Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans, or any rights to characters referenced from the DC Universe.

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Same Time Next Year?

I Titan Tower, Main Hall I

"You have to be joking," Raven drawled.

Robin swept a hand out, gesturing at the other Titans where they were decorating the Main Hall for the holidays. Even the usually detached Terra was getting in on things, helping Garfield string up tinsel along the walls. Cyborg was attempting to frost the Tower windows, his cannon retrofitted with an aerosol of the stuff. By the top of their impressive tree, Starfire was fixing the last ornaments in place, a star for the top tucked under an arm.

Robin was even wearing a Santa hat, while glaring at the Dark Titan through his mask. Dashing her hopes his idea was a joke, he quirked his lips into a grin, "No, not a joke."

"Seriously, you're telling me I have to do this?" she asked, her tone losing it's usual even calmness as she blinked rapidly, the reality of the situation crashing down around her.

Much like that donation depot she'd... accidentally caved in trying to apprehend Mumbo earlier that day. Who knew those things were made of cardboard?!

Handing her a sheet of paper, the Boy Wonder smiled his ingratiatingly pleasant smile. "There's the details. See you back tonight, after they close up." Turning, he motioned for Starfire to toss him a few of the ornaments she'd conveniently hung in her hair, figuring that'd be a good way to hold extras. Behind him, Raven's mouth worked silently, her hand still outstretched, holding the print out.

"You have got..."

I Jump Juvenile Correction Facility I

"... to be joking," Jinx gawked, her posture slumped around the back of the chair she was sitting in. Across from her, the District Attorney shook his head, an expression of long suffering on his face. She had been asked to attend the meeting during the exercise period, and was rather displeased her usual cat-nap schedule had been cut short.

Cat-naps made days tolerable.

Reaching up to rub at the bridge of a rather blocky nose, the man regarded her with a cool glare, "I am most certainly not, Miss Wrangler." Stifling a slight smirk at the sour expression she made from his use of her family name, the man continued, "The psychology staff that you speak with weekly believe a good portion of your rehabilitation should be spent reacclimatizing you to society, in a positive setting."

"You can tell that tribe of pygmy head shrinkers that I neither want to be rehabilitated, nor do I believe in their psychobabbleology," the young woman snarled back at him, the power-negating cuffs along her wrists beeping menacingly at her excited state. Mumbling, she rolled her eyes and started counting backwards from ten in German, remembering the last time those damned shackles had "reminded" her to stay calm. "zehn, neun, acht, seiben, sechs, fünf..."

Tapping his paperwork's edges even, the lawyer smiled slightly, behind the shield of his documents. "The program begins this afternoon. One session will negate one year off your detention. With a good report from the supervisors, and some positive marks on outlook and behavior, you could get out of here before spring."

Jinx perked up at this, the fairer season being her favorite. "Spring, you say," she muttered quietly, eyes darting between the man before her and the papers he held. Resolving that some small loss of her own pride was worth being out of this antiseptic, dull place, the thief snatched the packet from his hand. Shrugging slightly at his raised brow, she twirled a pen, which the man started patting down his jacket looking for.

"So, suppose I jump on board this little show you got in mind. What's the catch?" Knowing the peculiar way systems in the city worked, the first thing that set off alarms in her head was the nature of the job. The second was the utter lack of any solid supervision, despite the mayhem she should be able to cause, not to mention the potential for arbitrary amusement this could offer her. Was it some kind of test? It stank of setup; the deal was too sweet.

Smirking, knowing the girl was already sold, the stern faced man simply started putting away his papers, the ones not in Jinx's hands. "No gimmicks. Just you and the job. Do this the right way, and you'll be handed a nice cut off your sentence," he stated in an offhand manner. After a rather ominous pause, while he held her gaze with his own icy glare, the man spoke again, a tone better reserved for the gallows, "Make no mistake; if you take advantage of this opportunity to make mischief, or try to skip out on the task, the next time you come in, you stay in." Slamming his briefcase shut and startling the young thief, the Attorney rose to leave.

"Leave those on the table when you're done. You start at 5 PM, sharp," Pausing by the door, he spoke again, without turning. "If you surprise me in a good way, I may just arrange for some holiday leave as well," apparently finished, the man left Jinx to consider his words, and the document before her.

Eying the papers as if the ink were venom, Jinx sighed expansively and started scratching her signature on the various quintuplet forms. Half an hour, and about three million bored-to-death brain cells later, she finished the last one, dotting the "I" in her name with a little skull. The thief shook her head, dislodging her addled and napping mind, and smirked, twirling the pen in her fingers.

"Least I got something out of the meeting," she chirped, tucking the pen into her pocket.

I Jump Plaza Mall and Shopping Center I

"Awe c'mon, you mean I can't even go through the front doors?" Jinx's whining tone carried through the parking lot, as she swept her arms out and up at the sky, apparently imploring some higher power for a boon. Her personal security detail, a pair of bored looking Police Department Captains stood nearby, one gesturing toward the back of the mall and service entrances.

"Sorry," the taller of the two, Burke his badge proclaimed, offered. "Directions were to see you in through the employee access, then to the designated location." Anderson, his partner, nodded as she scanned the area, wary of any attempts by other H.I.V.E. members to liberate their female counterpart.

Jinx, looking over the alleyway leading there, gave a visible shiver and pouted at Burke, her lip quivering, "B-but I'm afraid of the dark..."

Anderson's head snapped around at this, and the woman's eyebrows rose, "You have got to be kidding," she stammered, taking in the pink haired witch up and down as she stood looking petrified. "You're a hardened criminal, an aspiring supervillian from all accounts, and you're afraid of the dark?" her tone utterly disbelieving, the female Captain shook her head slowly. "Unbelievable."

Moving to the girl's side, Burke gestured down the alleyway again, more urgently, "It's getting late, you're on a schedule. Lets go."

"Carry me," Jinx offered, looking up at the taller man playfully.

Rolling her eyes, Anderson simply grabbed the thief by the back of the collar and started marching her toward the entrances. "Why did I sign up for this again?" she mumbled under her breath, swearing at the girl's dead weight.

Batting her eyes at the woman, Jinx grinned mischievously, "'Cause I'm cute?"

"Oh, I'm sure that was it. Yeah."

Burke followed behind, shaking his head.

Inside Jinx was left to her task, the security detail making their way to the mall proper, probably to some place they can keep their eyes on her, the thief figured. "Well, may as well... oh you can't be serious?!"

