A/N: I apologize for the delay in updates. Life has been…somewhat hectic and I hit a roadblock with this chapter as I rewrote it several times until I finally managed to get it going where I wanted it to go. Black Honey has been a bit easier to write so I've been focusing on that. Not to mention, it's drawing closer to a conclusion whereas Grizzly Bears is hardly in the thick of things. Anyways, without further ado, chapter five, at long last.
Grizzly Bears
Chapter Five
Fungi
"I could really use some pants, Dick."
The changeling was stark naked, and with plenty of cameras and reporters on site, it was a little embarrassing being so exposed for the whole world to see.
Beast Boy's clothes were currently left behind somewhere in the rubble of the bank, buried beneath the carnage of the battle. His Teen Titans uniform had been something he'd stopped wearing a while back, and Garfield could still recall the painful memory of the day he'd made the decision to forgo the tired thing altogether.
Nightwing scratched at the back of his head and graced his former teammate with a tight-lipped frown. "One of the EMTs can provide you with a blanket or something," he choked out, obviously trying not to stare too long at the very naked green man in front of him. Richard was not a prude in any sense, however, with the flock of cameras and media attention on them, he was probably only trying to avoid giving the tabloids any ammunition for their ridiculous accusations. Also, he personally hated making the front page of a gossip magazine.
The Justice League, as had been expected, was far too busy to deal with such small-time crime in a city like Jump. Yet, once it had been determined that Beast Boy was on scene, they managed to dispatch a few of the former Titans to help 'investigate', as they would have called it. One of which happened to be the man in the black, skin tight suit, and the infamous, emblazoned blue bird on his chest.
"Uh…right," Beast Boy blushed, keeping his hands over his more private bits while wearing a sheepish smile.
Just then, an amused Cyborg pushed a fresh folded blanket in his direction. Garfield thanked his friend and proceeded to wrap it around his waist before any more civilians snapped photos of his butt for all the internet to see.
"Better?" He asked both judging males once he'd gotten it snuggly tied by his slim hips.
Victor grinned. "Ain't nothing we haven't seen before, B." He clapped the changeling across the back with his robotic hand, hard enough to nearly send him lurching forward.
"Anyone else left inside?" Nightwing changed the subject, his arms folded over his wide chest.
"I'm not sure. I haven't been allowed in ever since I came out. You know how it is with the authorities; they like to keep us from meddling as much as possible," Beast Boy answered with a shrug of his shoulders.
If he was being completely honest, the whole thing had played out like a movie scene, with a naked and bloody Beast Boy limping out of the bank, cradling an injured bandmate in his arms, amidst all the rubble and chaos behind him.
He could hardly see then, his vision blurring from the blood loss and head trauma he'd sustained during his grueling standoff with the gunmen. Every step forward through the dust had been a mission; he had to fight the urge to fall unconscious to the ground, but somehow, he had remained resilient. In the moment, nothing else had mattered but the safety of his friends.
In reaction to this steady train of thought, Beast Boy then glanced over at the stretcher Matt was currently laid on, already hooked up to the necessary medical equipment that would help keep him alive. He was then carefully loaded into the ambulance, with his friends morosely surrounding him, obviously traumatized by everything that had transpired, and overcome with worry and grief. They all appeared distraught, their features grim and gaunt. Sophie's tear streaked face remained etched in Beast Boy's vision, and it was one image that he wouldn't be like to forget any time soon.
"You should sit this one out, B. I think you've earned some rest," Cyborg advised, eyeing the green man's bare, bruised torso with concern evident in his human features.
Beast Boy then snapped out of his depressing state of mind, and grinned wide enough to reveal the gleam of his fangs. Overcompensating for his emotional turmoil was something he did best, and an aspect he'd never quite grown out of. "Come on, Cy. I'm already naked. Besides, healing factor, remember?"
He indicated at the spot below his ribs where a bullet had no doubt punctured through layers of skin, fat, and potentially his liver. By this time, it had already been naturally pushed out by his body's formidable healing abilities, and the wound itself was closing, the edges colouring an angry red while the skin around it purpled in a nasty looking bruise. There were various cuts and discolorations on the changeling's lean torso as well, along with other scabbed over injuries where he'd been grazed by a bullet or three. Although he was doing a lot better now, most of his aches and pains would no doubt worsen with any strenuous activity.
"Cyborg's right; you've lost a lot of blood. Go see to your friends, we'll take care of the rest from here," Nightwing instructed in a stern tone.
