Author's Note: Here's another two-parter (unless I get inspired and make it a three-parter!)
As mentioned, this is not something that was planned for Gifts, it just came out as a result of things happening in previous chapters. Yeah, I know, these are supposed to be unconnected one-shots, and I'm ending up connecting them all into a loose story, but that's the way it's coming out. I haven't noticed any complaints yet :-)
Azarath, Part 1
"Ready, Gar?"
"I guess I am" Changeling said, his voice steady, but Raven could feel his apprehension flow into her through their bond. She smiled reassuringly, planting a small kiss on his lips.
"Nothing to worry about, Garfield" she said, a smirk forming on her face. "I'll just use demonic magic to transport us to a separate dimension, where you will meet my mother and receive her blessing for our upcoming nuptials. What's so scary about that?"
"Not fair, Raven!"
She placed her arms around his neck and kissed him again. "Did I tell you I love you recently?"
"You don't do that very often."
"You do it more than enough for both of us."
"I love you."
"There, you see?"
"I suppose I'll have to hug you close so I don't fall into some unknown plane of existence?"
"Of course."
He kissed her back. "Then I'll just have to do my best. Let's go."
Her soul-self emerged and enveloped them in its black, misty tendrils. He felt her magic course through him and around him.
I used to be scared of it. I remember the first time we met… But not any more. It's part of her, just like her eyes, her hands. Just like her soul. It may look black and cold from outside, but it's gentle, loving, caring, protective… God, how I love you, Raven.
The misty tendrils around them thickened and darkened. He thought he could feel their speed increasing for a moment, then everything slowly returned to normal and they continued their travel. He realized she reacted to the feelings coming from him and that he had made her lose focus for an instant. He felt the elation that always permeated him when he managed to accomplish something like that. Even after almost a year of being together, the feeling was just as sharp, just as pleasurable, just as poignant as the first day.
"It's not a good idea to affect my concentration now, Gar" she whispered in his ear.
"I know" he whispered back. "It's just…"
"Hush now. We'll have time for that, and much more when we arrive."
Garfield looked up, trying to see where they were going through the black cloud that moved them. They were approaching a small disk floating in the nondescript, non-describable nothingness of the interdimensional void. It slowly resolved itself into a mandala, the geometric shapes inscribed in it appearing to constantly shift and change, the sharp lines and gentle curves revealing more details as one looked more carefully into it, its fractal-like quality gently but irresistibly forcing his gaze deeper into it, making him forget about himself while he searched in vain for the bottom, the edge, the non-existent ending to the complexity.
"Don't do it. You'll lose yourself" came her gentle warning. He blinked, snapping out of it.
"What is it?"
"The Seal. It keeps evil out."
As they flew through it, he felt a slight discomfort, immediately forgotten as their bond made him sense the agony that flashed in her. His arms embraced her harder, his concern for her overwhelming him for a moment, but then they were through. Her pain receded and disappeared. He opened his mouth to ask her what it was, but she cut him off.
"Later. We're almost there. Look!"
He gazed to where she pointed. An island of rock floating above… nothing, a mountain torn from its foundations and set adrift. Small buildings – houses? – dotted much of it, with several larger buildings clustered together, tall spires rising from them, not in pride but in celebration of beauty. It was at once breathtaking and soothing, joyful and contemplative, surprising and familiar.
He watched, almost enraptured, as they floated closer with deceptive speed. The place was huge, easily the size of Jump City with its surrounding area, and he could see more details now. Small mountain streams descended from the top, feeding tiny, limpid lakes with their sparkling waterfalls; thick forests and grass meadows covered large portions of it. His affinity with Nature told him immediately that they were untouched and untroubled, even the eternal natural conflict of eat-or-be-eaten he could feel flowing from them somehow appropriate, primal, unsullied.
They landed. Changeling was still in a daze from what he was seeing and sensing, but an almost inaudible sigh and feeling of relief coming from Raven tore him away from it.
"Are you OK, mamma? I felt pain…"
"I'm fine, Gar. I told you, the seal keeps evil out. Never forget what I carry inside."
"How can I? Love. Care. Generosity. Beauty."
"That's not what I mean and you know it, Garfield!" she replied sharply, angered at his levity.
"Then what do you mean, Rae? I know you. I feel you every minute of every day, while we sleep, while we talk, while we sit quietly and drink tea in the morning. I know all of you, Raven. Even what you hide."
