Chapter 5: Reunions

Rating: T

Date: Tuesday, July 30, 2019

A/N: I sacrificed a the 100 episode to finish writing this because I was so into it. Anyhow, I'm excited you guys. I know, I know, I haven't updated in quite a while, but I've been working on other projects. I'm halfway through my first Mystery/Romance novel, and I'm thrilled to finish it. I already have a beta reader going through it. It's the first novel/novella I'll actually finish, and I can't believe it, honestly. I'm hoping to publish it as a free e-book in the coming months/maybe year. I don't know if any of you would be interested in it. I've definitely taken a lot of inspiration from my various ships and just writing these. It has a similar style, but it'll be more professionally written considering these are stories I don't plan out. Anyhow, on with the story. Thanks for being so patient!

Reunions

"Gar, wake up," a distant voice whispered within the darkness.

"Garfield," he could sense a light approaching, a sparkle growing by the second, enveloping his vision as if a faraway star was in the process of moving to its next stage. He could almost reach for it, letting its warmth caress his skin, bathing in its glory.

"Wake. Up," he jolted awake, eyes wide and staring at the ceiling. To his left, Raven was glaring at him with her arms crossed.

"What?" he mumbled as he sat up and rubbed his forehead.

"We're here."

"We are?" he jumped up and looked out the window, realizing the plane was in the process of landing.

"Yes, now get your things ready. We're going to arrive at the dock by nighttime."

"They're sailing during the night?"

"Yes," she sighed, clearly already frustrated with his dozen questions. "I'll get the girls," she said before disappearing into the back.

Garfield stood up and gathered his suitcase. He put on his glasses and turned on the camera lens, just in case. He adjusted his suit and took a deep breath, only hoping the mission would go through smoothly.

It took only about half an hour to get off the plane, ride on a suspicious worn-out truck, and arrive at the docks where they boarded a rusty cargo ship. The night trip proved to be longer, lasting until the next morning where around nine, Garfield was finally able to spot his beloved earth. Already, he felt like his stomach was killing him for being on the sea for so long.

The girls were obedient during their trip, slowly gaining his trust, and Gar made sure to talk to them often, just to ensure they were doing alright. He repeatedly promised them they would be alright because for him there was no other option than to make it through this mission successfully. They rested at a hotel for a day, and for the first time in his life, even though it was during a messed up occasion, he felt like he was on just another vacation with his family.

Though they only ordered a room of two queen beds to feign the image of a family on a trip, Garfield slept on the couch that night while the two girls and Raven took the beds. He didn't mind though. The simple feeling of knowing Raven was by his side, in the same room, safe, was all it took to comfort him through the night.

Early the next morning, they continued on their trip, and it proved to be the longest part yet. It took nearly two days to sail from Puerto Rico to Florida on a private boat Raven's father had ordered. When they arrived at land, once again, Garfield felt absolutely exhausted, and the mission hadn't even begun. Luckily, no one suspected a thing about the traveling "family," and now it was a matter of arriving at the pick-up spot in time.

"Do I need to repeat the plan again?" Raven asked Garfield, her eyes narrowed and clearly doubting of his ability to follow orders. He understood why though. He knew himself enough to know that if it came to it, he would sacrifice the plan for his loved ones.

"No, you don't," he rolled his eyes.

"Perfect," she turned to the girls. "You two are going to stay in the car, and in under no circumstances will you exit until your trackers are off, got it? There will be a man who will come in to take them off, and he'll sneak you out the back and take you," she showed them the picture again. "You won't go with anyone else but him. You can trust him."

The girls nodded.

"Okay," Raven stated with a sigh. "Let's go then."

The mission was going by better than Garfield thought it would go. Slade was definitely an intimidating man but nowhere near terrifying in his elegant suit. There were two guards behind him, but Gar presumed there were more hiding in the area.

"Where are the girls?" Slade questioned with impatience.

"They're in the truck. I will bring them," she replied as she turned, glancing for barely a second at Garfield to give him his cue.

He took a deep breath before pressing the button hidden in his pocket, and it began.

