Chapter Two
Hey guys thanks for reading Chapter One. Just wanted to make a note about the current team of Titans, and the vets that will be showcased in this story. The current team does not completely match any of the existing team combinations from the comics, purely for this reason, I am not completely familiar with some of the heroes. I am more comfortable writing characters I know and I want to portray them as true to character as possible. This is also why I chose certain veterans instead of others; I'd hate to not do them justice.
Gar jumped and tossed the groceries into the air. A black sphere of energy formed around the bags and caught them in mid air. They then hovered over to the counter and settled down gently.
Raven released the bags and stepped forward to greet Garfield, but Dick beat her to it.
He ran over and grabbed Gar by the shoulders, "Haha were you surprised? Happy Birthday man!"
"Hey Nightwing! It's great to-"
"B! Buddy Happy birthday bro!" Cyborg pulled Gar into a crushing hug.
"Ah! Cy! Wow, thanks."
Kory ran forward next pulling Gar into a tight hug as well, "A merry day of birth to you Garfield. I am so glad to be celebrating with you!"
"Wow Star, thanks. It's so great to see you. Wow everyone is here that's so awesome. Thanks guys this is great!"
Gar looked around to the faces of the original Titans to the new team, of which he was a mentor, along with Raven, and very occasionally Nightwing and Starfire, but that had become so rare these days he hadn't seen them face to face in months, and all the Titans hadn't been together like this in, well, years.
Nightwing smiled, "Well, not everyone. Wally still hasn't shown up. Typical, late as-"
Before Nightwing could finish a red blur shot past them.
"I'm here! I'm here! Did I miss it?" Wally West, aka the Flash, slid to a stop in the middle of the room.
Gar burst out laughing, "Hey Wally, thanks for coming man!"
"Aw you already did it…"
Wally walked up and patted Gar on the back, looking a little dejected.
"This is so cool, it's been so long! What an awesome present! How'd you guys pull this one off?" He looked in the direction of his team, his eyes moving between Robin and Aquagirl. It had to be one of them, Conner wasn't really a party person, and, Impulse, and he didn't really have the attention span. He guessed it could have been one of the older Titan's, but they had all been so busy lately with their own beats…
Robin shook his head, "Don't look here. This was Raven's idea."
Gar looked over at his girlfriend. "Really?" She smiled softly and nodded. Gar wanted to run and give her a literal bear hug, but he had been working on boundaries, and he knew Raven didn't always like to be touched.
So, he just spread his arms wide and took a step towards her silently asking permission.
She took a few quick steps and was in his arms. He hugged her tight. "Thank you Rae! This is really the greatest."
He leaned back to look at her face and she gave him a peck on the cheek, "Well…I had a little help. Happy birthday Garfield."
He smiled at her and then something over her shoulder caught his eye, "Ohhh man…is that?"
Cyborg piped up, "Yep! All you can eat everything just the way you like it!"
Gar punched the air, "Sweet!"
Kory smiled," Yes we even prepared the tofu and vegetables for your enjoyment as well."
There was a long table in the middle of the room loaded with all kinds of food, mostly vegetarian which Gar appreciated, although he did see a few meat dishes, Cyborg's request.
"Uh, yeah that end is all yours bro." Cyborg said gesturing to the tofu entrees.
The Titans old and new converged on the buffet with excitement. Some of the older Titans stood back and watched in amazement and a maybe little bit of disgust at the way the younger heroes attacked the food. Wally, Gar, and Cyborg led the charge, and now seemed to be in a contest to eat the most.
Nightwing had somehow managed to get around them without losing a finger and had gotten a slice of pizza. He now stood in a corner catching up with Robin.
Conner was quietly listening to their conversation and picking small bites from Robin's plate.
Kory was excitedly talking to Raven who listened quietly and sipped on a cup of tea.
Aquagirl and Wonder Girl were sitting on the couch trying to get each other to talk to different Titan vets they found attractive. Currently the object under consideration was for Wonder Girl to talk to Arsenal.
Eventually they all decided it would be fun to take part in one of Gar's favorite past times, video games. The younger Titans were thrilled to find a challenger to Gar's undefeated score on their favorite racing game. They watched in awe as Cyborg and Nightwing actually gave Gar a run for his money.
At some point during the day it had become a secret challenge to get Nightwing and Robin to remove their sunglasses and reveal their identities. Even the few Titans who knew the boys' identities were getting into it.
In the midst of the festivities everyone subtly would sidle up next to one or both of the boys and try to talk them into it.
