So many apologies for the ungodly long wait... enjoy!

"Doesn't this damn thing—agh!"

Infuriated, Raven tossed her hands and glared down angrily at the stuck metal zipper that had prevented her from pulling the dress any farther than halfway up her thighs.

"Star, I give up. Tell Robin I'm going like this."

The irate titan crossed her arms defiantly across her chest, as if to stand on her statement that she would waddle out the bedroom door, legs constricted by the material and chest completely exposed.

"Remain calm, friend. I will fix the zipper and you will not have to go to the gala looking like the blue zorfglibber sausage. Which is very tasty and quite popular on my home planet." The pretty orange-skinned alien moved to her friend's side, her own lavender silk dress already secured by the thin spaghetti straps that clung to her shoulders.

"Hold still—just—there!"

With a grating sound of metal teeth giving way, Starfire managed to yank the zipper the rest of the way down, allowing the dress's occupant to shimmy it further along her body.

"Thanks," Raven muttered, not so sure she was grateful that her last opportunity for nixing the dress had been thwarted.

"Ah, Raven!" The Tamaranian princess clapped her hands in delight and spun around the over-decorated pink room, her dress swirling out around her feet in shimmering waves. "It looks most lovely on you. Come, look."

Raven tried to scowl at the exuberant compliment, but it was difficult to frown at such a genuine person. Her friend beamed at her, glossy lips framing a set of dainty, pearly white teeth.

The sorceress allowed herself to be led over to the full-length mirror that sat opposite the vanity table, crowded as it was with more haircare products than a fully-equipped salon. Grudgingly turning her gaze to the glass, the dark titan took a quick step back, startled by her own reflection.

"Isn't it wonderful?" the joyful alien cried again, squeezing Raven's shoulders in a grip that would leave bruises if she didn't soon let go.

"I—I don't know what to say, Star," Raven confessed, transfixed for the first time at seeing something other than a demonic or nightmarish vision in a mirror.

The dress, blue as the deep cobalt waves that lapped against the pier at dusk, began just above her bust, covering each small breast entirely but dipping down between them to form the slightest tantalizing "v".

Although simple and unadorned, the material hugged tightly her waist and legs in a way that made Raven feel they were more prominent than if she had gone in her birthday suit.

She ran a finger across the fabric and felt soft velvet brush beneath; it sent a slight shiver through her limbs.

The hem of the dress fanned out at the ankles, creating undulating swells that rippled around her as she walked, and a slit up the leg allowed her to move freely.

Her shoulders and collarbone were left exposed, pale and smooth as alabaster, but Starfire handed the emapth a pair of elegant black gloves, insisting she put them on. They were long, reaching all the way up to the elbow, and somehow they made the sorceress feel less exposed.

"Alright. I'm ready to go," Raven announced grimly, as if bracing herself for a funeral procession.

"Not quite," Starfire said quickly, sensing her friend's waning patience. "I need to, er—your hair." The taller girl opened her eyes wide, pleading her teammate to stay put for just a few minutes longer.

Raven's face fell and a bleak look crossed her brow.

"What's wrong with the way it is?" she asked in defensive voice.

"Nothing—nothing!" the alien squeaked. "Just—everyone always sees it like that. It should be special tonight, to charm all the eligible men." She let out a giggle, as if revealing a mastermind scheme.

"I'm not interested in charming eligible men," Raven huffed, but she remained still for the next fifteen minutes as her dazzling friend deftly wrapped her dark hair into a graceful bun, leaving but a few curling strands out to frame her face.

Starfire's eyes shined with delight at her work.

"I declare you complete, friend Raven!"

"Thank Azarath," came the muttered oath.

Xxx

The gala was in full swing by the time the Teen Titans strode—or rather, Starfire glided effortlessly, Robin sauntered, and Beastboy strutted—up the paved drive, which was lit with old fashioned, wrought-iron lamps.

The affair was being hosted at the palatial estate of one of Jump's wealthiest families, who enjoyed close ties to the Wayne empire back in Gotham. Well-manicured lawns sprawled out around the imposing manor, whose marble pillars and wide French doors gave the impression that no expense had been spared.