The source of her exclamation was sitting there on the table before her, in the security room that she was told to go to. Folded neatly and sitting by another opened plastic wrapper, was a rather skimpy green and red elf costume. Jinx tore off the wrap and examined the article of clothing, noting how the skirt was scalloped and maybe brushed her lower thighs, while the top would be rather tight and... flattering. Sighing, Jinx locked the door and began changing, her color rising sharply as she took in the reflection of her costume in the mirror. Not knowing precisely what to do with the Santa hat, she instead pulled off the bell and affixed it to her hair, letting it dangle from one of her "horns".

"Well. Nothing to do but the doing," she murmured, the picture of elfin... well never mind. So far, she was utterly unconvinced elves ever wore this kind of outfit at the north pole. Perhaps those dancing around a pole, she thought with a smirk, trying to distract herself from the fit of shivering the skimpy skirt was threatening to send her into.

Thankfully the hallways leading to the public parts of the mall were empty, so she had little worry of running into anyone in a dark place and needing to hex them fifteen ways to Thursday (It being Saturday, that's a lot of hexing) for the show. Coming to the entryway, she ducked and peered around the corner, her pink irises dilating in their catlike way as she took in the surroundings. Holiday cheer had gone off like a gaudy bomb here, and the proof was all over the walls, floor and most of the people. Wreaths and tinsel garland adorned the walls, with banners and festive motifs, candy canes and stars and iconic trees, angels and reindeer cavorted around everywhere, while at ground level the clamor was no less. Faux presents and boxes littered the causeway, mounds of snow banking around them and corners, there were even gingerbread houses in miniature scattered about among the open spaces, giving children that were interested places to hide and frolic.

Overall, the effect made Jinx's teeth hurt. "Man, they really go all out around here don't they?" she pondered out loud, rounding the corner to the little hut that would house the main attraction of the season shortly.

"So it would seem," a droll voice replied from the shadow behind her, and the startled thief spun about, searching for the speaker. Leaning against the inner wall by the door she'd wandered through, still dazzled by the display outside, was a very disgruntled looking elf, much like her.

A very disgruntled elf with violet hair stuffed under a rather poofy Santa hat, and a rather sour expression.

"Uh," was all Jinx managed before recognition kicked her in the behind and she yelped, falling backward into a chair. "R-Raven? Why are you here? The forms didn't mention anything about a Titan playing big brother to me-"

"Hold on," Raven interrupted her, looking around with a detached glare. "Forms? What are you talking about? And why are you here?"

"I asked you first. And it's rude to interrupt, you know." Jinx huffed for effect and arranged the skirt in what had to be a less revealing state. Her thoughts already spinning from the shock of seeing a Titan here, and Raven of any of them, was only compounded by seeing the shorter, curvier girl in a similar outfit to her own. Tugging at her skirt again, her musing turned to the outfit, I swear, when I get out of Juvie, the first thing I'm doing is getting sent back in for setting whoever designed this outfit on fire. Although it looks rather nice on Raven...

Rolling her eyes at the quirky feline, Raven sat down in the other chair, keeping her attention on the doorway and the "stage" for any sign of the Jolly Fat Man himself. "Whatever," she grumbled, collecting her thoughts. "I didn't come here by choice."

With a drawl, Jinx leered at the obviously uncomfortable Titan, deciding if she had to be here, at least to have some fun while she was, "Darlin', if people knew they had to wear these outfits, who would?"

Raven spared her a sigh, and considered the question a moment, debating if she should rely on rhetoric or sarcasm to answer. "Someone other than us, you mean?"

Tilting her head, the jingle in her hair sounding, the thief pondered this a moment. "Kitten," she replied simply, with a nod.

"Only if it came in pink," Shuddering visibly, Raven smirked as Jinx's eyes narrowed.

"What's wrong with pink? I happen to like pink. I happen to be, pink."

Laughing quietly, Raven shook her head, "Funny, haven't seen you on tour recently," restraining herself from returning the bubbly girl's mirth, the Titan regardless let herself grin slightly, relaxing despite their history. The two sorceresses had often come to verbal crossfire when facing one another, but those were the usual banter of combat and defense, not the somewhat nervous chatter they were taking part in at the moment. Raven found herself enjoying the company, perhaps because obviously like Jinx, she wasn't here by her own choices either. "So, what brings you to this winter wonderland in Capitalist hell?"

Smiling her Cheshire smile, Jinx leaned forward, that silly jingle in her hair going off again, "Did you just make a joke?"

"Er. I plead the fifth"

"Huh, that's usually my line... anyway," not missing a beat, the thief went on, checking the wall clock and seeing that Santa apparently had difficulties when it wasn't the big day. "I got offered a sentence cut for doing some suggested community service. Apparently, they didn't tell me the details..."

Chuckling, Raven nodded, "Same. Well the details part. For me it was Robin."

"What, you two dating now? I thought he was wrapped around Starfire's orange pinky." Jinx quipped, grinning at the Titan's look of mixed horror and annoyance at the suggestion. Well, seems Gizmo will be losing that bet, I so got that betting pool in the bag! Jinx's hand wandered to the pocket she kept her small wallet in, containing the wager slip that most of the H.I.V.E. had a hand in, over what Titan was dating which. Being a school for teenage villains, they had some odd pastimes.

Shaking her head vigorously, Raven held up her hands, "No, no no no. I mean, he's nice and all, but no. And yes, orange pinky, whatever." Glaring at the thief's mirth at her expense, she regardless felt she owed Jinx an explanation as well, seeing as they were stuck with this after all. "He felt like I should get in touch with the holiday spirit, or something." Muttering under he breath, she added the real reason, hoping Jinx's eyes were her only feline quality, "May also have something to do with collapsing a donation shelter as well."

"That was you!?"

Paling, Raven looked at the clock again, mumbling about holiday icons with no sense of timing.

"The news blamed Mumbo, oh man, the guys are going to love th-" Jinx was imagining the reactions her teammates would have to this news when a pained expression crossed Raven's features, stalling the thief's torrent of words. Never having been on for public opinion, rather public appearance, Jinx wasn't too sure how Raven considered the idea of something like this being tagged with her name. "Hm. Well maybe I can keep this one under my hat." Patting at her head, she grinned, noticing the Titans obvious relief, "When I find it anyway."

Smiling slightly, Raven nodded her head once, "Thanks, it's just... I lose control sometimes, and that guy just pushes my buttons. Being a rabbit once in that hat, kinda does that to me."

Gawking, trying to picture the girl before her as a cute, fluffy bunny, Jinx laughed herself into the floor, mumbling apologies between gasps for breath. "Sorry, sorry! Just, wow." When Raven laughed slightly as well, the two settled into companionable smalltalk, waiting for show to begin. They were interrupted by a knock on the door, Burke sticking his head in as Jinx practically launched herself into his line of sight.

