To Make Team Work

8. To Love

Tim leaned against a pillar as he stared out at his jovial teammates. They had just successfully eradicated the entire HIVE and put The General (aka Ulysses Hadrian Armstrong) behind bars at Blackgate Penitentiary. Because this was a huge win for the Titans and Red Robin, Tim gave Garfield and Bart the 'okay' to throw a party at the tower. He now regretted that decision. The place looked like a frat house on crack. Titans and ex-Titans from around the globe came to celebrate. The place was packed with at least 200 superheroes aged 15-25. As the underaged heroes entering the party were discouraged from drinking via telepaths, sorcerers, etc., underage drinking would not be a problem. Victor hooking himself up to the Tower's sound system, on the other hand, was a major problem Tim had not foreseen. Music now blasted from every single wall, room, and corner of the tower. There were no places for Tim to hide. "Tim!" Tim looked up to see Cassie running to him. She had a drink in one hand, and Connor in the other. "Tim, what's wrong?" Cassie asked with a pout. "You promised Connor and me that you would relax and have fun. You said you would take a break from thinking," she said as Connor nodded in agreement. "Go dance with someone!" she shouted over the music.

"Who?" Tim questioned.

"Anyone!" Cassie shouted. "There's a plethora of females here wishing you would dance with them."

"And some males," Connor added. Tim just smiled at his two close friends. "There's Stephanie," Connor pointed out. "You could dance with her."

"I'm not going to dance with my ex," Tim stated, giving his friend a look that screamed 'You are an imbecile.'

"Why would you even suggest that?" Cassie asked her fiancée.

Connor shrugged. "I was trying to be helpful."

Tim looked around the packed common room. Everyone was accounted for. Well, almost everyone. "Have you seen Raven?" Tim asked the two.

"Oooh, Raven," Cassie teased. Tim rolled his eyes. "I have no clue where your favorite heroine is. Probably far away from this noise. Oh look, a pinata!" Cassie shouted, her attention elsewhere. She dashed back into the crowd, heading straight towards the pinata. "I'm gonna go make sure she doesn't hurt anyone," Connor said. Tim nodded as Connor followed his girlfriend into the crowd. Tim began to think. Hmm, if I were Raven, where would I be? She wouldn't stay in the tower with all the noise, but she wouldn't leave the island just in case someone needed her. Tim smiled. He knew where she was. Tim turned and walked out of the room, trying to avoid even more dancing along with amorous couples in the hall. This party had been a really bad idea.

              Tim finally found her at the beach on the other side of the island. She was sitting with her knees pulled up to her chest, so close to the ocean. Every time a wave broke on the sand, the water come up to her toes. Tim looked her over. She glowed in the moonlight and looked absolutely lovely. Her hair, once violet, was now a midnight blue color. It fell straight and silky past her shoulder blades, almost reaching her waist. She wore a simple outfit. Short shorts and purple, sheer, short-sleeved shirt with a black strapped bandeau. Tim released a breath he had been holding. She is so beautiful. "Hey," he greeted upon approaching her.

Raven blinked up at him. If Tim didn't know any better, he would have thought her startled. "Hey," she replied before quickly looking around, "you found my hiding place."

"I did," Tim sat next to her. "Leaving the tower was not an easy task," Tim told her. "Whose idea was it to throw this massive party?"

"Um...I believe it was yours."

"No, I wanted a party with just us. San Fran Titans only."

"You put Garfield and Bart in charge," Raven deadpanned. "I warned you."