Beastboy licked his hand and smoothed down a stray hair, giving what he thought was a seductive growl as he did so.

"Ladies, watch out! The Beast Man has arrived."

He wiggled his eyebrows and tried striking a pose, but Raven stuck out a foot and sent the green changeling plummeting to the ground, yelling about his hair as he faceplanted.

"Yo, Robin. What's up with all the masks?"

The robot titan had been squeezed into a suit that was nearly ripping at the seams from his sheer bulk. He seemed uncomfortable at being so restricted, and Raven could sympathize with him.

"It's a masquerade," Robin explained patiently, and their leader stopped walking up the drive to face his team.

"I've brought masks along for all of you. Although tonight is supposed to be an honorary event and we're technically off-duty, I want everyone to stay alert. The fact that guests will be concealed means heightened opportunities for crime."

Beastboy rolled his eyes at the cautionary warning and snatched his mask from Robin's hands.

"Whatever, dude. Let's get inside before all the fancy food gets eaten!"

The other titans followed suit and took a mask from the Boy Wonder, fixing it securely to their face before walking up the polished white steps and presenting their invitations to the butler that waited by the front entrance.

They passed from the foyer into a crowded ballroom, whose arched ceilings were offset by chandeliers that glittered with strings of crystals. The floor was so highly polished it seemed to reflect back the soft glow of candlelight, and an orchestra sat at the far end of the chamber, humming with the sound of violins warming up.

The room spilled over with ladies and gentlemen in satin gowns and formal tails; they floated loftily among one another, laughing over glasses of champagne and flirting with the mystery that hovered beneath each mask.

A sense of awestruck overwhelmed the Titans. Despite their years of dealing with all sorts of situations, they had never been placed in an environment so opulent and magnificent as this.

A gallant young man with wavy blond hair and a toothy smile immediately stepped up to them, taking Starfire's hand and sweeping her off into a waltz. Beastboy left shortly thereafter, spotting a pair of twins who looked ready to pounce on the nearest available man.

Their numbers whittled down to three, the remaining titans stood in an unsure cluster, still trying to take everything in and get their bearings. Robin had just stepped slightly toward Raven to invite her to dance when Aqualad appeared, silently taking her arm and leading her to the floor.

Robin's own arm fell back by his side and he watched as the couple swirled away.

"Tough, man," Cyborg said comfortingly, though his tone didn't seem to hold too much sympathy.

Xxx

"You look nice tonight," Aqualad commented mildly to his dance partner, his eyes fixated elsewhere.

The shrewd empath followed his gaze and saw he was honed in on Starfire, who was now being twirled around by Speedy, gelled strawberry hair unmistakable.

"Mind if we get closer?" he asked, and before Raven could answer he led them in a leisurely three-step toward the Tamaranian and the dexterous archer.

He seemed to be biding for the ideal moment to cut in and take Speedy's place, and Raven waited exasperatedly to rid herself of Aqualad and return to the edge of the room.

She didn't have to wait long however, as Cyborg had quickly picked up on the slick water-hero's intentions. He cut in between Aqualad and the sorceress, thereby freeing up the masked Atlantean to cut off Speedy and clasp Starfire's hands in his own.

"Thanks," Raven said gratefully, relieved as they spun away from the snarling love triangle. Cyborg nodded imperceptibly, leading her with a gracefulness that took Raven by surprise.

"Where did you learn to dance like this?" she laughed despite herself.

Cyborg grinned in return. "H.I.V.E. academy, believe it or not. At the school dances I'd practice with Jinx."

The idea of this seemed so absurd to picture that Raven wanted to snort. Then she remembered how absurd the image of her dancing with another particular criminal would seem, and it made her think it not all that strange that her burly, light-footed brother might spin around with a bubblegum-haired witch.

"You know, it's really pointless for you to wear a mask to this ball," she pointed out. "It's not like that little strip of black fabric is concealing from anyone who you are."

Cyborg rolled his eyes, agreeing with the obvious. It was impossible for his identity to be a mystery when his size alone set him apart from the crowd—never mind the bionic attachments that peeked through the hem of his jacket sleeves and pants.