"Hi-there-Burke-what's-up?" She blurted, startling the man as he practically closed the door on his own head.

Blinking at the outfit she was wearing, the man gulped, having forgot that Jinx was one of the few attractive inmates at the particular facility he worked in. "Er, just. Um. Delays, was going to see if everything was alright."

Smirking at the man's obvious preoccupation, she played up on her act, sighing expansively, "Well, just waiting on the fat man, so we can get this opera under way. But hey, this is a staff only thing, mister! Shoo!"

Burke shuffled off, scratching at his head as he felt the distinct hint that Jinx was hiding something, but what could it have been, with the other elf there behind her? Not that he got a good look at them, and man could that room be any smaller? It was practically a broom closet.

Running a hand across her brow in mock relief, Jinx spared her fellow elf a grin. "You know, it's funny when we're being carted off sometimes. You hear the PD's talking about "Capes" and how they ruin the city," she noted, feeling somewhat brash at her earlier behavior.

The Titan nodded, her head tilted as she regarded the thief. "Yeah, we get some tension when we have to work with the locals sometimes."

"I um, yeah. Figured the last thing you needed was one of the Dicks seeing you in elf drag, and all..."

Grinning, Raven blushed a bit at the gesture. "Why Jinx, are you looking out for little ol' me?"

"Don't make me get a candy cane and shut you up, Missy."

Smirking, the Titan stood, having seen a red mass moving in their direction from the hallways, "only if they come in strawberry," she murmured, noticing Jinx looking in the same direction as her.

"Whassat? Strawberry?" Jinx too was looking at their 'partner' for the afternoon, and something told her that both she and Raven had the same impression. Something wasn't quite right about Jolly Saint Nick, or at least the one they'd been stuck with.

He had the mass right, rather 'jolly' as it were. Beard was obviously faked, but there was a bit of red goatee poking through the white mass, as well as from under the badly oriented wig the man wore. The bag over his shoulder was bulky and the edges of something poked and bend the profile into something jumbled and haphazard, making Jinx wonder what precisely was in there. Said Santa wasn't struggling with the thing, so obviously it wasn't too heavy, but the man-sized sack seemed full. Looking over to her partner in 'time', the thief noted that Raven as well had a curious expression on her face. Apparently she wasn't the only one finding something odd with this situation.

Maybe it was the fact said Santa was giggling in a high pitched tone and practically dancing toward the small room behind the stage, where Jinx and Raven were observing him.

Jinx, for all her fondness for chaos and a good laugh, had to find this fellow a bit off. One, he was messing with the opportunity she was trying to behave long enough to cash in on, and two, she was actually starting to enjoy chatting with Raven, as odd at that may seem. Raven for her part, was sharing Jinx's sentiment on conversation, having it be a pleasant surprise that the quirky witch would be so easy to be at ease around. The foremost thing on her mind, on the other hand, was the man's emotional state, something she could see as plainly as his rather bulbous gut.

Whoever was wearing that suit, had anything but holiday cheer in mind. Biting her lip, and wishing desperately that her cape were at hand, she turned to Jinx only to see the thief looking at her, eyes slightly narrowed, nodding once as if waiting for a cue. Donning a smirk, she silently cocked her hip and tilted up an eyebrow, suggesting a course of action. Stifling a laugh, Raven nodded, taking a breath to get her game face on.

The two 'elves' pasted on smiles and sauntered out, meeting the odd Santa on the stage and bringing his cackling progress to a halt before he could get to the back room. Gawking openly at the outfits the two were wearing as well as the rather cliché smiles, the man in the suit nearly dropped his sack, but managed to shake off his reaction in just enough time. Raven was about to breach his mental defenses when he snapped back to, and she quietly swore at his discipline. Whoever this was, they had a strong will, or at least one bent so crookedly as to be hard to follow.

"Well well, if it isn't our late Santa... what kept you so long?" Jinx purred, catwalk gliding up to the man while motioning for Raven to stay back. Following along, the Titan waited, wondering precisely what the bad luck charm had in mind.

Blinking rapidly and stuttering, the rotund man looked around furtively, a silly grin still on his face, "Ah, yeah. Santa got tied up in the back room, for a while," apparently amused by some inside joke, the man let loose with another round of high-pitched laughter, setting Raven's already strained nerves on end. Jinx didn't seem to react, but instead changed tactics.

Slipping between the Titan and "Santa", she leaned forward and peered up at the actor, grinning what some could call innocent, but to Raven just looked predatory. "So, what's in the bag? I though the candy was already here..."

Another bout of laughter and Raven got Jinx's plan: she was acting decoy, so the Titan could get a read on their actor. Wasting no more time, she quietly mouthed her mantra, and focused on seeing into the odd man's mind. It only took a moment, but sorting through the massively cluttered noise, she found enough to jog her memory and send the Titan crashing back into her own awareness with a grunt.

This wasn't missed on their Santa, and the distraction seemed to snap him back into whatever focus it was he held. "Oho, right right! I have such things to show you," the silly man sing-songed, before hopping with deceptive grace into the middle of the stage, kicking over the usual chair that would provide him a place to meet and speak with the children, lined up and waiting for some time to see their holiday hopeful.

Sliding up beside Jinx, Raven pulled at her sleeve to get the thief's attention, "Listen, this is bad, we need-"

"Attention, ladies and gentlemen!" Santa boomed, drowning out the second part of Raven's warning, which only cause the two to move further back, trying to confer. "Your attention please! Today, we shall begin a fantastic journey!"

Her stomach was doing that thing, where she knew something bad was about to happen. Usually, she got it just before the Titans showed up, but this time, Jinx knew the source was sitting, or rather strutting, in front of her. Much like an overstuffed turkey, yeah. Strutting. Haha. Smirking, she and Raven finally got some quiet, to figure out what to do.

"So, who's the bigmouth?"

Shaking her head, and reaching for a non-existent communicator, Raven swore, her eyes going large. "We are so in trouble."

"What is it?"

Raven looked back at the man, and was quickly reminded of why she was in this position to begin with. The fight with Mumbo was as always a trial, with the magician's chaotic nature a mad dance to keep an upper hand. This time, he'd managed to get his hands on an ancient Egyptian relic, that let him summon huge hands to do his bidding.

It seemed his imagination with toys didn't extend to heists, so a bank was his first target. The Titan's had shown up, and routed the madman to what they had thought was an abandoned warehouse, but Robin called a fall back as it turned out to be an inner city donation drop off for the holidays.