Before Beast Boy could argue further on that point, all three friends had their attention drawn away by a sudden but subtle change in the crowds around them, like an auspicious wind that had picked up in the background.
The media was already in a frenzy over the fact that not one, not two, but three former Teen Titans were currently at the same crime scene in Jump City, each news station clambering for a chance to snag photographic evidence of the trio in action. Only the police and yellow tape kept reporters at bay from the catastrophic scene and its heroes.
However, there was a sudden, new surge of excitement among the crowds that seemed to captivate people in increments, eventually even distracting those beyond the yellow tape.
Nightwing, always quick to action, brandished his weapon, looking about the clear night sky with his keen eyes, ready to pounce if necessary. Cyborg's good humor vanished, replaced instead with the austere expression typical of a Justice League member on a mission. A few police officers had their hands nervously running along the butt of their holstered guns even though all the criminals in the vicinity had been placed under arrest.
Beast Boy, on the other hand, didn't pick up any sense of immediate hostility or malevolence in the air, and thus, didn't feel the need to move like a threatened animal. Instead, the wind that picked up around him was faintly tinged with a scent that he could only describe as Raven.
As her name steadily grew more coherent among the rabbling crowds, it was only a matter of time before she could be seen levitating overhead against the starry backdrop of the dark blue evening sky, her eyes scanning the ground for someone familiar.
Beast Boy had a knack for always standing out, even in the most bustling of places, and so it came as no surprise that she had paused briefly upon spotting him first, her eyes lingering on him before taking in the existence of the others. Raven made her way towards them shortly after, ignoring the chatter of her name and confessions of undying love from her many adoring fans. If the authorities took up issue with the empath easily skipping over their yellow tape, they'd all been either too cowardly, or far too in awe of her prowess to protest.
She dropped down to the ground next to her old teammates somewhat abruptly, not having the patience for dealing with the petulant ramblings of the media and curious bystanders. Raven had seemingly taken everyone by surprise, even leaving Beast Boy, Nightwing, and Cyborg perpetually speechless for a time. The three males ogled her, wide-eyed and slack jawed, taking in her dishevelled appearance coupled with her uncharacteristic attire; a tight black pencil skirt and a form fitting red dress shirt. Garfield was the only one who immediately recognized her distinct uniform as the one she wore at work, realizing that she'd most likely abandoned her post in a rush to join them. Richard and Victor, on the other hand, were having trouble translating the unusual outfit along with the matching, feminine makeup.
"Well, I'll be damned. Ain't this one hell of a reunion," Cyborg exclaimed, grinning at the slip of a female standing next to him once he'd been able to tear his eyes off her interesting getup.
Richard coughed nervously, clearing his throat. "Not a fan of the leotard anymore, Raven?"
The empath was busy fixing her hair as the deep violent strands had wisped about her face when she'd used her powers to take flight. If possible, Raven appeared paler than usual, and her breathing came in ragged like she'd just run a marathon. Beast Boy also noticed that her dainty, pale feet were bare.
"I'm here to help," she recited icily, her expression serious as she regarded Nightwing with a chilling, amethyst stare, opting to ignore his brazen observation.
Her purple gaze then quickly flitted towards the changeling, betraying a quick moment of weakness upon noting his nudity, and then subsequently, his injuries. "I can heal some of those," she told him bluntly, walking over and drawing on her powers before he could utter a coherent word of protest.
Beast Boy sputtered on the spot, feeling his neck and face flush from the sudden attention she'd unwittingly drawn to them both. The heat emanated from her warm hands with a gentle chant of her spell, her eyes flashing an opaque white as she drew his pain unto her.
Raven's healing abilities were always fascinating to him, even as a Teen Titan. At first, he'd thought that she would simply use magic to make the hurt go away, and the surface wounds to knit themselves back together. However, upon observing her closely as she worked over the ensuing years, he had learned that it hadn't been the case at all.
Even now, he could see the small twitch at the side of her mouth, the briefest flicker of her eyes. Raven absorbed the wounds, drew them upon herself where her healing factor kicked in quick enough to never make it last longer than a fraction of a second.
Nonetheless, he always noticed. The more serious the injury, the harder she had to work to pretend it didn't hurt.
Judging by the grimace she tried to mask, bullet wounds were certainly on the more painful side of the scale, and it was all the empath could do not to keel over.
