AN: I do not own Teen Titans
Chapter 1
Giggles and cackles filled the oppressive atmosphere of the suite while the music pulsed. Women were strewn about the room holding cocktails and phallic shaped whatnots, laughing hysterically at them. Raven could not have been more uncomfortable. She knew a bachelorette party was meant to be fun, a chance to let your hair down, but this was not her idea of a good time. When Starfire, the bride-to-be, had assured her that the party would consist of staying in and having a night with the girls she thought it would be a bit more laidback. They might as well have gone out, considering the mess they were making of the hotel suite. She felt sorry for any guests staying on, above, or below their floor.
"Raven!" the alien princess called from across the room and quickly approached her, fruity cocktail in hand. "Are these straws not adorable? I did not know they could be manufactured to look like a males-"
"Yes, I'm quite aware of what they look like," Raven cut in quickly. "That particular shape seems to be very popular here tonight. Are you having fun?"
"Oh yes, I am having a most wonderful time!" Starfire smiled. "The bachelorette party is far more enjoyable than the pre-wedding traditions on Tamaran."
"We're all very appreciative that you chose to go the Earth route," said Raven. "Far less bloodshed."
"Please, you are enjoying yourself as well?" Starfire asked.
"Don't worry about me, this is the night before your big day," said Raven. "You just focus on having a good time."
"Kori!" Wonder Girl called from across the room. "It's your turn to pin the Kiss on the Crotch!"
"Coming!" Starfire called and quickly flew over to the adult version of Pin the Tail on the Donkey; luckily there were no real crotches involved.
Raven sighed and wished she could get out of there. But being the Maid of Honor meant that Starfire had her on a short leash and forced her to participate in everything. She'd had to go on every shopping trip, every fitting, every sample tasting, every location hunt, everything that had to do with the wedding. The poor empath was exhausted and couldn't wait for the wedding just so that whole event would be over and done with and she could be free to live her life once more. She wasn't sure if she'd ever get married but if she did she vowed to never put anyone, especially her friends, through this.
"Raven it is your turn!" Starfire called to her.
She picked up a kiss piece with her powers and pinned it to the paper, nowhere near the target. "Next."
"But you did not put on the blindfold," Starfire pouted.
"Trust me, I wasn't looking," Raven assured her and went to grab something to eat, hoping to find at least one bit of food that wasn't in the shape of something adult themed. While all the other women found these shapes amusing they just made her uncomfortable. She wasn't a prude, not at all, but she just couldn't understand how the male anatomy was comical. She would be offended to learn that the boys had straws in the shape of breasts. She didn't doubt that they did but the very idea made her unhappy.
She suddenly heard someone knocking on the door and quickly went to go see who it was. She wouldn't be surprised it if it was the manager of the hotel come to tell them to keep it down. She opened the door and was instead surprised to see three tall good looking men wearing tight law enforcement uniforms.
"Can I help you?" she asked, a bit startled.
"Yes we received a call to check in on you gals," smirked one with short sandy hair. "Mind if we come in?"
"Uh, sure," she said, opening the door for them to enter. She knew that this sort of party was going to get them in trouble and she was mortified at having cops find her and her friends with so many adult tchotchkes. But there was something not quite right about these men and she kept her eye on them as they entered.
"Ladies!" a man that resembled a mahogany god called out and all the women seemed to squeal at once. "We've received some complaints about this party of yours. So please take your seats or else we'll have to put you under," he pulled at his shirt so that it burst apart, "arrest!" The room erupted with screams and cheers as the men began to dance around the room and peel their clothing off.
"Oh what fresh hell is this?" Raven said to herself.
"Which one of you lucky ladies is the bride-to-be?" asked one with slicked black hair.
"Me! It is I!" Starfire raised her hand with an excited grin.
"Then this is all for you baby," he winked and began to give her a special dance as he stripped. All the women laughed and clapped and took pictures. Raven could only shake her head with displeasure.
She carefully made her way across the room, though not before having one of the men gyrate towards her, and escaped onto the balcony. She drew the curtains then closed the door behind her. If she was lucky they'd forget she was there. She sighed and leaned on the railing. It was oddly chilly out but she remembered they weren't in Jump City. As much as he loved their home city, Nightwing wanted to get married in the city where he'd learned his skills and, more importantly, where his mentor resided. So they were in Gotham. Starfire hadn't argued at all with the idea but that was the only decision she'd let him make concerning the wedding.
"Raven?"
The hair on the back of her neck stood on end and she felt a prickly sensation all over followed by a spreading heat. She knew that voice. She looked around but couldn't see him on the balconies to either side of her or below.
"Garfield? Where are you?"
"I'm above you."
"How'd you know I was down here?"
"I heard the door open and I, uh, smelled your scent," he said, a bit awkwardly. "How's it going down there? You girls having fun?"
"Well everyone else is quite entertained. I, on the other hand, am praying for death. What about you guys?"
"Ugh, don't get me started. You want someone to rescue you?"