Raven, too intent on stopping the idiotic enchanter, had pulled two of the support pillars to fend off the raging hands, only to find the structure too weak to handle such abuse. The warehouse had collapsed, destroying much donation work, and also Mumbo's charm. Despite the city's assurance that things would be alright, she could still remember the accusatory looks the PD's and her own Team had given her, after the fight. If she had listened to Robin, had moved the fight somewhere safer, she'd not be here.

And again, here she was, in the middle of a holiday holdup, amid a gaggle of goggle-eyed and soon to be Christmas casualties.

"Jinx, we need to move these people, get them out of here," Raven, glanced around, happy to be forgotten in the crazed man's focus, as her unwitting partner blinked at her, uncomprehending and impatient.

Stomping her foot and glaring, she hissed at the Titan, "Not till you tell me what's going on!"

"I'm sure you're all wondering what's going on, aren't you!?" The silly Santa announced, making Jinx's eyes cross in annoyance. "Allow me to gift you with the joy of Holiday Fear!" Ending the crescendo of his cry, Santa gripped his sack and swung it out and in an arc, the contents spraying about and toward the crowd who sat there, stunned at his odd behavior.

Pulling the stunned feline down, Raven dove ahead of the stage and pulled up a wall of black force, dropping her cover as the rain of... dolls and odd toys were bounced back at the man who'd released them. Glaring at the Titan, the man ripped off his beard and hat, making Jinx roll her eyes and groan in annoyance.

"Him. You were worried about Him?! Control Freak?" Pointing and gesturing at the fat man who stood there, a similar look of annoyance on his face increasing with every word. "Gizmo could take him, without his pack." Laughing suddenly, she whipped around, and pointed at the toys, kicking one across the stage and back at the man, "And what's with these? They all look defective!"

Growling and muttering, Control Freak pulled out his namesake and stabbed at a button, before Raven could muster the time to yank the machine away from him, "Jinx, don't antagonize him, there are bystanders!" the Titan hissed, trying to figure out the best way to clear the room before something bad could happen.

All of the toys, miniature holiday themed action figures, cardboard cut outs, and magazine garage kits, shuddered and started to glow an eerie red, as Jinx watched, her eyes growing larger as the toys did themselves. "Oh boy." What had at first seemed a bag full of harmless toys was in fact a very large army, and growing larger, of some very bad B-Movie Christmas horror features. Jinx turned and grabbed Raven's hand, shoving her at the crowd as the thief put herself in front of the stage, wondering at about the same time as the Titan what exactly it was she was doing.

"Get them going! I'll... something! I'm an elf, we can improvise!"

Raven's eye twitched, "Right, um. Right," and with that she started removing people, capturing them in globes of black and shooing them off to exits as fast as she could focus. Behind her, Control Freak was ranting at his troops, urging them to go forth and conquer, the demonic toys all turning at his command to face the front of the stage and...

A very provocatively posed Jinx, hands up in a pose of exaggerated fear before her face. "Oh, dear me, here I am the star of the show, and in such a skimpy outfit. I should run away!" Smirking to herself, and hoping that the rules of B-movies applied to altered toys, the thief figured a line like that was like painting a neon, glowing target on her behind and waving it in their face. Turning to do just that, she took off in an arcing sprint, glancing behind her to see the effect of her taunt.

Oh boy. Cranking the sprint up a notch to panicked fleeing, she ducked around the stage as a horde of misbegotten toys made terrors ripped up the floor behind her. "Hurry it up, Raven!" she cried out, before making a bee-line for seats and benches.

Ironically, with the crowd nearly fully dispersed by Raven's magic, and his army caught in Jinx's improvised trap, Control Freak found himself in anything but control of the situation. To add to his annoyance, which like his army's opinion of Jinx, was Mighty mighty, the gawking nerd found his remote's battery to have been completely drained in the discharge that animated and altered his troops. Trying to be subtle, he glanced around and started edging his way toward a department electronics boutique.

In front of the stage, Raven leaned on an overturned bench, massaging a temple to relieve the ache the high speed and delicate action she took had settled in her skull. She'd almost missed the cause of her headache sliding his way to the electronics outlet when she snatched him up into the air and dangled him by a foot in front of her, a talon of black annoyance grasping his ankle none to gently. Glaring into the upturned face before her, the Titan had a few things to ask the would-be villain. "Where do you think you're going?" She hissed, gritting her teeth to keep from screaming at the ridiculous man.

"I was just... um. Well that is, ah." Darting his eyes about frantically, the unkempt Freak pointed behind the Titan with a look of terror. "God! Behind you!"

Narrowing her eyes, Raven sighed and shifted the man harshly, shaking him where he dangled. "You don't expect me to fall for tha-" And Raven's eyes widened when she heard the thunder of footsteps closing in on her. From behind.

"Clear the way! Raven, time to go!" Dashing by and snatching the Titan's hand in her own, the pink haired thief swept by the still suspended former Santa, hair jingling merrily as she passed.

Turning away from the view of two rather scantily clad elves dashing for cover, he was met with the army he made, single-mindedly chasing after the self-proclaimed target of their day. He noted with some detached surprise the amazing detail that had gone into painting each figure, as the teeth looked very sharp, and rather long in this one...

"Mommy."

Jinx winced at the screams behind them, as the two rounded a corner and the mob swept by, comically unaware of the hiding place she'd found. "Well, that was kinda amusing," leaning over, she panted, hands on her knees as she tried to regain her wind.

The Titan looked around the corner, watching the mob peer about and search for the witch they'd be chasing. Glancing back at Jinx, she noted the girl seemed deep in thought. "Hey, what's up? I haven't seen you cast a hex or anything yet."

"Afraid to, supposed to be on good behavior here," she managed, panting between every second word.

Raven considered this a moment, before hesitantly questioning the thief, "Wouldn't using them to hamper the bad guys, be good behavior?"

Nodding, she grinned slightly, nearly having her breath back. "Well, should be, but luck goes foul for everyone. Now that the civvies are clear, and no one but us and Remote-boy are here to get hurt, maybe I'll chance it." Nodding at her unlikely partner, the feline glanced around the corner, catching the eye of one wandering horror. "Uh oh, time to go," she blurted, dashing out again, hand in hand with the Titan.

It was beginning to become a point of interest to Raven, how she pulled that off without her noticing.

As the pair dashed out into the larger main area of the mall, they split up and started fighting the mob directly, Jinx's heavy heels flying through the air followed by hexes and the occasionally thrown oddity. Raven was more direct, snatching up some of Jinx's victims and using them to pummel their peers, trying to minimize the damage to the mall itself. As the two fought, they gravitated to the center of the room, and found themselves covering and countering each other's targets.