"Garfield, you never really met my worst part. You don't want –"
"I didn't? Not when you scared the living daylights off Doctor Light? Or when you were angry at us for trying to celebrate your birthday? Or when we… became one?"
She lifted an eyebrow. "You said you didn't remember that."
He passed his hand over his eyes. "I don't. But that doesn't mean I don't know. Somehow I can feel what I was, what you were, what we were. I don't like to think about it, but I know it's there."
He can still surprise me, after all this time together, she thought. "Gar, it's better –"
"When I kiss you, I kiss all of you, Raven. Even your demon. When I make love to you…"
She looked down, blushing. How does he do that to me?
She felt his mirth and looked up sharply at his grinning face. For a moment she wanted to be angry at him, but there was not a trace of mocking in his soul. He was just happy that he was able to make her react so, reveling in the feeling that she returned the love he felt for her. Overcame, she embraced him and buried her face in the crook of his neck.
As they approached the city they started meeting more and more of its inhabitants. Most of them were dressed like Raven, in long, flowing, hooded cloaks hiding what was under. The colors were mostly subdued, white or light grey, but there were enough reds and oranges and greens to give the place a lively, joyful appearance without being garish or forced. He liked it.
He also started sensing that they were attracting attention. Actually, he was attracting attention. Not that he wasn't used to it; even in a city like Jump, where metahumans, both heroic and villainous were a dime a dozen, he attracted the stares of those around him. And yet… all that he could feel here was calm interest, mild curiosity. He could sense it through the bond he had with Raven, through her own empathic sense; he could smell it on the passersby, he could hear the slight change in the rhythm of their steps and their breathing. But he could not find a trace of the revulsion, the loathing and – what was worst – the pity that he sensed directed at him when he was in the streets of Jump or any other city on Earth. It was a heady feeling. It almost made him feel like he… belonged here.
Raven glanced at him, noting his emotions. She sighed inwardly.
I know it is a beautiful place, Gar. I know that for the first time in a long while you feel that strangers do not fear you because you're different, mothers do not hide their children from you, men do not get tense and their protective instincts do not flare up at the sight of you.
She quickly smothered the sorrow she felt rising in her.
But it is not a place for us. As much as we could live on here, free from care and judgment, it is not our home. It will never be. We have chosen a different path.
She pushed the thought from her mind. It was not the time to dwell on it. She walked the familiar streets and avenues, sensing where her mother was, guiding them towards her.
"Here we are, Gar" she said as they stopped in front of a small but carefully tended house. "My mother is inside."
He nodded, the apprehension invading him again, constricting his throat. He knew that any answer would come out an octave higher and elected not to speak and embarrass himself. Raven gave him a small, reassuring smile as she opened the door and pulled him in.
Arella was already walking to the door, having sensed their arrival. She embraced Raven lovingly.
"I am glad you're back, Raven. I hope this time –"
She cut herself off, her eyes going to Changeling, standing awkwardly at the entrance. Arella's eyes widened in shock. She pushed Raven gently away and looked at her.
"Raven… Daughter, is this your… boyfriend?"
Raven's features creased in a small frown as she sensed the surprise and a feeling of almost… awe? coming from her mother.
"Yes, this is Garfield, my fiancée."
Arella walked over to Garfield, placing her hands on his shoulders, gazing deeply into his eyes.
"He is…" she started, then choked. She turned to Raven. "Where did you… Raven, don't you realize what he is? How he is?"
Raven's frown was starting to turn into a scowl, but she could feel no rejection, no fear, no negative feelings whatsoever in Arella. Only shock, disbelief and elation.
"I don't understand, mother. What are you trying to say?"
"Look into his soul, Raven!"
"I have. Many times. What's so strange about it?"
"He is… innocent. Untarnished. Is it not obvious?"
"So is everyone else around us, Arella. What's so strange about it?"
"He is not from here! People here have cleansed themselves from evil, that's why you can't sense it, but he's… naturally so!"
The implications of Arella's words finally hit her. Her mouth opened, but she couldn't find any word to force through her throat.
Changeling's face was getting dark green. He didn't understand anything, but he knew he was on display, and he didn't like it one bit. Arella turned to him.
"I'm sorry, Garfield, you are absolutely right. We are discussing you as if you were a museum exhibit" she said, then looked more closely at him. "Like… an animal in the zoo."