"Freeze!" the unmistaken voice of Dick echoed throughout the warehouse and the sound of stomping all around them gave Garfield his own signal.

Slade's men looked taken aback, but Slade himself didn't appear shocked at all. … Did he know?

"What is this?" he demanded.

"Get on your knees now!" Dick retorted, and Slade slowly did as told, eyes still focused on Garfield.

Garfield heard Raven fall on the floor next to him knocked on her knees by one of the officers, and he found himself clenching his fists, wishing he could do something for her. Stick to the plan, he repeated. Stick to the plan.

"You think you can fool me, boy?" Slade let out, and the smile he gave sent chills through Gar's spine. "I know what you're playing at." He glimpsed at Raven, and though he didn't say anything, Garfield could tell he didn't believe it. He didn't believe it. And it wasn't supposed to go down like that.

And in a matter of seconds, the mission completely fell into ashes the moment dozens of bullets started to shoot out from every direction. By pure instinct, he fell to the ground on top of Raven to act as a shield.

"What are you doing!?" she seemed more preoccupied about staying with the plan than saving her own life.

"We have to get out of here," he muttered as he crawled toward the front of the truck as quickly as he could in the midst of the shooting field.

"It's going to blow my cover!"

"I don't care, Raven! I'm trying to save your life here!" he spat out as he opened the passenger seat door and snuck in. When he turned back, he realized Slade had vanished, and Dick's men were looking in all directions shooting at their hidden attackers.

Raven closed the door behind her as Gar got in the driver's seat. Fortunately, the girls were gone, meaning at least Victor had managed to go through with his role in the plan.

"Engine's fried," Raven noted as she pointed to the bullet holes in the front.

"Damn it!" Garfield exclaimed and spotted Dick on the rearview mirror in front of the police cars and military trucks. "Follow me," he told her as he exited the vehicle again and snuck to the back.

"Retreat!" Dick ordered his men just as Garfield and Raven boarded Dick's car.

They were out of there in less than a minute.

"Richard," Raven acknowledged after moments of silence. "It's good to see you."

"You too, Raven. It's been almost a decade at this point?"

"Yes," she pursed her lips, eyes wandering over to Garfield. She was nervous. He could tell. He hadn't followed the plan, and now they were as clueless as ever as to what their next step would be. It was clear that Slade was not going to fall for their stunt, and now they had two enemies. Worst of all, the cover she'd spent such a long time keeping was shattered in less than a second, and he could tell she was infuriated, probably not fully with him but also with herself. "It has."

"Kory will be so happy to see you."

"Perhaps, but I also did leave without telling anyone."

"Leave it in the past, Rae," Garfield assured her and managed a small smile. "Live in the moment."

She didn't return his sentiment as it appeared, and she only glanced away. Though he knew she'd be somewhat angry with him for a while, he didn't regret his decision. He had her back, safe and sound.

And that's all that mattered to him.

Turns out, Dick was wrong in saying Kory would be happy to see Raven. She was ecstatic. The moment they walked through the door, she almost tackled her with her embrace, and Raven simply stood frozen like a deer in the headlights for what seemed like ten minutes. It was sort of a funny sight.

"I've missed you so much!" she exclaimed as she pulled away, tears filling her eyes. "I can't believe you're actually here!"

Raven managed a smile, "It's good to see you, Kory."

Garfield hadn't even noticed Vic had entered the room until Raven turned to the person beside him and sent them a nod, "Victor," her smile widened a bit.

His smile was almost as wide as Kory's as he stepped forward and pulled her into another hug. "I'm glad my baby sis is okay."

Garfield chuckled, "No one's going to greet me with a hug?"

Kory proceeded to pull him into a hug, although more brief than Raven's. "Garfield Mark Logan, we see you nearly every day at work. I believe Raven deserves a better welcome considering you were only gone for a month. She's been gone for years!"

"You're right about that," he shrugged, though kept his smile. He couldn't be happier, despite having the mission go all kinds of wrong.

"Where are the girls?" Garfield asked.

