"Ooh and look at all the chocolates and candies-look Raven they are making them right now!"
Raven paused and glanced in the window to see a machine working the taffy to a fro, it looked old and worn down, probably used for years. She looked up seeing how they had been walking around for about 15 minutes and she was already tired of pushing past all the couples stuck to each other's faces, unable to look up and get out of the way. Raven glanced to her left and spotted a little girl race up to a little boy in a play area and kiss him on the cheek. The little boy cried out in surprise and fell over on the matt. Raven smiled, watching the little girl chase him around the play area as the mothers laughed nearby.
"Fascinating that a robot controls the whole thing is it not?"
Raven blinked then turned back to her friend with less curiosity than Starfire, "kind of ruins the whole concept if you ask me." Raven turned away and started walking down the path with the alien princess; watching all the people bustling to and fro, squeezing between other shoppers to get into a store for deals, discounts and surprises. They stopped next to a jewelry store and a clothing shop and she heard Starfire exclaim, "Raven, this is my favorite clothes store, we must go in here!"
Raven had little say so in the matter as she was dragged inside. It was about twenty minutes past of going around each individual racks with Starfire as she "ooh'd" and "ahhh'd" at every colorful outfit; she even tried on a few herself for Raven to rate. After a few more minutes and while Starfire was busy going through a rack in the middle of the store she strode to the front, looking for somewhere to sit and wait for her. When she found none she stood at the shops window and glanced outside between the two manikins.
That's when her heart stopped for just a moment. Three very familiar boys were standing in the jewelry shop across the way. She saw Robin talking to the head lady, as if bargaining with her. Cyborg stood next to him, examining the watches while their final teammate, Beast Boy, stood nearby looking quite bored. She watched him put the kitten down next to Robin then turn around and exit the shop, looking around the isle for a moment before catching eyes with a tent to his right. She watched him walk over to a man who was selling roses. She glanced at the sign up front, it read "Roses for Relief" She looked up and saw the Breast Cancer awareness sign and watched Beast Boy get out his wallet and pay for a beautiful pink rose. The gentleman smiled, a little girl standing next to him, and offered to return his change; but Beast Boy held up his hands. She couldn't hear what he said but it looked like he was refusing to take back his money. Beast Boy said something in return and the man stared at him then at the cash and smiled; she saw him mouth the words 'thank you' before turning to the little girl next to him to give her a tight hug.
That made her wonder how much he actually gave the man. But she couldn't think of it too much, for he quickly turned into his famous dog form. Raven watched with curiosity as Beast Boy walked by a patch of fake decoration flowers that was unnervingly close to where she was standing. But he stood on the outside while she was still inside the store.
She saw him sit there with the pink rose clamped in his jaws, looking at everyone who walked by with intent green eyes. A few people gazed at him but most just walked by, too busy to give him a second glance. Finally he moved and she saw, of course, him heading to a group of young girls who looked to be the age of high schoolers. She watched Beast Boy pause in front of the girls, his tail wagging to and fro and they stared at him for a moment before "awing" about the beautiful flower in his jaws. He walked up to the blonde girl in the middle and lifted his head, giving her the flower. She took it with a giggle and the two girls beside her smiled and giggled as well. The brunette nearby suddenly asked, "how come he's green?"
"Yeah that's really weird." The blonde replied who took the rose from him, she played with the petals staring at his fur.
Beast Boy's ears lowered for a moment when the other blonde girl exclaimed, "I think that's Beast Boy from the Teen Titans!"
The other two girls blinked and the lead blonde suddenly realized it herself, "Oh you're right, cool I guess."
Beast Boy ears perked up but the girl dropped the rose to the ground, "But I don't like talking to freaks."
Raven felt something hit her as she watched Beast boy lower his ears and head as the girls laughed, the one he gave the rose to roughly stepped on the flower before walking away. The brunette pushed him to the side as she walked by to where he fell to the ground, smacking his jaw so hard Raven could hear it where she stood. Raven saw him stare at the flower, laying on the dirty mall floor and she felt an overwhelming sense of embarrassment hit her coming from him. Raven watched him slowly get to his paws before turning around and walking back to his group, transforming back to himself and his crushed emotions quickly subsiding into nothing; as if it never happened.
