beaming, Starfire floated to the top of the ceiling then twirled to the floor, heading out door. Her voice carried back to Raven. "I will be sure to tell you all about the steps when I get home."

Starfire definitely was happy thinking about… him. No question about it.

All at once, jealousy speared Raven's heart. Her powers ripped from her, slamming the door outward in one solid blow. Starfire glanced back over her shoulder, briefly meeting Raven's gaze, before the door swung shut. How the heck did that happen? Raven reined her powers back in and turned away.

Raven's head snapped up from the table, a glob of spittle dripping from her lips. Crumpled paper rested by her hand and seemed to glow as light streamed in the window. She rose from her seat, pushing her chair back with a dull thud. When was the last time she had fallen asleep at her desk? Her wristband beeped and Robin's voice came muffled through the door.

"Raven! They've escaped… the HIVE operatives! Let's go!"