Changing the subject, the half-robot spoke his next words to Raven in a low voice.

"So, is he here?"

Raven didn't have to ask who the 'he' was, and the faint color that crept across her cheeks let Cyborg know she understood perfectly what he meant.

The sorceress cast her eyes around the expanse of room for a moment, trying to pick out a familiar form among the finely dressed hoards that flitted between each other. She didn't spot him, but recalled their conversation from earlier that evening when he had waved his invitation in her face.

"Yes, he is," she said decisively. Cyborg spun her out away from him before swinging her back in as the tempo picked up.

"Well, make sure he doesn't go picking up anything that isn't his," the larger titan advised. "I'd hate to have this night spoiled by a routine jail roundup."

Raven smirked at Cyborg's grave expression. "I'll ensure he keeps his hands to himself," she assured him.

The song came to an end and the two friends parted. Raven was tired and beginning to feel heated from the overcrowded room, and made her way to an unoccupied corner where she could recuperate and observe without intrusion.

A smartly dressed waiter came by, offering her a fluted glass of bubbling, pale-gold champagne, but Raven declined. Her rest was to be short-lived, it seemed. Robin was walking toward her, his expression quirked into a look of confidence as he strode over.

Raven briefly remembered that night in Titan Tower East when they had danced together, and she wondered if he was thinking of it as he neared.

She was about to turn down Robin's outstretched hand, still exhausted from her last jaunt and wanting some time to look around, when the same overbearing blond man who had originally swept off with Starfire made a beeline for the empath.

Seeing him headed her way made up her mind for her, and so with only the slightest hesitation Raven put her hand in Robin's and allowed him to lead her deep into the swells of waltzers.

Even through her gloves his hand felt cool and smoothly familiar, and as they turned to face each other, Raven felt her heart beat an oddly arrhythmic tattoo.

His eyes, piercing behind his mask, trailed up from her dress to her face.

"You look beautiful, Raven," he spoke as they began to move to a familiar tune, and the serious gravity of his voice made her feel like there was a heavier meaning behind his words.

"Er… thanks," the empath muttered, a wave of discomfort sweeping her as she sensed the first prickle of emotions that emanated from her leader.

They whirled around in silence, and within this gap of quiet Raven tried to relax into the music and ignore the intensity of feelings that radiated from the boy clasping her waist.

Why couldn't Robin let it be? Why did her friend feel the need to cross that boundary that separated them as teammates—hadn't the explosion with Star proved enough of a lesson about tangling within the Titans?

Her eyes began to wander around the ballroom, seeking some sort of answer to the troubling way Robin gazed at her: a look that made her feel like she was a rare painting on display at the Jump Museum.

"Raven, after this song, I'd like to talk. In private. If we could go somewhere—"

The dark titan's head whipped around and her eyes widened imperceptibly—not at the Boy Wonder, but at the form she had just spotted.

The song came to an end. Guests were clapping for the orchestra's wonderful rendition of the number, and Raven was already pulling away from Robin, who looked to her expectantly.

"Ah—sorry Robin, another time," Raven promised over her shoulder before hurrying away, slipping between throngs of people and pushing her way toward the edge of the room.

Xxx

He was leaning against the wall, his hands shoved in his pockets and a cool, almost bored look on his face that suggested perfect composure.

Raven, however, could detect the slightest downward twitch of the corner of his mouth—could sense his annoyance.

A cluster of attractive girls stood nearby, eyeing the lounging guest with coy interest and whispering among themselves, their heads bent together.

They seemed to have reached a consensus because all at once they giggled and shoved one young woman, whose golden hair was coaxed into curls that tumbled down her swan-like neck, toward the statuesque party-goer.

She looked back at her friends nervously, then shook back her locks with an air of decisiveness.

"Hi," she spoke in a clear voice. "I'm Alexandra. I noticed you're not dancing with anyone."

Red X smiled at the girl, but the contempt that curled his lips was barely disguised.

"And I'm Jack the Ripper. The point of a masquerade is that you don't share your identity."