Raven felt something spark inside her, it overwhelmed her. Raven's fists tightened as she pinpointed the four girls who were still laughing farther down the hall. She stared, feeling something major taking over. How DARE they treat him like that? He was being nothing but nice, sweet actually. Girls like those…why does he even bother? They were lower than dirt, they didn't deserve a guy like him. She was going to give them a scare they will never forget. They will never do such a thing again-
"Raven?"
Raven quickly turned around to see Starfire, all her emotions suddenly halted and she felt her world slide back in place seeing Starfire's concerned green eyes, "Are you having, the fun?"
Raven had to think quick on her feet, knowing the mission would be a bust if Starfire saw the boys in a jewelry store buying something themselves; "Uh, um…I just saw the….cutest shirt in the very back of the store."
Starfire stared at her and her eyes lit up, "You did?"
Raven let out a slow sigh, feeling her emotions slip away, "Yeah, yeah let's go look at it again; I think I want to buy it." Raven explained quickly, grabbing her arm and dragging her back to the back of the store. Starfire smiled as Raven stole a glance at the boys beginning to leave the jewelry store on the other side.
She reached the end of the shop, spotting the first rack she saw, she picked the shirt closest to her reach-it was a sweater that was purple, blue and orange. Actually it was the ugliest sweater she has ever laid eyes on. Why did she pick this one?
"Oh, well…that is very lovely Raven. The colors really are really…bright." Starfire offered, but she was immediately relieved to know that her teammate thought it was just as ugly as she thought it was.
"Yeah, I changed my mind-too flashy." Raven stated with a shrug, putting it back on the rack with an internal sigh of relief.
"No you must get it, do not let my opinion sway your desires! Here I will buy it for you!" Starfire grabbed the sparkly bright sweater and held on to it to Raven's disappointment and she watched her float elsewhere in the store.
Well crap.
Starfire suddenly let out a scream and Raven looked up to see her in the corner of the store staring at a rack. A few people looked up as Raven dashed over toward her friend in worry, "Starfire! What's wrong?"
"This…this dress is so…. Beautiful! Oh Raven I must try it on, I must and look, look there is one that is in violet-oh it will look so good on you! Please will you try it on with me?"
Raven stared at her friend who held up a slim light pink dress. It bore sparkles down the front and back and it reminded her of something someone would wear to a ball. Honestly, it was a very beautiful dress, it even had a pink strip of cloth around the middle that tied on the side of the waist to bring out the bodies best features.
"I…I don't know Star, I don't really do dresses…" Raven muttered but Starfire was already pushing her toward the dressing room, both of the dresses in tow.
"Come on Raven, at least try it on for me! We never get to have girl time and now that we do…I want to make the best of it."
Raven stared at her friend and sighed, staring at the dress then quietly agreeing, it was hard arguing with that pleading look anyway. Starfire smiled and quickly pushed Raven in a dressing room while she took the one on the other side.
It took Raven a few minutes to fit herself in the dress, but to her surprise it fit her comfortably. She looked down to see she didn't even step on the edge.
"Ok I put it on, now what?" Raven shouted to Starfire on the other side.
"You have to come out to show me silly!" Starfire replied.
"Oh of course, how could I forget…?" Raven replied and sighed. She slowly opened the door and stepped out, waiting for Starfire, "Are you coming out?"
There was a giggle before she heard: "Here I am!" Starfire exclaimed and Raven knew that dress was made for her. It brought out all her curves in a nice manner. The top of the dress hung loosely on the shoulders but snug enough so it didn't fall. Nothing was too tight and it flowed neatly down to her ankles in a smooth flow, sparkles shimmering off the dress as she twirled for her.
Raven smiled and was about to say something when she heard a sniffle then another, Starfire had stopped turning and was facing her direction but was looking down at her feet. She stared at her teammate in confusion when she saw the tears beginning to fall.
"Starfire?"
Starfire looked up and she saw the wetness on her eyes as she looked at Raven… suddenly she became conscience that she was wearing the same dress, in a different color. She must think she looks terrible in it, or worse, that she was a challenge against her own dress.
"What's the matter? It's ugly isn't it? I knew violet wasn't my color after all..." Raven continued, grabbing at the edge of the dress in uncertainty and embarrassment.