It was then that Beast Boy instantly remembered how much he'd hated seeing her do it, hated knowing that she willingly suffered to aid others. It had been why he would often go to great extremes to prevent her from using her healing powers on him as much as possible. Raven would reassure him time and time again that her own healing was far too resilient for her to ever sustain any real damage, but Beast Boy had remained steadfast, often lying about the severity of his injuries so that she would leave him be.
"I'd ask for you to leave because, as of now, this has become official League business, but, I'd be lying if I said we couldn't use your help moving some of that rubble to see if anyone is still trapped inside," Nightwing deplored, staring at the entrance to the bank with mild apprehension.
Beast Boy stared guiltily at the ground; even though he'd tried to be as careful as possible, it was hard to prevent any casualties during such a fierce, long battle. Not to mention, his transformation abilities alone were enough to bring the place down without the aid of a group of frenzied criminals emptying their rounds into the walls and pillars that held it together.
Once Raven was satisfied with her handiwork on Garfield's more minor flesh wounds, she stood up straight and adjusted her skirt that had taken to riding up her thighs due to her sheer pantyhose. "Why are you still standing around here then?" She asked her former teammates pointedly, never the type to beat around the bush.
The three men all shared skeptical looks before Beast Boy decided to come clean in regards to his short sighting. "I guess that one's my fault," he started, staring sheepishly at the pavement. "I had to get Matt out of there…I didn't have time to look around for anyone else, not when he was bleeding out like that…" He paused, reliving the awful memory anew before he could find his voice again. "The fight took a lot out of me, as you can tell. I got shot up a bit; can't dodge every bullet, so, I may have needed some time and medical attention for things to heal up. Cy and Night needed me to help them move the rubble out of the way, so they've been waiting for me to come out of shock." A flash of remorse crossed the changeling's features, and he had trouble making eye contact with anyone as he spoke.
No one said anything to that, not even the empath. The silent tension settled around the four of them in a choking thickness, with nothing but the sounds of sirens and police chatter colouring the background.
Raven didn't waste another minute. She approached the bank and began moving the crumbled pieces of stone and brick using her dark magic. Everyone watched her work, mesmerized by her prowess and unusual strength, before Beast Boy, Cyborg and Nightwing joined her to offer a helping hand. The policemen were soon also cooperating with the heroes, and once most of the entryway was cleared, they began searching for any remaining civilians still trapped inside.
Garfield transformed into a giant green elephant, using his trunk to remove debris that had accumulated over top a person's leg, pulling them free and setting their unconscious form on his back. Raven helped Nightwing dig out a limp body, allowing him to assess if the young woman was still alive before he silently draped her arm over his strong shoulders and led her on dragging, mangled feet towards the waiting EMTs outside.
Cyborg cradled the child who'd been crying over his dead mother's bullet riddled body. The kid had put up a fight, not wishing to leave her side when Victor had tried ushering him away to safety. Eventually, however, his tiny fists punching against Cyborg's metal chest transformed into a sobbing embrace, allowing the cybernetic man a chance to easily lift him up and hold him close while he wailed in misery.
Slowly, the team cleaned up the mess and ensured that all involved were cleared from the vicinity. By the time all was said and done, it had gotten quite late; even most of the broadcasting vans had evacuated the area, as had a majority of spectators.
"You know we need to have this talk, Garfield," a very exhausted and emotionally drained Nightwing reminded his old comrade.
Beast Boy, still in nothing but a blanket, took a seat next to his friend on the steps leading up to the building doors. "I know," he responded dejectedly, staring up into the cloudless night sky.
Nightwing rubbed at his temples with gloved fingers before brushing his bangs away from his forehead. "You acted with good intentions, and I do believe that if you hadn't, more people might have died today," Dick started, his pitch laced with sincerity. "That doesn't change the fact that the League isn't going to like it. If you act independently, they'll see you as a vigilante that needs to be reigned in. In their minds, you'll be nothing more than a liability; someone who could do more damage than good. I'm not saying that I necessarily agree with them; I know you better than that, but I don't want to have to start keeping an eye on you because of this."
"You mean like the way they make you keep an eye on Raven?" Beast Boy noted coldly.
Nightwing seemed to be caught off guard by the changeling's question, and the confusion played with his handsome features before a grimness settled in instead. "Better me than any of the others," he replied sternly, a dark edge to his voice.
"I saved my friend today, Dick. Don't think for a minute that I wouldn't do it again, vigilante or not. Besides, I'm pretty clear on how the Justice League feels about me and my performances." Beast Boy couldn't help the bitterness that coloured his tone. "What were their exact words again?" He didn't bother giving Nightwing a chance to answer. "Oh, yeah. Underwhelming and incompetent. In other words, weak. Yet, not weak enough to not be considered a threat whenever I so much as infringe on their territory, I guess."