"Behind you!" Jinx's foot struck down a nasty goblin that was about to sink it's teeth into Raven's shoulder.

Raven's eyes sparked and flared, as she finished a hurried, understated mantra with a forceful push, "-Zinthos!" The resulting wave blasted back the horde of creatures facing Jinx, giving her time to take them on one at a time.

As the mob closed in, Jinx cast around, her spinning kick a diversion nearly as she scanned for a new place to front a defense. Smiling slightly, she grabbed Raven's hand, and hoped the girl reacted as quickly as Jinx thought. "Up, then the stage!"

True to her expectations, the two were suddenly airborne, and whisked off to land on the platform, the diminished mob still strong in the dozens and closing. Panting with her own effort, her vision going gray at the edges, Raven looked to Jinx for the next part of her plan. "What now, fearless leader?"

Jinx dashed around behind Raven, taking her hands and holding them out in front of the Titan, as is she were tossing hexes like the perky witch. "Do you trust me?" Grinning at the smell of her hair, the feline figured this was worth a shot, and hoped her gamble paid off.

Raven blinked once, blushing at the feel of the girl nestled up behind her, but nodded quickly figuring for now, and for this it was the best course of action. "Yes, what do we do?"

"Curtain call, baby!" Raven could feel her magic being tugged and pulled by Jinx's will, but allowed it, a black miasma and mist creeping and coiling around all the figured as they closed on the two. The mob of monsters were currently tearing up the back wall of the stage room on their way to the pair, destroying the small room they'd waited in before this mess started. Swallowing, and hoping the sometimes insane girl had a plan for all the energy she was pulling from the Titan, Raven dropped her guard and poured forth her ebon force.

It was a gamble. But that was Jinx's specialty. She knew Raven could envelop the entire army, but her control didn't extend to doing anything useful to them en-masse once she had. Jinx on the other hand, simply needed a conduit for her hexes, and with that much magic around the army...

As the mob approached the podium, Jinx emptied her reserve of bad luck into Raven's channeled magic, igniting the mist and coiling darkness with violent pink. In rather dramatic fashion, a before unseen curtain literally fell across the back wall of the stage, an eerie silence following it as the bottom of the thing impacted the podium floor with a note of finality. The two gawked, their view completely cut off by the heavy fabric, and stared at the curtain, disbelieving, stunned and wavering where they stood.

Slumping down, the girls looked at one another, and then back to the stage. The sounds of pursuit had died off, as well as the feeling of wrongness they both had with the technosorcery that Control Freak utilized. Jinx, rather spent after her sprint, fight and subsequent blast of hex, flung her feet up and fell backwards, groaning. "If any are left, tell them to use Teriyaki sauce, I taste bad with ketchup."

Running a numb hand along her forehead, Raven tried to call on a reserve of energy to scan their surroundings for danger, but came back with only a stinging headache. "God... ow. Jinx, did you have to drain me like that? I'm completely spent." As the Titan slumped down to lay on the podium herself, she wondered what the hell Jinx thought was do funny.

"Hahah, spent... drained... oooh. Ow, that hurts," finally getting a stitch in her side, Jinx went quiet, except for the occasional chuckle. "But seriously, I'm with you sister. That was a bit like overkill." She heard a faint shuffle and some muted talking, but wasn't in the right position to investigate. Swearing, Jinx sat up and peered around, the jingle in her hair making Raven chuckle quietly.

"Can't believe that bell stayed on through all that."

Snorting, the cat eyed thief grinned at her, "My hair works miracles."

"Your hair is a miracle. Still want to know how-"

"Oh my god!" The scream pulled their attention to the suddenly reanimated Control Freak, picking himself up off the floor and looking like little more than a well used door mat. "What the hell hit me?"

Smirking, Jinx found some lose mortar from the earlier fight, and chucked it at the tubby nerd, beaning him on the head and knocking him out again. "Rubble. And irony." Leaning back against the stage edge, the two laughed quietly as Control Freak snored in his forced hiatus, watching the civilian population trickle back inside now that things had quieted down. "So they're all gone, awesome. Had no idea if that would work."

Boggling at the admission, the Titan laughed once, hard and went still again. "You and your gambling. We should go to Vegas."

Turning to the Titan with wide eyes, Jinx started to grin, one of those smiles that made children cry and grown men shiver. Raven was nonplussed. "...On second thought..." Turning to watch the people stream back in and survey the damage and aftermath, she considered the merits of the idea herself. Would be a hell of a lot easier than what we usually have to do for pocket money. She shivered remembering the photo shoot for that "Heroes Unleashed!" calendar series. Never. Again.

Raven stole a surreptitious glance to her recent ally, and considered the situation. Sure, she'd been in as much danger as the Titan, but what was her first instinct? To save herself? No, she took charge, and put herself and her safety on the line to save civilians. The H.I.V.E. had recently been put out of commission, mostly due to the Titan's actions, and the various high profile teens that attended were well in hand. Most were serving time in Juvenile Hall, while some were simply under strict parole and observation. Jinx was one of the PD's "prize" inmates, being what the public could recognize as a leader for the H.I.V.E.. That she was here, and helping Raven even, were things the Titan hadn't ever planned on thinking about. Sure, she's a criminal, but who am I to judge? Raven thought with a slight morbid air. After all, I'm the apocalypse in tights. Maybe I should stop thinking about her as a mug shot and more like a person. She laughed again at one of Jinx's jokes, this time not bothering to hide her smile. And one I apparently like being around.

It was then that the mall director, whom they'd never met but introduced himself as such as the local PD showed up to take stock, approached them again. "Ladies, I can't say how thankful I am that this went on with so little damage and danger to the shoppers, thank you."

Jinx grinned from ear to ear, her hand darting to a pocket, "No problem, chief! Think you can put all that lovely appreciation in writing? I'd be ever so grateful." Nodding with a slight look of confusion, the director took the pen and walked away a few steps before remembering what he'd come to speak about in the beginning, before the quirky witch had misdirected him.

"Oh, one more thing... could I beg a favor from the two of you?"

The two sorceresses glanced at one another, and Jinx raised a brow. Clearing her throat, Raven nodded for the man to continue, "What did you need?"

Glancing at the clock, the still mostly intact stage that was currently the attention of the entire janitorial staff, and the two before him, the man nervously fidgeted with the pen Jinx gave him. "Well, as things stand, we had called the agency that helps us staff these events, when the original Santa was late. They said a replacement Santa was on the way, so..."

