EXTRA

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Listening to a conversation behind the door is common for curious children, nosy adults and creatures that have these two qualities, like Beast Boy. However, serious and responsible people, like Raven, do not do this kind of thing... or usually do not.

— You know, Raven, what you are doing is very ugly... — He started his sermon, trying to look as sensible as possible - inside, he was bouncing because he could scold his most responsable friend.

The friend in question just ignored him and continued with a glazed look, listening to the conversation inside Starfire's room. She saw when Nightwing arrived in the late afternoon - she wanted to ask about Selina, but he stopped at the door so he could hear the conversation.

— They may be preparing a surprise party for you, or worse: they may be having a DR! — Garfield commented in a low voice, approaching the door.

— ... It is much worse than a simple couple argument — she whispered.

Suspicious - and extremely curious - the green-skinned boy stuck his ear to the thick door and tried to listen to what was being said inside. He recognized those voices, which made understanding a lot easier:

— And why does she act like that? We haven't done anything wrong! — Starfire seemed uncomfortable, worried, distressed... anything, except the serene and rational alien that used to be.

— We haven't done anything yet... and we won't even do it! — Unlike his old girlfriend, Nightwing was resigned - which did not stop him from looking sad.

— I should talk to her or your father, it is not right to give up without even trying. Rav...!

— No, there is no way to change B's mind, I already tried! — He interrupted her — I already tried to convince them several times, but I finally accepted: I can't!

— How could they know if it works or not!?

— It has chances to work and chances of not work, Kori! — Now the man seemed irritated, dismayed. It was enough to take a deep breath for him to continue, now with a broken voice: — I... I had not thought about the possibility of him getting worse, but it is something real. It is better to just wait... wait for Dami to return to normal or... or try... get used to... with that.

— ... Dick, he'll be fine.

— And if it doesn't be fine!? — The words were covered with bitterness — What if he is never a Robin again or remembers everything? If I have to keep lying to him for the rest of my life? And if it just gets worse and worse...

Raven moved away from the door.

She knew perfectly well how Dick was feeling - not just because of his powers, everyone on the team felt bad about what happened to Damian. Staying there would only make her feel even more inefficient as a team partner, perhaps even more than Starfire did: she was the one who could best understand the peculiar way Robin acted with everyone, should have believed him.

Unlike his sensible friend, Beast Boy kept his ear to the door and his eyes wide, listening to every part he could of that conversation. He was content to learn from his sick friend by the news he received - he didn't think it was a good idea to visit Damian and end up being attacked by the boy - but he never imagined that he might be being deceived all the time.

— Doctors can not do anything? If he doesn't want Raven close, maybe exams can...! — She was interrupted again with her boyfriend's quick words:

— After what happened, B doesn't want the kiddo with his feet out of the house: he's suspicious of everyone, even the League of Assassins. Not to mention that they have tried everything a little: exams, medicines, quick treatments. I think there was only a lack of shock treatment, if they haven't already tried — The boy sighed. Soon after, low noises like a muffled cry began.

— You need to calm down.

— He doesn't even know what happened, Kori! — Richard was truly desperate and, it seemed, was approaching the door — He forgets or else thinks they are just nightmares, understand how terrible it is!?

— I-I can imagine, but...

— And we can't even say anything because they won't let us! — The boy hit a punch against the thick metal door. He wanted to put an end to that conversation, put a stone on top of the subject and pretend that everything was perfectly fine, as everyone else was doing. However, the sweet alien prevented him from leaving like that:

— I'll get you some water. Then we'll talk more about it... let's find a solution.

At that moment, Beast Boy became a small fly and fled from there before being noticed. Unable to process everything he had heard, he went into the only place where he could ask for help: in Raven's room.

First it came in like a small fly; then he became a squirrel to climb the desk full of papers and try to get her attention - he received no attention because she was immersed in meditation; he became a dog and started to bark, resulting in an interrogative look from her friend; finally, he became a small elephant and barked.