Then he threw back his head and laughed darkly, the sound far more spiteful than jovial. "Maybe I ought to get more involved with vigilante work again; at least it would encourage you and Vic to pay me more personal visits from time to time."
Nightwing didn't seem to be angered by Garfield's cold brush off. Instead, the normally emotionally reserved man appeared contrite, effectively humbled by his friend's not so subtle accusation.
"I'm sorry, Gar…I know it's no excuse but, I'm still a bit of an errand boy for the League, on top of running a few of my own…investigations." Richard kept his head down, his shoulders slumping forward like he'd very well been carrying the weight of the world on them.
Beast Boy finally regarded him with a less sarcastic intonation, the deep betrayal obvious in his expression as his anger gave way to his true feelings of abandonment. "It's been years, dude. Rae tells me you guys pop by every now and again to have lunch. We're in the same city. I'm a phone call away," he whined.
The shapeshifter had expected the other man to formulate another excuse, or at the very least, a weak apology. However, the infamous detective's protégé clued in to an entirely different piece of information instead. Nightwing raised his brows in somewhat of a surprise, and asked, "You and Raven hanging out a lot now?"
Beast Boy, no longer trusting his own foolish mouth, stood up hastily and wiped his sweaty palms against the soft material of the blanket tied around his waist. "We might have…reconnected," he gulped, not really knowing why it was so difficult to admit to such a thing in the first place.
Nightwing's lips curved into a small, knowing smile then, clearly amused by what Beast Boy had revealed. "Well that's news. Explains why she might have rushed over here straight from work."
He looked to be mulling over the recent events in his mind, no doubt scrutinizing his memories with a new perspective this time around. Garfield's eyes widened at Nightwing's insinuation. "What's that supposed to mean?" He stammered.
Nightwing broke into an unsettling grin. "Relax. She told me she saw you on the news and figured you might have needed a hand," he explained.
"Awfully nice of her…" Beast Boy scratched at his ear, wondering if the empath was still helping Cyborg with loading up the final survivors, and dealing with the grief-stricken families.
"It's good you two are together," Nightwing admitted, the tension leaving his body gingerly as the topic changed into something more positive.
"Woah, Dick, I think you have the wrong idea here. We're just friends. We're not together, together, or anything like that," Beast Boy clarified nervously. It was a little unsettling how many times he felt the need to clarify that.
"I know that. I didn't mean to insinuate the two of you were dating," he smirked in amusement, and Beast Boy couldn't tell if he was mocking him, or simply interested in his newfound friendship with the empath.
"Raven's gone through some tough times. She can really use a good friend like you. I can't be there for her like I used to, even if I try. Knowing she's got you around eases my mind a little," he confessed, his diffident charm returning in full force.
Typical Richard; the man was always stretched thin trying to be everywhere at once, and do everything at the same time. Truly a one-man acrobat.
"Tough times?" Garfield queried in a soft voice.
Richard stood up to his impressive height, easily towering over Beast Boy by a few inches. "I can't say I agree with her methods of dealing with it, but who am I to judge? Just do me a favor and stick around, be there for her when she needs it." He clapped Beast Boy's shoulder gently, and the two shared a moment of quiet understanding.
"You two done hashing things out?" Cyborg called over, his hands on his hips as he stared up at them with a mocking grin from the bottom of the steps.
Garfield returned the smile, although he almost wished that he could have picked at Nightwing's statement a little bit longer. Everyone close to Raven seemed to know that something wasn't quite right with her, and Beast Boy was determined to find out why that was. He just had to stay patient.
As both Victor and Raven came up to join them, Richard noted, "Well, we've still got a few hours to kill before the flight back, may as well make a night of it. Drinks on me?"
Cyborg pumped his arm into the air, "Heck yeah! I'm always down if you're payin'."
Nightwing chuckled, shaking his head in regret.
Raven, on the other hand, remained sombre, choosing to observe the changeling with a solemn look. "Did you want to go check in on your friends instead, Beast Boy?"
It was like being struck in the face by a snowball on a perfectly sunny day. On the one hand, he was worried about them all, most especially Matt. On the other, he hadn't seen Victor or Richard in so long, and he very well didn't know when the next opportunity would arise. Beast Boy felt more torn than ever, the guilt like a wad of sand stuck in his throat, rendering him speechless.