"I'd never admit to that. I just need an excuse to leave. Kori won't let me go anywhere unless someone's dying. Thus my need to shuffle off this mortal coil sooner rather than later."
He chuckled. "Alright, go back inside and wait by the door. I'll see if I can get you out of there without the body bag."
Her lips began smiling but quickly suppressed the feeling while the apples of her cheeks boiled. She would never admit how happy it made her that it was him that had been standing on the balcony above her. And she was even more pleased to know that he was going to try to help her. Hell, she was just happy he was paying some attention to her. It had been a long time since he had.
After a deep breath she reentered the room just in time to see the men removing the last of their pants. She kept her eyes on the door and walked straight to it. Unfortunately she was spotted and before she could put her hand on the knob she felt herself being grabbed and dragged towards the entertainers.
"Oh no you don't," Bumble Bee laughed. "I paid good money for these men and I'm about to get my money's worth. Kori, give Raven the chair. It's her turn for a lap dance." The girls cheered and Starfire happily vacated the seat for her friend.
"Yeah, I'm not really interested," Raven said, never so terrified of a chair in her life.
"Come on, they don't bite," said Bumble Bee, pushing her. "That costs extra."
"No, really, I'm good," Raven insisted. "Someone else can take my turn."
"Raven, as my Maid of the Honor I insist you allow this man to dance for you," Starfire said firmly and forced the woman to sit.
"But this is your night so you should get all of the attention," Raven tried to stand up.
"Nonsense, I wish for all of my friends to enjoy themselves," said Starfire, easily pushing her friend back down onto the chair. "Do not fear, it is most enjoyable and humorous!"
"Don't you worry, sweetheart, I'll show you a good time," the black haired man winked at her.
"Someone please kill me now," Raven groaned.
He began to move towards her when a loud knocking could be heard through the music. Raven watched as Argent quickly went and answered the door, praying that it was the Grim Reaper come to take her away. Instead she came back and said, "Raven, the hotel manager wants to speak with you."
"Thank Azar," she said and burst out of the chair, much to everyone's disappointment. She went to the door to see a man, who looked too young to be the manager, waiting. "Can I help you?"
"Yes, M'am, we need to discuss the credit card you gave for the room," he said.
"Credit card? I didn't give-" she began.
"Perhaps we can discuss this down at the front desk?" he pushed, giving her a look that indicated there was something else going on.
She became wise and turned to the girls in the room. "I've got to take care of some business. You guys keep having fun." And with that she jumped out of the room and closed the door behind her. She gave a great sigh of relief and looked at the hotel employee. "I owe you big time."
"Don't thank me," the man insisted and pointed down the hall.
She turned and saw Beast Boy walking over. She'd just about forgotten about him when she was being forced to endure a lap dance. She'd never been so happy to see him and she smiled in spite of herself. It was the first time she'd seen him out of uniform in months and she did her best not to let her eyes linger on his casualwear.
"Nice work, dude," Beast Boy, tipping him.
"No problem," he smiled and left to get back to whatever it was he'd been doing before being propositioned.
"My lady, I believe you ordered one knight in shining armor," he grinned. "Sorry I'm not shinier but it was short notice."
"You have no idea how grateful I am," she said honestly. "Your timing couldn't have been better."
"That bad, huh?" he chuckled.
"You have no idea," she groaned. "They were forcing me to get a lap dance from a male dancer."
He laughed hard at that. "Oh jeez, you poor thing. I'm glad I was able to get you out of there."
"Likewise," she assured him. They stood there for a moment, shifting their stances awkwardly. They hadn't been alone together in months, perhaps even a year, so neither was sure what to do. "Well…thanks. You can go back to your stag night. I'm going to stay out here for as long as I can."
"Oh trust me, I'm in no hurry to get back up there. This night has been boring as fuck."
"How could a bachelor party be boring?"
"I don't know but Dick found a way. He won't let us get any strippers cuz he's afraid of Kori and the rest of you girls finding out and getting mad at him about it, but since you guys got some I think that's not really fair. He won't let us drink cuz we have to get up early tomorrow for the damn wedding and he doesn't want anyone hung over. And he won't let us go out cuz no matter what we'll get spotted and swarmed."
"So what are you doing?"
"Sitting around playing poker and watching some bad 80's action flicks. You know, the kind of shit we do every other Friday night. And everyone's smoking cigars so I can barely breathe up there. That's why I ran out onto the balcony, my nose has been burning."
"Want to trade? I'd rather play poker with men than have them dance half naked in front of me."
"Oh you think I'd like that? What kind of a guy do you think I am?"
"Desperate?"
"Not that desperate."
She chuckled and for the first time that night felt good, relaxed. They hadn't gotten to banter like this in a good long while. It felt familiar yet exhilarating. She'd missed it. She thought for a moment and decided to go out on a limb. "Well I'm going to get a drink at the bar. Care to join?"
"Hell yeah," he said firmly and escorted her down the hall towards the elevators.