— Say what you want or leave my room! — Raven demanded with her dark magic showing through her hands. I was annoyed.

Beast Boy finally returned to normal. He was waving his hands, his eyes were wide, he looked as if he had been attacked by a ghost. He decided to synthesize the attack of truths he had heard, but he became involved in his own words:

— Stuck at home! Shock treatment! He doesn't know what they're doing! Everyone's lying to Damian because he is crazy!

— ... Not.

— Raven, I heard you right! — In fact, he had heard perfectly well, but got it wrong: — If Damian keeps getting worse, they will try a shock treatment and if it doesn't work they will say it was just a nightmare!

— They wouldn't do that.

— Raven... — the green-skinned boy whined — Damian is annoying, but he is our friend. We should save him! — To complement the plea, he turned into a shaggy cat and tried to be as adorable as possible.

The witch looked away, raised her eyebrows and sighed. His meditation would be put aside to try to put a little judgment on his friend's hollow head:

— You heard what Dick said: "It has chances to work and chances of not work". — She was serious, unyielding. If Damian got worse, she didn't want to be the reason - she already felt guilty enough — Besides, Damian seemed fine... — She tried to sound optimistic.

— Were you with him!? — Garfield returned to human form and looked at her in surprise, speaking more idiocy: — Why were you with him and I was not!? I am much more his friend than you are, our rooms are next to each other!

— I would not say that this makes you best friends... — Again, she sighed and tried to maintain serenity. She needed to give a long explanation to answer the question and was hoping that the green-skinned guy would understand it at first: — A few days ago, Superboy invaded the tower with a woman practically dead. This woman...

— So it was Superboy who invaded here!? — Garfield interrupted her, it seemed desolate — I thought it was a simulation! Do you have any idea how fast I managed to put on my uniform!?

— Do you have any idea how disturbing it is to know that you are not always wearing something, even if you live with other people?

— You already knew that — He lifted his shoulders with an idiotic smile.

— Does not make it less inconvenient — She rolled her eyes and resumed, trying to at least maintain her education: — This woman is involved with Damian, Richard ... and their other life too. I didn't understand much, everything was dark and messed up, but I saw her saying goodbye to him. He looked...

— She said goodbye to him, like: knowing she was going to die?

— No, not like that. It just seemed... — She searched for the words — What was a mother saying goodbye to her son? I'm not sure, but it seemed like that... she likes him.

— You saved the life of that crazy sweeper from the League of Assassins!? You know she's a killer, right!? Like, Damian was also from this place and he's dangerous! — The boy tried to find a good way to base all his nervousness, but Raven interrupted her in time to avoid further mistakes:

— Not that, it was another woman.

— Raven... — Garfield shook his head from side to side, snapping his tongue at the roof of his mouth — We all know that Damian's mother is Rah's daughter, that crazy guy who looks like a goatee mummy, who sent the Damian's crazy cousin comes to kill him.

— It wasn't her! — She reaffirmed between his teeth — The name of this was Selina.

— ... How many mothers does Damian have? — He stared at his friend.

— Maybe it's his stepmother...

— You mean that Batman has a girlfriend? Batman? ... Like, Batman? Seriously? — Beastman even chuckled — He's Batman, he just has time to do his dark things of justice and fight crime, he doesn't have time to catch some kittens around.

— You know that everyone has a normal life sometimes, don't you?

— No way! — again, the boy let out his laughs — And I bet my underwear special edition of Dirt Rally that Batman is Batman 24/7. I just don't bet he sleeps in a coffin like a vampire because he doesn't sleep...

— ... Unnecessary information, Garfield — Rachel murmured between her teeth.

— What? That I think Batman is actually a vampire or something? It makes sense, look: Damian must have been turned into one... about 10 years old. Maybe even less! He explains his thirst for blood, liking the dark and recovering from broken bones so fast... — Incredibly, the boy seriously stated the data - as if he really believed it.

— ... No. — For the third time, Raven sighed — Are you finished? I want to go back to my meditation now.