Deep down, Garfield knew the correct answer, even if it was a struggle to admit to it.
With his head hanging low and his eyes downcast, he muttered, "I have to go see them…"
Raven nodded curtly in agreement while both Dick and Victor shifted uncomfortably on the spot. "Good. Then it's settled," she stated matter-of-factly. "I'll hail us a cab."
"Us?" Beast Boy repeated in disbelief.
Raven, who had already started walking towards a payphone, turned her head to spare Garfield a deadpan stare. "You heard them; their flight is in the morning. There's no reason why we can't all go down to the hospital. It'll boost morale for everyone to see us all together again," Raven explained.
The empath then sighed irritably. "Minus Starfire, who apparently had to hold everything down in Bludhaven until Dick gets back."
Richard raised his arms up defensively. "Hey, stop acting like that's my fault," he rebutted.
"It is your fault," she corrected him.
Nightwing responded with a chuckle, his shoulders shaking with mirth. "It's okay, Raven. She misses you, too, you know. She wants to do another girl's night soon."
Raven's pale face turned a more noticeable pink. However, she didn't deny anything and, instead, turned on her heels and skulked away towards the payphone.
"I don't care what we're doing, but Dick's still paying for a night of drinks in the very near future," Cyborg said, folding his arms over his chest in disgruntlement.
"Uhm, guys. As much as I like this crazy idea, I still don't have any pants…," Beast Boy articulated, staring down at the thin fabric that was the only barrier between his boy parts and the rest of the world.
Matt was in stable condition by the time the four of them would arrive at the hospital, with a fully clothed Beast Boy in tow. He'd forced them to make a quick stop by his apartment beforehand, and the taxi ride there had been just as awkward as anyone could expect it to be when one individual was practically naked.
Thanks to the impromptu delay, it was well past visiting hours at Jump City Central, but the heroes were immediately granted special privileges upon recognition by the staff, who were more than overjoyed by their unexpected presence.
Raven, Beast Boy, Nightwing, and Cyborg had gone all over the hospital, paying visits to anyone who wished to meet and greet them, before finally finding Beast Boy's friend Matt in recovery. When they happened upon the room he was in, they found Sophie curled up next to Lee on the sofa, passed out and sleeping soundly against him while he stroked his fingers through her unruly, golden hair. Garfield could feel his throat constrict, and his heart drop into the pit of his stomach at the sight. He hesitated a bit in his step.
Lee stirred when they entered the room, his eyes bugging out upon noticing who had stepped through the door.
"This has got to be a dream," he whispered, rubbing at his tired eyes in disbelief.
Matt remained comatose, the room quiet except for the gentle beeping and whirring of the machines that were sustaining and monitoring him. Sophie fidgeted, her expression changing from one of comfort to annoyance when Lee shifted beneath her grasp. Slowly, her sky-blue eyes blinked open, and she turned to see who had disturbed her slumber.
"We didn't mean to wake you. Beast Boy just really wanted to check in on you guys, and we figured we'd tag along," Cyborg explained, his human features softening as both Lee and Sophie regarded him with wonder and awe.
"Oh, my goodness, you're real," Sophie breathed in bewilderment, her eyes travelling down Cyborg's impressive metal body.
It was always somehow a different experience, meeting the heroes in real life and up close rather than seeing them on a television screen or from a building window. As a majority of the former Titans crowded inside the small hospital room, Sophie and Lee gawked openly at each and every one of them, even Garfield himself. The way they gazed at him was somehow different now; it wasn't their friend, or their bandmate they saw anymore. They saw something else, something new, like he'd become an entirely different person, standing amongst such great heroes after he'd singlehandedly saved their lives.
Nightwing smiled warmly before stepping forward in greeting. "I'm glad you are all okay; any friend of Beast Boy's is a friend of ours." He proceeded to shake Lee's hand with a firm grip, while the bedraggled male stared up at him like he was familiarizing with a ghost.
"I think they're a little star struck, Nightwing. Maybe we should give them a minute to adjust," Raven piped up. Next to the other two men, she appeared slight and delicate, but anyone who knew her knew better than to judge on appearance alone.
Sophie's eyes widened, and she patted Lee's shoulder excitedly. "I-It's her. It's Raven! I told you that she came because of Gar!"
Raven flushed, a scowl gracing her pixie-like features, her arms folding over her chest. "I came to help," she reiterated coldly for the second time that day.
Meanwhile, Beast Boy hovered in the background, not entirely sure how to proceed.