"I mean you know my secret identity! It's only fair." Wonder Girl crooned to Robin.
"Um, you don't wear a mask…"
Kory tried to use her charms on Nightwing, "I miss our time together."
"Me too Kory, it's been a long time."
"Will you not remove your glasses so I may see your face again."
"I wasn't wearing them when I saw you this morning."
Conner almost managed to remove Robin's by somehow getting soda on them, forcing Robin to need to clean them. Conner grabbed at them, offering to clean them for him, but Robin waved him off and went to the bathroom to take care of it.
Gar got desperate and all but morphed into a dog and begged.
"Come on man it's a party take 'em off! You already beat me at Road Racers you could at least let me win this! But, it's my birthday…come on it could be your present to me, finally telling me your identity!"
"You already know my identity Gar."
"But, what if I forgot?"
Raven got the closest out of anyone. She used her telekinesis to lift Nightwing's shades off his face, but he caught on too quick and covered his face with his hand before anyone could see anything.
"Nice try Raven."
Eventually everyone got tired of the game without having to endure Nightwing's "Everyone has a right to his or her secret identity" speech.
Throughout the day heroes trickled in and out one at a time as duty called them back home.
Eventually the only ones left were Nightwing, Wally, Cyborg, Raven, Beast Boy, Starfire, and of course the current team Wonder Girl, Aquagirl, Superboy, Robin, and Impulse.
They all sat around telling stories and reminiscing. Gar was sitting on the counter while Raven put dishes away. They were going to need to go to the store…again.
Gar kept morphing into a cat and stretching on the counter.
"Gar if you shed on the counter again, I'll shave you." Raven said without looking up.
Gar morphed back and swung down and carefully hugged her waist. "Come on, you know you love me."
"Hmm."
Gar buried his face in her neck and muttered, "No really Raven, thanks for all this."
"You're welcome, I thought it would be nice to do something…normal for a change. One normal day."
Nightwing and Wally were sprawled out on the couch trying to toss cheese snacks into each other's mouths.
Robin and Conner were looking for a card game to play.
Pretty soon everyone had found a place on the couch or the floor and were watching reruns of an old TV show.
The sun started to set and Cyborg stretched and stood, "Man, it's that late? I better be getting back to the League."
Wally sat up, "What? Oh yeah me too, I guess."
Nightwing chuckled, "Yeah, yeah the big bad Leaguers got better things to do than hang out with old friends."
"Dude, shut up, you know you've had an open invitation since you were like 5." Wally said grabbing his shoes.
"Eh, not my style."
Raven scoffed, "Says the guy who started the Titans, basically Justice League Jr."
Nightwing shrugged.
Cyborg high fived Gar, "Happy Birthday man."
"Thanks Cy, it was awesome," Gar smiled at Raven, "one normal day."
Suddenly a blaring alarm made everyone jump.
Robin chuckled, "Normal for us anyway. There's trouble let's suit up guys."
The younger heroes all stood and started to go grab their gear.
The older heroes stood there for a moment pondering what to do, when Nightwing looked at Cyborg and Flash, "You sure you have to go back?"
Cyborg smiled, "Oh I think we can hang out a bit longer. What do you think Wally?"
"Are you saying team up? Please tell me you're saying team up." Wally was practically vibrating with excitement.
Gar vaulted over the couch, "Oh this is seriously the best birthday ever, let's show these guys how it's done."
Kory was hovering above them, "Yes, this shall be most exciting."
Flash had already put on his costume and Nightwing was apparently expecting this because he unbuttoned his shirt to reveal his suit underneath.
By the time the younger Titans were ready the older Titans were waiting at the door for them all suited up.
"Man, B what are you teaching these guys? In my day our exit time was 10X better than this!" Nightwing chided.
Superboy scanned the other heroes, "Are you guys coming too?"
"Gotta see how you guys are representing, don't we?" Cyborg said.
"And maybe even teach you a few things." Flash retorted.
The young Titans look at each other excitedly, this hadn't happened in years and for some of them it hadn't happened ever.
"Uh, guys city to save?" Raven said.
Nightwing looked over at Beast Boy, "May I?"
Beast Boy grinned widely, "Do it, bro."
Nightwing could hardly contain is excitement as he said it.
"Titans, go!"
There you go plenty of fluff and bunnies to hold you over until the next chapter. *What about the action?* you cry. It's coming, believe me, it's coming. PS to my dear roommate, I gift you with this fluffy mess to make you feel better, and also to give you many many ideas for drawing our babes, before...you know...things happen. :)