Sighing, Raven massaged a temple and tried to keep her eye from twitching. "You still need elves."

"Great! I'm glad you understand. He should be here in about five minutes. Toodles!" And before the two could get in a word edgewise, the man had disappeared into the crowd. Jinx had suspicions he had a night job as a lawyer.

"Tricky. But well, I guess it would help grease the wheels," the bad luck charm thought out loud, stretching with a groan and a creaking of joints. "I so need to get a better fitness plan, the Juvie hall basic doesn't have anything on some good, clean second story work."

"Good? Clean? Are we both speaking the same language, here? Burglary isn't usually considered either, you know," reminded of why particularly she disliked Jinx's profession, the Titan was fast to reply to such a statement.

Sticking her tongue out, Jinx merely straitened her outfit. "Well, I could have been a disgruntled serial killer. Or gone in with the Brotherhood; the big kids and all." Pondering a moment while Raven blanched at the images she was painting, the thief snapped her fingers as she settled on a clincher. "Hell, I could have just hired myself out to Slade. He had a good package."

"Ok, ok, point made." The Titan shook her head, an errant thought making her somewhat nauseous. "And please, never say the words "Slade" and "package" in the same sentence again. Ever."

"Ooh, we got jokes," the thief jibed, before going paler than usual, her eyes as wide as saucers as she stared over the Titan's shoulder.

Rolling her eyes and tucking a strand of stubborn hair behind her ear, Raven scoffed, "C'mon, that trick never works. Why are you even bothering?" She nearly jumped out of her skin when a bass voice behind her sounded.

"Merry Christmas."

The two stood in shock as they took in their replacement Santa. Raven's eyes went up... and up and finally stopped as she felt her stomach go cold. Standing nearly eight feet tall, and almost again as wide, the man had a build more suited for atlas than the Jolly harbinger of toys. A tiny hat, seemingly an afterthought, sat on his head, while the white beard and wig fought a loosing war with his hair for supremacy. The was some padding in the outfit, but the man's musculature simply made it look pointless, and frankly Raven thought that the bulk needed to make this man look pudgy would be way out of the mall's budget.

Jinx's mouth worked for a moment, before she started laughing, her hair jingling like mad as she did so. "Oh. My. God, Mammoth?! They sent you?

Glaring down as his erstwhile partner in crime, the enormous man grunted, reaching down to pick up and realign the huge chair that he was to sit on soon. "Shaddup. They had me fill out forms..."

"Ladies and gentlemen!" the announcement set the two elves on edge, but being only a call to attention from the director, they relaxed quickly. "Santa will be seeing you all soon, so please make a tidy line, and we'll begin!"

Taking that as their cue, Raven and Jinx made their way to the entry way for the stage, the banister around it keeping people moving in an orderly fashion. As they began ushering children to Mammoth, who despite his surly demeanor seemed ot be genuinely enjoying the role, the girls shared grins and conversation with the children.

"So, what do you think of Christmas?" Jinx had inquired of one boy, who was too preoccupied with his portable game system to really be considered excited to be there.

He'd spared her an annoyed glance but answered, "It's just junk, dunno why I had to come here."

Raven, having heard the conversation as she answered a parent's question, came over to help her partner out. "So, is your family here with you?"

"Yeah, they're waiting to take pictures."

Nodding, the Titan looked to the standing seats to see a number of parents there, with cameras. "I think it's great they do things with you, as a family. You should indulge them a little; small things like this make parents happy."

Nodding with a thoughtful look, the boy went back to the line, a little less preoccupied with his game.

Jinx, Raven found, was chatting at another child, this one a rather shy looking girl. "Hey, are you going to be ok?" She asked, trying to stave off the little girl's growing anxiety. She was there like the boy, alone in line, while her parents were supposedly out in the audience chairs, waiting to take a picture.

Shaking her head, the girl clung to Jinx's skirt, making the rather scantily clad elf yelp as she held the item of clothing in place. Raven smirked, watching from the corner of an eye as she led another youth to Mammoth.

"Do you want someone to walk with you? Are you afraid?" When the little girl, she found was named Sara, nodded, Jinx knelt down and smiled, her hair's jingle making the child look up finally. "Hey, you have pretty eyes. You shouldn't hide them so much."

Sara smiled a little, but still clung to Jinx, as she led her to the chair and Mammoth finally. Whispering to Raven, who nodded, the thief stayed with the young girl and held her hand as she told Mammoth in a barely audible whisper that all she really wanted was some new pencils and a sketch pad for Christmas. As Jinx led her back to the crowd, she was surprised to be met by a familiar face.

"Matron..."

Blinking, the older woman spared Jinx a warm smile. "Hello again, Jenny. I see you've met our Sara." Matron Augustine was the caretaker at the orphanage that had been home for Jinx until she went on her own way, leaving to take her chances on the streets. It wasn't a bad place; quite the contrary. She was happy there, in a way she hadn't been in a long time. The other children were familiar, in similar places and they made their family as they went, out of all the hopes and dream each other shared.

The kids at Matron Augustine's were a family. One she'd been too ready to make her own, deciding a long time ago to carry on as her caretakers had, caring for the youths. That was before she'd been awakened to her meta-gene, and circumstances had taken a turn, her future in tow. A woman who could hex and alter luck at a whim, conscious or not, wasn't the kind of person you let in charge of a school full of children.

"Yeah, we met just a bit ago. Go on Sara, you'll be fine," Jinx coaxed, watching the shy girl dash to the Matron and resume her clinging. The older woman smiled and patted the small girl's head, sparing Jinx a look.

"You should come back some time. The other caregivers would like to see a young woman they had a hand in raising," the woman said, pulling her coat back in place, warding off the coming cold as they spoke. She knelt down and helped Sara into her own jacket, Jinx smiling as the pink mass in the Matron's arms turned out to be said article.

Sighing, the thief shook her head slowly. "Matron, I don't think... with me being... " she would have continued stuttering but Raven came by, smiling as she took in the scene.

"Hi, oh. Sorry, I was just going to reclaim my partner, things were getting a bit hectic," the Titan apologized, not noticing the look on Jinx's face from afar. She could tell there was a conversation she'd missed, one that deeply affected the cat eyed girl, but for now, it seemed to be passed.

Nodding absently, she waved to her former guardian, and with Raven looking back and forth between the two, went back to her task of guiding kids to their destination.

The night drew on, and Raven felt there was something that Jinx was thinking about, as the usually perky and rather effervescent girl was being rather subdued and somber, for Jinx. As they were just finishing up with the last few children, Jinx asked if Raven would be alright holding the line as she needed to run an errand. Raising a brow, the Titan nodded and watched as the thief gestured wildly at someone, then walked off with speed.