He could see the tiredness in their faces, the pallor of their cheeks, the dark circles beneath their eyes, the tangled mess of their hair. There was still soot and dust on their clothes and skin, and they appeared to have aged significantly with the gauntness in their otherwise youthful features. He knew he shouldn't have, but he felt overwhelmed by a nagging guilt. It was misplaced, deep down, he realized that, but Garfield couldn't shake the feeling like there was more he could have done.
"We've always been huge fans of yours. What you do, saving the world, it's amazing! I can't believe we get to finally meet you! I mean, Gar's been trying to get you to come to a show for years, but we figured you were busy out fighting for our lives and all that. Anyways, my name's Lee, and this is Sophie," Lee rambled, a huge grin plastered onto his tired face.
Three of the former Titans immediately appeared remorseful. Always the leader, Nightwing couldn't help but speak up for all of them. "Yeah, we're really sorry about that. We want to come, of course, it's just…things have a bad habit of cropping up when you least expect them to. Beast Boy can keep us in the loop, and next time there's a performance, we'll do our best to stop on by," he reassured them confidently.
"Are those Garfield's sneakers?" Sophie suddenly blurted out, staring at Raven's feet.
The empath nodded when attention was drawn to the pair of too big, low top converse shoes she had on. The black cloth was stained and old, with the laces a muddy brown instead of white. "I'm not good in heels," she admitted with a shrug.
"Why'd you give her such a ratty pair, Gar?" Sophie argued, fixing her blue glare onto the green changeling.
He paused, taken aback by the sudden accusation. "I didn't have anything else, and she was adamantly against loafers and dress shoes," he shrugged, sparing Raven a pleading look for help.
She ignored him.
"If Matt was awake, he'd give you a good earful, Gar," Sophie added jokingly before the grimness of her words settled in like a slow and infectious poison.
Beast Boy glanced over at his comatose friend, still oblivious to the world around him, and his heart ached. Matt, out of all his closest friends, would have been the one most overjoyed with the presence of the Titans. Although the doctors had reassured them that he was currently in stable condition, he'd lost a lot of blood and had yet to wake. They were going to keep him there, to monitor him just in case, but the others couldn't help but worry.
Beast Boy gripped the bars of the bed rails until his knuckles paled, angrily fixing his verdant glare at a spot on the stiff looking blanket and willing his eyes not to water. Like him, Matt was an orphan, so there was no one coming in to check on him besides his friends. Maybe that was why it hit him the hardest, having to see him in such a state and feeling utterly responsible for his condition. No matter how many times it happened, Garfield could never get used to having to see someone he cared about hurt because of him.
"You saved him, you know. He'd be dead if it weren't for you."
Much to everyone's surprise, it was Raven who had broken the silence. She stood next to him, tentatively raising a hand to his shoulder because she still didn't know how else to comfort someone with such complex emotions. When he met her eyes, she was staring at him softly and with the briefest hint of a smile, just like she had back when he'd beaten himself up for hurting her, and when he'd let Terra go, along with all his other greatest failures. Although she hadn't always been good about cheering him up, Raven had always been there at the lowest points in his young adulthood. It was a shame that she was so quickly thrust back into such a role after only just coming back into his life.
Sophie stood up then, her bottom lip quivering as she fought back more tears. Her small hands became shaking fists at her sides while she tried to contain her strong emotions. The young girl's eyes were already red rimmed and puffy because of the crying she'd done prior, and it was taking all her self control not walk into Garfield's warm chest and embrace him tightly. "She's right. You did save him. You saved all of us. Without you, we…we'd never have made it out of there." Her voice cracked and her eyes watered. Lee's arm went around her instinctively, rubbing her back in a gentle caress as she bit back a wretched sob.
"Soph…," he said her name, wishing for a moment that he could be Lee; that he could be the one to find ways to comfort her with just a single touch. He yearned for it, and it broke his heart all over again, knowing that it would never be him.
"You two need to go home and get some proper sleep. You're not doing anyone any good this way," Cyborg interjected, but not without a hint of empathy in his tone.
"Cy's right," Garfield agreed in a steely voice, squashing his own insecurities before they got the better of him. "Go home, come back in the morning after you've rested. Today wasn't easy on anyone."
He spoke without meeting their gaze, staring down instead at Matt's hand, where the IV catheter had been slid into his vein. Wisps of his green hair fell into his eyes, knowing he couldn't stand a chance if he took in the sight of them leaving. It was hard enough to choke out such an unfeeling command in the first place.