Starfire sniffled and shook her head, placing a hand on Raven's arm so she wouldn't turn around and change out of it. "No it's not that. It is me."
"You?" Raven exclaimed.
"Yes, I feel I am not pretty enough."
"What? Who told you that?"
"No one..."
"Then why in the world would you say that? Trust me Star, I hear it more than I would like, and honestly I would give anything to look half like you."
Starfire sniffed again and gave a sad smile, "Don't say that! You are beautiful too! If you did not hide so much, everyone could see that!"
Raven looked down at her feet from the comment and Starfire continued, "It…it's just that today is the day of the Valentine."
Raven paused in surprise and looked up, "And I thought it was…a big deal…here on earth."
"What do you mean Starfire?" Raven asked, prodding her to continue, though she had a vague idea of what the problem may be.
"Robin has yet to ask me to go places or eat food…he has given me no cards or candy. Not even the flowers. I…I think he has forgotten me."
Raven stared at her, "I don't think-"
"It's already past the afternoon and he didn't even want to spend the day with me! I've watched the movies and nothing even close has happened between us." Starfire cried out then sniffled quietly when a few shoppers glanced her way in irritation.
"That's not it, I'm sure he just got…sidetracked. Besides I wouldn't trust those movies, they are so overrated and most of the time they are a false reality anyway." Raven picked her words carefully, knowing full well their leader has far from forgotten the alien princess.
She rubbed the side of her arm nodding at her friend's words, "I just feel…lonely."
Raven smiled and laid a hand on her arm softly, "join the club."
Starfire blinked, the final tear rolling down her cheek as she stared at her teammate in realization; "you're lonely too?"
Raven shrugged, "I mean, Valentine's Day isn't exactly something I look forward to. I'm not a princess…" She sighed then looked up in shock, realizing what she had said to her friend who was in fact a princess herself.
Starfire frowned with a sad smile, "Do not fret my friend, even a princess can be ugly…I fear my sister has an ugly heart, yes?"
Raven smiled with a curt nod as Starfire continued, "I think it's what inside that counts Raven- but if it means anything from a girl, I think you look amazing in that dress. It brings out your eyes and it shows you off... something that you don't really do under your hood..."
Raven smiled toward the sudden compliment and countered quietly, "You too…you know I'm sure Robin would love to see you wear that."
"Really?" Starfire exclaimed with a wide smile.
Raven nodded and Starfire gave a gleeful laugh, "I shall wear it outside this shop then! You must wear yours too!"
Raven frowned, "Starfire, you're the one wooing Robin not me."
Starfire giggled, "But surely there is someone else you want to impress?"
Raven stared at her for a moment in shock then shook it off and smirked, "I doubt it."
Starfire was silent, staring at her as if wanting to fight more but decided against it, instead she glanced at the dress and played at the sides, "What if he doesn't like it…?"
"He will"
"But what if?"
"I'll have to beat the living crap out of him-best friends' honor." Raven smirked with eyes smiling in humor, "but I doubt it will get to that."
Starfire looked up and smiled, "Thanks Raven…and if it doesn't work out, you can be my valentine!"
Raven shook her head in humor and smiled in return, "Whatever works."
Starfire flew forward and enveloped her in a tight hug, Raven felt her surprise crawl over her as Starfire replied quietly, "You're the best friend I could ever ask for…Thank you Raven."
They broke apart and Starfire smiled continuing with quiet words, "You must buy your dress as well, you look…what's the word? Stunning?"
Raven shook her head, "I can't Starfire; I would never wear it."
"But why not?"
Raven shrugged, "I don't usually go to dances and such; I prefer quieter things like reading or watching movies."
"Oh…but maybe…we could go to a dance as a team? Please? We could invite Titan's East!"
Raven stared at her and sighed, she looked at the mirror at her side stared at her image. Although she hated to admit she was wrong… Starfire was right…she did look good in the dress. It fit her perfectly-just as the dress fit Starfire. The sparkles shimmered in the light as she moved to the side and she gave a half smile of admiration.
"Ok, why not."
Starfire squealed in joy and was about to continue when Raven interrupted "But I'm not wearing this in the mall."
Starfire frowned and Raven shook her head as a final decision, "No, but I will if we go to a dance, ok?"
Starfire's eyes lit up again and she shook her head, "Ok, deal!"