The girl seemed perturbed for a moment, but she quickly recovered and let out a melodious laugh.

"Well, I don't mind sharing my identity with you. Do you want to dance?" she propositioned with a sweet look, her brown eyes encouraging.

"I'd love to, but I'm previously engaged. Bodies to maim, arms to twist." He winked at her, and it was just the right amount of suggestion to make the belle rear back in shock and hurry over to her crestfallen friends, who now surveyed him with a cagey suspicion.

Stifling her own laughter, Raven took the opportunity to walk past, her gaze fixed forward and feigning obliviousness to the black-and-red tuxedo as she stepped briskly by his slouched form.

His hand reached out and he snagged the material of her glove.

"Excuse me, but I don't think we've met. May I have this dance?"

His mouth twitched as he tried to suppress a grin, maintaining his steady look of indifference.

"I guess so," Raven conceded with her own weary sigh, and together they walked out into the middle of the floor.

It felt so natural—alien and yet familiar—when she placed her fingers on his shoulder and he rested his palm against the small of her back. When they moved together, they were not mindful of the music so much as each other.

"You clean up pretty well, kid," Red X finally smirked, his mouth mocking but his eyes warm.

"You look decent yourself," Raven acknowledged in turn, though she knew she spoke a gross understatement. The cut of the black-and-red suit and the lines of the mask seemed to make his roguish charm even more alluring; a shadowy handsome that surpassed the usual. His unruly hair had been tamed a little, but it still spilled across his brow.

Raven unconsciously bit her lip as she looked up at him, and distracting herself, changed the subject.

"So, what do you do for a living?" she inquired innocently as they swept past a delighted Aqualad and Starfire.

Her partner cleared his throat in a self-important manner. "I'm a purveyor of fine goods. I specialize in acquiring hearts."

He gave her a crooked smile, too cheesy to be serious and too serious to be false. Raven's pulse quickened its pace.

"Don't go picking up anything that doesn't belong to you," she passed along Cyborg's warning with a wry expression.

The thief chuckled. "I won't be stealing anything tonight. Well, except maybe a kiss or two," he added after thinking a moment. He didn't wait for Raven's retort, instead continuing to speak.

"I'm glad you wore gloves."

Taken off-guard, the sorceress looked up at him quizzically. "Why?"

"There are some dirty people here," the criminal muttered, but did not further explain, leaving Raven to ponder his meaning.

She caught sight of Robin not far away, the elegant blonde who had tried to approach Jason now twirling in his arms. Raven studied her leader closely, trying to read his intentions in his movements, dissecting his furtive glances and his distraction from his pretty dancing partner.

Red X seemed to have noticed his own dance partner's inattention, and he swept them by the Boy Wonder and his companion, winking reassuringly at the same blonde girl he'd frightened earlier. She beamed back—a little nervously, but mostly delighted—before Jason swirled Raven and himself away from them again. The blonde was now solely focused on the thief, and she kept trying to make eye contact and send subtle smiles his way.

Raven's own eyes narrowed and she trained them back on X sharply.

"You're trying to make me jealous," she accused in a dark undertone.

"Ah, jealousy. It inspires a wide range of emotions that can be quite useful," Jason soliloquized lightly.

"Yeah, like what?" Raven growled back, annoyed by his obtuse answer.

"Like possessiveness. Which is excellent for reaffirming feelings."

Raven's fist clenched up to punch the scoundrel, but she opted for just gripping the fabric of his jacket tighter instead, remembering that they were in public.

"You're a rogue, a charlatan," she hissed at him under her breath.

"No one's ever told you different, kid," he replied brightly, and unexpectedly he dipped Raven low, her head falling back and her stomach making a queasy drop that only occurred on monstrous rollercoasters. For a split second she thought she was going to tumble backwards, but his hand beneath her back was stable and steady, and when he pulled her up out of the dip, he was smiling apprehensively.

"Your face's as white as a sheet. And that's saying something," he chuckled.

At his words, slight embarrassment heated Raven's face and she began to draw out a retort, but just then the waltz came to a close, its last note wavering on a cello string.