"But, Gar…," Sophie called out in protest. Lee hushed her and whispered something into her ear before gently drawing her away.
"It really was a pleasure, meeting you all. Sort of wish it was under different circumstances, but I guess it makes sense we'd meet the Titans after a crisis," Lee admonished. "Maybe once Matt gets better, we can all go for some drinks and chat for a bit. Whenever you aren't too busy, of course."
"You got it," Cyborg smiled. Richard nodded his assent, and they watched the young couple walk away, Sophie tucked against Lee while he held her close by the shoulders, his leather jacket hanging off her smaller frame.
"Damn, B. Ain't she a looker? How in the heck haven't you made a move on her yet?" Cyborg teased, nudging the changeling's arm with his elbow.
Raven bristled. "She seems like she would be your type…"
Nightwing threw his head back and laughed. "You mean, cute, petite, and blonde? It's a pretty generic scope, if you ask me."
"Says the dude with a penchant for redheads," Cyborg added, earning a glare from his former leader. "Did you ever tell Star about Batgirl?"
Richard's face paled, his lips becoming a tight line while Raven witnessed the exchange with amusement lighting her eyes. "Nobody asked you, Cyborg."
Victor's grin only widened as he bit back a hefty urge to chuckle, having achieved his goal with the unsolicited commentary.
"Matt's favourite is Starfire," Beast Boy wistfully recalled, his voice and expression still sullen as he gazed at his friend's unconscious form.
He brushed the kid's errant brown hair from his face, careful not to mess with the straps that kept his oxygen mask on. "He lies and says it's me, but I'm pretty sure I'm a close second."
"Can't say I blame him," Nightwing added not without a hint of pride for his girlfriend.
"Lee likes Cyborg, and Sophie's favourite is you, Raven," Beast Boy went on, turning his attention to the unsuspecting empath.
She was quick to mask her surprise with stoicism. "It's almost like everyone forgot how I nearly destroyed this world thanks to daddy dearest," she remarked dryly.
"That moment didn't define you, Raven. It never has," Garfield told her with a shake of his head, his green gaze confident and piercing when he met her stare.
The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard and effectively left her speechless.
Then, Garfield smiled at her; genuinely smiled, the happiness in his features setting his whole face aglow with the emotion. "Thanks for coming to…help, Rae. It meant a lot to me, I mean…to them." His face flushed at the misstep of his words, very much aware of their audience.
Raven stammered unattractively at the compliment, rolling her eyes so that she didn't have to meet his eyes. "Yeah, well, you would have done the same."
"Aw, it's cute seein' you two getting along so well," Victor interrupted, throwing his arms around both their shoulders.
Beast Boy turned to the other two in the room, still wearing a smile when he acknowledged them. "I know the Justice League mostly made you, but I'm still glad you guys came by, too. Next time, bring Star."
Nightwing appeared far more light hearted than he had upon their initial reunion. "Let me know how your friend is doing, and we'll certainly set up a get together," Richard digressed.
They spent a bit more time with Matt before deciding it was getting late and should probably leave. Nightwing and Cyborg said their final goodbyes before taking their own cab to one of Richard's apartment complexes, courtesy of Bruce Wayne, while Raven and Beast Boy found their own way home.
"Your friends seem nice," Raven attempted to make small talk as they both waited for a taxi outside of the hospital.
"You should meet the rest of them," he replied proudly.
"Maybe when I'm not dressed so ridiculously." She stared down at her now haphazard work uniform, coupled with the mismatched sneakers that did not fit her at all.
"I think you look edgy," Garfield remarked, smirking.
Raven sighed. "I feel like I need to bathe in bleach."
He sniffed at her then, only mildly unsettling her this time around. Beast Boy picked up a whiff of coffee beans, baked goods, sweat, and a mild vanilla perfume, most likely from her deodorant. "I've smelled worse," he concluded with a shrug.
Raven scoffed. "Of course you have. You can shift into any animal, most of which don't exactly smell like scented candles."
Beast Boy wrinkled his nose. "I've got a wicked sensitive sense of smell, Raven. I can't handle too much of that sweet stuff. Excessively perfumed ladies and gents make me want to turn tail and run."
"Unless they're toting assault rifles, in which case, you knock them all out and become Jump City's hero again," Raven added, although there was no hint of sarcasm in her tone.
When she felt his eyes on her, she absent-mindedly tucked her hair behind her ear and chewed on her bottom lip. "Considering you were all alone, you did well today, Gar. I'm…impressed."