— Meditation!? No way, let's go save Damian! — Taking advantage of the "hospitality" of the team friend, Garfield sat on top of her desk - crumpling up the papers and books he pushed into the corner — Think about it: this Selina was attacked and she was close to Damian, they may be wanting attack other people too!

Raven said absolutely nothing, she was busy controlling the sudden urge to strangle her naughty friend. However, it served as a "continue" in the eyes of the green-skinned boy:

— They are pretending that Damian is still in bad shape, the culprit must have believed that and now the job is ending! We need to help him before anything else happens!

— ... Enough.

— Raven, chances are he'll get worse, but chances are you'll be able to save him!

— I said that is enough.

— We can be next on the list! Or Starfire, the Nightwing... the world!

The girl remained silent.

He faced any point, meticulously analyzing all the nonsense he had heard. She wanted to be as confident as Beast Boy, but if they were dismissing her help, it was for good reason... not just resignation, it couldn't be just that.

— Raven, Damian... — He tried again — Remember when he came to ask for help because there was something bad going on, but that he could only talk to anyone who was willing to believe him? Remember?

— ... Nobody listened.

— Of course not, because he is a paranoid nut! And we were fighting with him! And, and... It is he who usually puts everyone in danger... — Gradually, the boy lost his excitement and looked down — ... And then he disappeared.

— And when he returned, he was... — Rachel just shook her head from side to side, trying to erase the memory.

— ... There is still time to save him this time — Garfield murmured finally leaving the desk and dragging his feet out of the room. His gaze was on the floor - he felt guilty.

No matter how small the possibility of helping Damian, it was a valuable chance for redemption for both of them.

Raven, as if she was not already bothered enough by so many heavy feelings she was feeling, still had to deal with the glimpse of meaning that Garfield's theory held: whoever made that attack, knew Damian well enough to know the best moment of attack; it could be anyone, because everyone had reasons to dislike him; close people were also being attacked, regardless of whether or not they were heroes, which only made accusing a guilty person even more dangerous.

She felt a shiver down her spine.

— ... It must be when Batman is out — Raven said softly when Beast Boy was about to close the door.

She was already beginning to regret what they would do.

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NOTE

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What is a skin naturally tanned by the morning sun compared to the green skin of Garfield "Gar" Mark Logan, aka Garfield?

To summarize his story, which is much longer than the superficial part we know in cartoons:

As a child, Garfield was with his parents, geneticists, on a scientific trip in the Lamumba forest when he was bitten by a green monkey that transmitted the Sakutia disease - he was saved, but acquired the green skin and the power to transform into others animals.

Garfield's parents died in an accident years later and, motivated by the desire to be part of the Doom Patrol (team of heroes he admired), he invaded the headquarters and managed to impress the participants with his skills while trying to escape and then he helped them fight a dinosaur. It was adopted by the members and remained there for a few years, until the entire team was dead (sacrifice, combat, there are variations too).

From here on Gar's story begins to vary. Sometimes he joins the Titans of the West and, only after the team is disbanded, is he invited by Raven to be part of the Titans. Others, he abandons the Doom Patrol and joins the Titans to save Starfire from the Gordanians. The most recent, in Rebirth, he was aimless in life after the Teen Titans were undone and was kidnapped by Robin (Damian) while throwing a party in an abandoned house.

The really interesting part of Garfield's story is that he has had numerous losses in his life: his biological parents; adoptive parents; the teams to which it belonged. However, he disguises all internal conflict and sadness with his stupid jokes and constant good humor. There are rare times when he is sad - usually, in those moments, he becomes extremely vulnerable. However, as with many characters, this part of him is almost never really used. There are appearances of this weakness, as in chapter 18 of Teen Titans (Rebirth), but then everything is forgotten as if his playful way managed to hide from all the internal problems he has.

I believe they would do a great job addressing this using Raven, without necessarily using romance between the two (but if you have romance, great! I love this couple).