She suddenly stopped herself and glanced around, warily searching for anyone recognizable.

"That's the third song we've danced together," the sorceress reminded him, tugging herself away from his grasp. "We should find others to dance with, or else people will think—"

"No, stay," X said stubbornly, holding firmly onto her hands and refusing to relent.

"Jason, we seriously can't—"

"Please."

There was such a note of longing in his voice that even a calculating heart such as Raven's heard it.

"It is my birthday," he added.

Raven yielded her protesting for just a moment, and in that moment he pulled her in close and engulfed the soft, warm frame within his arms. As soon as he had done this he knew she couldn't say no, wouldn't pull away.

He rested his chin on his favorite spot at the crook of her neck and breathed deeply, as if her fragrance was the only fresh air in the room. Although he didn't speak a word, Raven knew that this was his of saying thank you.

The music began once again, a slow, gentle rhythm that undulated like the calm ripples of a river. Their bodies were pressed together, sewn tight like interwoven stitches, and Raven struggled to discern where she ended and he began.

As they moved, the titan could feel herself falling into a lull—a mellow, warm place where it was only the two of them, turning around and around, swaying like pliant trees. A place where the floor was empty, where the lights were dimmed low, where his chin was resting on her bare shoulder and his cheek felt flushed against the side of her neck.

A sudden intense burning sensation jolted Raven from her reverie.

It felt as if someone was pressing a hot brand against the back of her shoulders, and she violently jerked her head around to meet the stare of the masked Titan leader, his arms crossed over his chest and a scowl on his face.

He had watched the two dancers intently, his squinted eyes following them as they moved between others, holding tightly to one another. The music now drawing to its end, Raven could feel an icy tug of worry—Robin had seen they'd been together for four straight songs.

Jason must have sensed the penetrating glare as well, because he took her gloved hand in his own and tugged her away from the dance floor.

"C'mon," he said, leading her past chairs and tables and over to a pair of wide doors that had been thrown open to the outside. "Let's get some fresh air. Chuckles is making this place… stuffy."

They stepped out onto a stone terrace and the cool air hit Raven's sweaty temples refreshingly.

"I never thought I'd enjoy dancing that much," she confessed, leaning out over the balcony and looking down at the lawn, which centered around a large marble fountain with the inscription Wayne Enterprises.

"I'd never thought you'd dance that much, especially with me," the rogue chuckled.

"Well, you're not bad at it," the dark titan grudgingly admitted, speaking out toward the night sky.

"What, did I hear right? Did you just compliment me?" Jason gasped in mocking surprise.

"Oh, be quiet," Raven snapped, a smile playing on her lips. "I'm just being honest."

Jason shook his head in disbelief, an infectious grin spreading across his face.

"So now you're opening up? Want to share your feelings with me, confess how madly in love you are?" he asked teasingly, leaning his elbows back against the railing and flashing that cocky look, the one that always riled her up.

"In your dreams," Raven scoffed, though a faint red tinge had crept up her cheekbones. "As if anyone could ever have feelings for someone like you."

"Yeah, as if anyone," Jason echoed back, wrapping his arms around her bare-skinned shoulders and planting a kiss at the nape of her neck.

There was a pleasant pause as they enjoyed the silence of each other, then:

"Come home with me tonight?"

His arms released their hold from around her and his hands reached for hers, the pads of his thumbs tracing small circles on the inside of her palms.

"I can't," Raven shook her head, just as much as to rid herself of her now deep crimson coloring as to communicate no. Loose strands tumbled down out of her bun at the movement.

"Robin's scheduled seven o'clock training tomorrow morning. I have to be rested and centered."

"What a good hero you are," Red X grumbled, but he pulled her in for one last tight, lingering hug.

"Goodnight, Sunshine," he called over his shoulder as he climbed the edge of the balcony. Without another word, the thief made his exit from the party and leapt off, into the night.

x

x

x

Yes, "The Teen Titans Go to a Ball" scene is way too overused. But I wanted to do it anyway, because Raven in a dress is like star-sprinkles on a cosmic brownie.

…And because Red X in a tux is real damn sexy.