A final few minutes and they were done, the mall doors locked as the two sat, sharing a bench and a pair of bottled waters. Two decorative bags rested by Jinx's feet, one in pink, the other violet, packing tissue nestling whatever was inside in a cloud of pastels. Raven grinned at the thief, hoping that she'd not be hearing from security later about a certain pink haired girl's exploits in creative shopping.

As if reading her thoughts, Jinx laughed quietly, "No, they're legal. Seems rude to steal people presents. Ruins the intent." Raven nodded, considering the thief again. There was a lot more to the pale girl than met the eye. Jinx hoped that she'd be able to see that Sara's gift got to her, grateful for the girl's shyness now, having been a secret spy to her wish to Santa. As for the other package... her only ally there would be courage.

"This was kind of fun, well aside from the mob of monsters," Raven noted, her hands suddenly needing something to do, fidgeting with her water. Taking a drink, she hoped to cool her parched throat, suddenly dry for some reason. Something had occurred to her halfway through the night, and though it was a lark, she still wondered if the sometimes mad girl sitting so close had rubbed off on her.

Jinx laughed quietly, her gaze distant and distracted still. "Yeah, I had fun too. Next time we do this though, I demand to have a hand in the costumes."

Raven laughed outright at this, shaking her head and gripping her head as the noise compounded her somewhat forgotten headache, "Oh, wow. Ok, that one was pretty bad."

"For an elf who's most of the time a hero, you've got a dirty mind." Jinx grinned, pulling the jingle from her hair and staring at it quietly, her mood lighter but quiet still. Butterflies rampaged in her stomach, and she took a drink of water hoping to drown the silly things.

Who thought such pretty things could be so violent?

Smirking, the Titan sighed and leaned back, resting her head on the wall. "Eh, I don't cut loose much at the Tower. It's hard, having an image to maintain, but realizing sometime after, that you aren't that image."

A smile growing along her lips, Jinx just nodded. Reaching down, she plucked the violet bag and without preamble handed it to Raven. "Merry Christmas, Raven." Somewhat stunned, the Titan took the bag but left to on her thighs, watching the pretty thief beside her carefully.

"I... don't have anything for-"

Jinx cut her off with a wave, "Listen silly. Presents aren't about that, you know it. I just... you know. I liked tonight, being around someone who I didn't have to be a pretense with. Didn't have to be the H.I.V.E.'s Jinx, or anything. Just relax, well other than the elf getup, and be around." Smirking slightly, she looked up and her eyes widened fractionally. "I just didn't expect it to be you. It was fun, and I enjoyed it. Thanks.

"For just letting me be me." She closed her eyes a moment and leaned back, taking a breath to calm her frazzled nerves. There was more, but it would have to wait. She didn't have the flaming audacity to say what else spurred her to get the dark Titan a gift, but this was a good start. Maybe some day...

Raven blinked, her mind whirring around the things Jinx had said and done. The girl was rebuilding herself in front of her eyes, all preconceptions blown down in the wind of her actual personality. She was still trying to think of a response when a rather severely dressed man with a blocky nose came up and cleared his throat.

"Excuse me, Miss Roth, Miss Wrangler."

Perking up at the familiar voice, Jinx smiled slightly, her eyes still closed. "You're interrupting a moment, Mr. District Attorney man. How's tricks?"

Laughing in the way one does when expected, but feeling no mirth, the man pulled up a folding chair and sat across from the two, regarding them quietly. Jinx was about to ask him what the point of this visit was, and if he didn't have one to move on, when he began speaking again. "I heard about the incident earlier, from Anderson. Turns out... she had a kid in the audience with her husband. She was very grateful."

Nodding quietly, Jinx cracked an eye to watch the man, her gut telling her something was up. "She seemed tense earlier. Just here checking up on your star attraction, then?"

His cool gaze rested on her, making her shiver slightly as he smiled, a bare lifting of the corner of his lips. "Not precisely. I'm here to offer you another deal."

Jinx groaned, banging her head on the wall as Raven watched the events unfold around her, not bothering to hide her interest. "I thought I was only allowed one deal with the Devil per year?"

"Luckily he's in social services," the man said, not missing a beat. "My offer is simple, really. Here, I'll let you decide," and in so saying, handed Jinx another letter. Pulling the page from the envelope, she eyed it quietly, before nodding once to the man, which apparently ended their discussion.

As he was turning to leave, he smiled and remembered one last detail. "There is one final matter. I believe you have-"

"There you are! I was wondering where my two stars had gotten to," the Mall director gushed, apparently appearing from behind a potted plant much to Jinx's annoyance. The man had a flair for entrances and exits, she had to admit.

Raven looked at the man and sighed, "We've been here for the last half hour, not exactly that difficult to see." Emphasizing her point, she gestured to Jinx's hair. "Hard to miss that."

"Hey now."

"It's the truth."

"Respect the hair," Jinx muttered, poking Raven in the side.

The director watched this like a man spectating a ping-pong match, shaking his head hard as he reclaimed their attention, "Er, well yes. Anyway, here's the letter you wanted: and happily written I may add. Oh and your pen." Handing the two items over, the man smiled, and without preamble promptly vanished.

Raven blinked, while Jinx simply snorted. "I knew it. Lawyer."

"I beg your pardon," the District Attorney said, looking somewhat annoyed. "I have it on authority that man is actually a used car salesman."

"Oooh," the girls said in unison, the entire situation making much more sense.

The man's expression softened slightly, as that was cleared up. "Regardless, the last thing I needed, just arrived. I believe that letter was to me, and that I think is also my pen."

Blinking, Jinx blushed and handed the two items back to the man. "Er. Sorry about that. But, it um. Came in handy at least?"

"Indeed." Smirking slightly, the man rose and sketched a slight bow, leaving the two alone again.

Eventually Raven's curiosity won the internal war she was having, and turning to Jinx, asked what was on her mind. "So, this new offer...?"

Smiling a bit, Jinx just tucked the page of type into her pocket. "Seems that I have a pass for the Holidays, up till January fifth. Then a hearing about a reduced sentence. Likely, if what he'd said was correct, maybe a month or so after I'll be back to terrorizing the populace."

Raven shook her head, a slow smile on her lips. "Somehow after today, I don't think 'terrifying' and you will come to mind again in the same sentence."