"Did…did you just call me Gar?" He couldn't help the enormous grin that split his face.
Raven jutted out her bottom lip and frowned. "Yeah, so? Am I not allowed?"
He shook his head adamantly. "No, no! Of course you are! It's just…you've never called me by my real name before, let alone by my nickname. It's a friendship milestone, Rae!"
Raven stared at him, her expressive eyes an inky violet in the darkness of the night. "I just told you that you impressed me in battle, and all you can focus on is the fact that I called you Gar?"
"Friendship. Milestone," he enunciated, choosing to gloss over her question entirely.
She let out a sigh, but a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth anyways. "You're truly something else, you know?"
"So I've been told," he agreed.
"Still, that doesn't let you off the hook for doing something pretty reckless. Richard was right to reprimand you. Taking on a team of professional criminals alone could have had a much more gruesome result," she chastised him, jabbing him in the chest with her index finger while fixing him with a frown.
"Not you too, Rae. We just became closer, and you've got to go echoing the Justice League?" He whined with a roll of his eyes. "I get it; I was wrong to have gotten involved and many people were hurt today because of me, blah blah. I already feel like shit about it, so you don't need to rub it in." The sarcasm in his tone was palpable.
Raven stilled, her expression changing to one of confusion coupled with irritation. "You're an idiot. I said that you made a difference today, and I meant that. What I was talking about was you. You could have been killed out there," she clarified, her voice remaining fluid and emotionless despite the concern her words mirrored.
This gave Beast Boy pause as he slowly gleaned what she'd meant.
"You were worried about me?" He asked, somewhat surprised. Raven had turned her head so that all he could see was the dark purple shade of her hair.
When she didn't answer him, he shifted closer to her until his shoulder brushed hers. "Sorry; I'm not really used to anyone worrying about me, Rae. But I'm not as out of shape as you might think." He flexed his biceps from beneath his hoodie, and Raven scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"These babies didn't just invent themselves, I'll have you know! I've kept training even after the Justice League rejected me." He pretended to kiss his smaller but defined muscles.
Raven peered at him curiously, knowing what he'd admitted to but wise enough not to press the issue. "Next time, get some backup. Dick might occasionally be busy working for Batman, but he's got his own head, too. I know for a fact that if you call him, he'd come running. The same goes for Victor and Kor'iandr."
She averted her gaze to the pavement when she added in a quieter voice, "You have me, too, obviously."
Beast Boy felt his mouth go dry. The silence stretched on as he gulped nervously and, not knowing how to properly address her less than subtle statement, blurted out the first thing that came to mind; "I-I think your cab's here."
Sure enough, the familiar yellow vehicle was turning into the hospital's parking lot, it's bright headlights illuminating the ground in front of it.
"Yeah, uhm, hey." She stood before him then, picking at the hem of her skirt and fumbling for the right words to say. "I want to meet the rest of your friends so, invite me out to the next show or outing or whatever."
She was trying hard to appear as nonchalant about the whole thing as possible, but Garfield recalled her saying that she had wanted to spend more time with him, and it left him with butterflies in his stomach. He smiled and tucked his hands into his jean pockets. "Sure thing. Just make sure to bring back my sneakers. They have sentimental value," he winked.
He should have hugged her as the cab pulled up, but the last time he'd tried that, the end result had left him flustered and confused. Not to mention, strangely aroused, but he refused to admit to that.
Anyone else and he would have wrapped his arms around them, no questions asked. Raven and Beast Boy had certainly surpassed that level of comfort in their relationship, and yet…somehow, they hadn't. Somehow, he couldn't help but feel everything was different with Raven.
"Text me when you get home," was the last thing he told her as she opened the taxi door.
Raven nodded once before getting into the backseat, telling the driver her address before closing the door.
By the time Garfield had gotten home and slumped weakly into his bed face first, his phone vibrated to life in his pocket, alerting him to two things; one, that Raven had gotten home safely, and two, that she was going to kill him when he told her how his new, fancy mobile screen had gotten smashed in during the fight.
A/N: Some good news; the next chapter is written. It needs an edit but once it does, it'll be posted shortly. Basically, I winded up making this chapter far too long to compensate for the lack of an update and wound up with over twenty pages of work (unedited). So, I decided to divide them up instead. Expect an update sooner than later. Feedback, as per usual, is appreciated. Apologies again for the length of time this took. Real life and all that jazz. Thanks for reading!