His anger flared at the comparison, but he immediately understood that there was no malicious intent behind it. He swallowed his anger, knowing it was unmerited. Arella placed a soothing hand over his shoulder and gently led him to the table, offering him a seat.
"You see?" Arella spoke both to Raven and to him. "Even your anger – the one you are feeling right now – it's not evil; it's the reaction of a prodded animal, natural in its origin."
He felt the anger rise again. "Ma'am, I'm sorry if I'm blunt, but I'd prefer if you would not compare me –"
Arella's eyebrows went up. "To an animal? But you are. It is what you carry inside, is it not? I am sorry if I'm offending you, it was not my intention."
Changeling blushed even darker green. Arella laughed, the soft, musical sound comforting.
"Oh, Garfield, don't tell me I will have the same problems with you as I had with my daughter!"
"Problems?" he asked, his confusion mounting.
"Both of you are trying to hide what you carry within for some reason. Whatever it is, it is you and it defines you, for better or worse." Arella gave him a piercing glance. "Even the Beast in you. You should not be ashamed of it. It is a force of Nature, dangerous, even deadly; like a volcano, or a tornado, or the leap of a hunting panther. But it is not evil."
Raven frowned, feeling Garfield's discomfort. "Arella, you're making him – you're making both of us uncomfortable!"
Arella sighed. "I apologize. Please, Garfield, do not take my words as a slight. It's been so many years that I've been away from the world, that I sometimes forget how people can be sensitive. Will you forgive me?"
"I… It's OK, Arella. Can I call you that? It's just that I'm not used to… People usually don't call me that…"
"Unless they want to insult you, am I correct?"
He looked at the floor. "Yes."
"Just shows how stupid people can get" she said with a slight frown. She turned to Raven again with a smile. "He does have adorable ears!"
"Mother!"
"That is wonderful, Raven! Of course you two have my blessing! I will start preparing it immediately! It will be as fine a ceremony as Azarath had ever seen!"
Changeling shifted on his seat, uncomfortable, opening his mouth to say something, then snapping it shut. Arella looked at him carefully.
"It is comforting to know you care so much for my daughter, Garfield. Do not be concerned. We are all empaths, and we know how uncomfortable it can get when there is a crowd around. I promise you, Raven will be happy and relaxed."
He let his breath out slowly. "Are you sure, Arella? I don't want to –"
"I am sure. Is it not so, Raven?"
Raven nodded, smiling. She allowed herself a moment to enjoy the love she felt flowing into her from both.
"Arella is right. You don't have to worry about me being uncomfortable here, Gar."
He sensed she was telling the truth. He relaxed and flashed a toothy grin.
"That was unfair, two on one, but you have a deal!"
"Wonderful! But there is one thing I would like to ask from both of you first" Arella said.
Raven lifted a questioning eyebrow. For some reason, Garfield started feeling awkward again.
"I wish you to meet the leaders of Azarath. They must see you, Garfield. You are the natural embodiment of what Azarath stands for, of what it always stood for."
He stole a quick glance to Raven. She smiled at him. "There's nothing to it, Gar. Remember that this is a place of peace, a sanctuary of Good. Nothing and no one will harm you in any way or form."
"I really don't see what's so special –"
"You are one of a kind, Garfield. There is no evil in you. I sense that you lived through many hardships, seen much sadness and felt much loss, but none of that made you bitter or resentful. You are a breath of fresh air, a beacon of hope and steadfastness. How can we avoid not to marvel at one as you?"
Garfield looked at the floor, blushing fiercely.
"That's enough, mother. You'll spoil him!"
"More than what you have already?" Arella queried with a crooked smile. They are so alike right now, Garfield thought.
Arella rose. "It is late and you are tired. You also probably wish to reaffirm your love. I'll show you to your room."
Changeling got up, sensing a sudden small twinge of embarrassment coming from Raven. He looked at her and noticed she was blushing slightly. Confused, he followed them to their room.
"Here you go. We will meet in the morning to straighten out some details during breakfast, then you can return home. Have a pleasant night and get some rest!"
She closed the door, leaving them alone. Garfield noticed the single, large bed. He suddenly understood Raven's blush and Arella's words.
"Rae, did she just tell us… I mean, she… your mom…"
Raven sighed. "She did, Gar. Don't forget that this is also a place of Love. For a couple to… get together, it's not only tolerated, it's encouraged."
He took her in his arms. "I'm liking this place better every minute."
She kissed him. "I knew you would" she whispered.