"Eh, was a figure of speech anyway," the thief said, her own mind circling a number of thoughts. First among them, the new offer. According to the DA, and her own pervasive sense of irony it seemed, a second deal was in the works according to her background check and information. Apparently, Matron Augustine needed some help over the holidays, and with her already long familiarity with the place, she was an obvious choice. By agreeing to spend time with the children and assist the Matron, she'd have her sentence reduced even more, possibly only extending to the end of January.

"So," Raven's voice cut into her musing, and Jinx looked up to see the slightly shorter empath looking at her with a nervous glance. "If you're free on Christmas Eve... um. The Titans were having this party..."

Jinx grinned her Cheshire smile and rubbed shoulders with the blushing girl, "Awe, I am rubbing off on you! Sure, I'll come; provided no one jumps me when I get there."

Smirking slightly, the Titan looked away, "No promises there." Taking a breath to calm her nerves, she did turn and offer the pink haired girl a nervous smile. "I'll make sure the others know not to give you a hard time."

Raising a brow, the thief stifled a surprised giggle at Raven's nearly whispered admission. Well now, I bet that's going to throw one hell of a monkey wrench in the betting pool... Once again, the thief looked above her, considering something for long moments. When she felt the ornate bag she'd given Raven slide back into her own lap, she gave a Titan a curious glance. "Hm?"

"Hang on to it till the party. I want... to open it with the others. Is that ok?"

Nodding, the idea actually somewhat appealing to Jinx, she took the package back with a grin. "Sentimental too, oh my. You're full of surprises aren't you "Miss Roth"?"

Raven prodded her with a finger in the side, "Keep that one to yourself, the PD's know it because well, they got cranky having to do official paperwork with costume identities. So we gave them names." She smirked, realizing she had as much ammunition as the thief beside her in this, and pressed the advantage. "At least I know what kind of jeans to get you, now."

"I don't wear jeans much."

"Not even "Wranglers"?" the Titan offered, inspecting her nails as Jinx shot her a dirty glare.

"You are such a brat. But you're fun. What do you say... hm." The feline considered her words carefully, thinking she may be acting too brashly, but remembering herself, laughed. "How about we do this again, Same time next year?"

Looking the thief up and down once, Raven thought about the question but answered quickly, "Sure; one condition."

"One word about hands in costumes, and someone's walking out of here with a fat lip."

Laughing, Raven shook her head, "Well, sort of. Just something warmer." They laughed together a moment, and exchanged phone numbers, to keep in touch and make plans.

It felt weird, Jinx thought. Realizing she was planning to attend a party, with the Titans. With Raven, and the Titans. On Christmas. She smiled suddenly, the little core of her that blissed out on chaos bubbling up with happiness at this turn of events.

"Warmer huh? That I can buy into," Jinx agreed, though she would miss seeing the curvy Titan in such a revealing costume... hm. Scanning around a moment, eliciting a confused look from Raven, Jinx grinned in a rather disturbing manner and took the Titan's hand. "Follow me." As they walked, Jinx shoving the shorter girl ahead of her, much to Raven's annoyance, the thief looked up and cocked her hand in the mockery of a gun. A tiny dart of pink shot up and dislodged something along the roof, which she caught in hand as they passed.

Raven was afraid. There in front of them was a photo booth, one of those instant ones that spat out pictures in a series as you sat inside. From the demonstration there, taped to the side, it was a good quality booth too. Sighing in resignation, the Titan was no match for the enthused feline, who shoved her into the booth and laughed, feeding the machine enough money for a set of duplicates. "This'll be great, just watch."

"Watch what? My face in this monitor?" And that's when Jinx slipped into the booth, making Raven realize just how small the booth was. Her color rose sharply, as the taller girl's hips settled next to her own, and they looked forward, waiting for the first picture. Raven just caught the sharp edge of excitement from the girl beside her, and was about to ask when the first flash went off, surprising her.

"Smile!" And Jinx did, one that Raven feared would short out the camera. Putting on her own best, she grinned, and remembering the night, it was a sincere one as well. Another flash, and Jinx was quickly changing poses.

Making a funny face, she held a set of rabbit ears, her hand behind Raven's head. She glared slightly, knowing Jinx did that because of her own admission to being made into a rabbit by Mumbo. Raven stuck her tongue out at the thief, only just realizing that she had something gripped in the hand behind her head.

Something green.

The flash went off, and before Raven could say a word, soft lips crushed her own, and a purr vibrated through her teeth as Jinx leaned into the kiss. Her breath caught, seized and slowly left her as she fought against the other girl's lips, Jinx's hand slipping through her hair where it'd been a moment before. Jinx felt the soft tip of a tongue tracing the roof of her mouth and kissed the Titan before her all the harder, all the stress and pent-up, distant admiration she held for the teen fueling her warmth. Raven's hands reached up, fingers lightly brushing the rose-dusted cheeks of the feline, as behind closed eyes, they both noticed the flash.

As suddenly as it happened, it was over, and Raven leaned back against the booth to catch her breath, and still her rampaging heart before something exploded. It took some time for her control to snap back into place, but that didn't stop her from being at once both thrilled and shocked. When she opened her eyes, the booth was empty; no sign of the thief anywhere. "Must have slipped out while I was... yeah," she murmured, wondering what precisely had happened. There, on the booth seat beside her was a set of four photos, all in black and white staring back at her. She ducked her head out of the booth, but with no sign of the quirky Jinx, she sat back down, looking at the photos as her mind raced.

On the first, both girls seemed preoccupied, waiting for the timer to go off. Raven looked somewhat distant and confused, while Jinx had a look of mischief about her.

The next was a charming picture of the two smiling at the camera, and Raven noticed how genuine she looked, on this picture. So many had been taken with the Titans, but in most she was found forcing the smile, or just not bothering at all. It was... pleasant, to see herself be really happy.

Third in line was where she noticed the plan Jinx had, and Raven realized now she'd been rather masterfully set up. There in the thief's hand was indeed that sprig of mistletoe she'd spied just before the flash. Jinx's expression was comical, as was the face Raven was making at the feline.

The Titan blushed at the fourth, as it was a very good picture of the two sharing a very deep kiss. She could remember the way Jinx's mouth tasted just looking at this one, and the feel of her hand in Raven's hair-

Shaking her head hard as something outside the booth crumpled with a bang, the Titan flipped the photos over, seeing a light scrawl of writing there.

Raven,

Sorry sweety, just couldn't leave the mall without
stealing something. Hope you don't mind.

Call me a thief if you want to, but I'd rather you
just called me. I'll be waiting...

Jinx.

Raven found, that this year at least, she couldn't wait for Christmas.

---

A/N: Christmas Fluff! Wheeee. I want hair jingles.