"They've been taken into foster families for the time being and put under witness protection," Dick explained. "We should probably do that with you too," he glanced at Raven.

"She can stay with me," Garfield quickly intervened, not even letting Dick finish his sentence.

He wasn't going to lose her so easily. Trigon had pawns everywhere. He wasn't going to let her slip away just after she'd found her. Not anymore.

"It'll be dangerous, Gar."

"She will stay with me," he repeated, clear with his assertion.

"Very well," Dick knew better than to argue with him when his mind was set.

"We should celebrate your arrival!" Kory squealed with excitement as she hooked her arm with Dick's. "Let's go to that restaurant you took me to!"

Raven shook her head, though smiling at Kory—that beautiful smile he'd missed for so long. "Not at the moment, Kory. There's nothing to celebrate just yet. I have to avoid anyone recognizing me."

"I will take care of your makeover! Don't worry! No one will recognize you!"

"Can you take care of mine while you're at it? I'm tired of acting like this David dude. He's nothing like me," Garfield complained.

"He wasn't a very good actor," Raven noted, in her typical detached manner.

During their high school days, he would've been somewhat annoyed with her dry demeanor. At the moment, he couldn't be happier to hear it.

"I think she's ready," Kory proudly declared as she closed the door of her office behind her.

"Record time, Kor. Even faster than fixing me," he grinned.

Vic put his hand on his head and ruffled his messy hair around, "Glad to see you back as a blonde, to be honest. Black hair didn't suit you well," he teased.

"Hey! I look handsome with any look," he pouted.

"Guys," Kory interrupted as the door opened next to her, and Raven—or more specifically a different version of herself— stepped through.

"Wow," Dick's surprise was evident through his dark shades. "You look so different."

"That's the point," she chuckled, and Garfield felt the butterflies erupt in his stomach as if he were a schoolboy fanning over his crush all over again.

It was Raven, that he knew, but she looked nothing like Raven. As opposed to her beautiful dark locks, her hair was long and a caramel shade. Her contacts were a light blue, and though pretty, they were nothing compared to her gorgeous deep blue gaze. Her clothing was brighter than the usual dark colors she preferred, and it appeared more stylish, definitely Kory's style.

"Everyone, I want to introduce you to Pride Summers."

Vic whistled and patted her on the shoulder, "You look great, Rae."

"I am not a fan of this look," she sighed.

"I'm sure you'll get used to it," Dick reassured her. "I'll go prep the car. We're going out for dinner."

"How wonderful!" Kory squealed as she followed him, leaving the trio behind.

It was quiet for a moment until Vic looked in between them and cleared his throat, "You'll be okay, Rae," he rubbed her shoulder before saying, "I'll follow them. Don't take too long."

He flashed Garfield a grin before disappearing around the corner. Garfield chuckled and got closer to Raven who only crossed her arms and observed him with intrigue, her signature look. God, he had missed her.

"Let me guess," she began. "You'll start by flirting with me by saying how beautiful I look like this, and then you'll make a stupid pun."

He laughed. His hand reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before raising her chin to look deeply into her eyes, that unfamiliar gaze. "Raven is much more beautiful than Pride Summers will ever be."

She arched an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. "Is she?"

Garfield nodded as he got closer, her face only inches away. "Your eyes are prettier than those contacts you're wearing."

Raven faintly smiled before replying, "Your eyes are more beautiful than those contacts you were wearing."

To say he was surprised would certainly be an understatement. Never before had he heard Raven return one of his compliments in such a way, and he could tell he would keep the memory of it until his lasting days.

His gazed traced down to the outline of her lips, aching to taste them again, to feel the softness of them against his own. However, before he could kiss her, Vic's voice rung down the hallway, "Whatever you two are doing, hurry up, we're not going to wait all night!"

Garfield huffed, tracing her cheek with his finger before pulling away. He bowed and offered a hand in a gentlemanly manner, "M'lady."

Raven rolled her eyes but took it anyway. "Stop fooling around and let's go celebrate."

Miss geek: I always appreciate help with ideas. It's not a problem at all! Thank you for your continued support! I really appreciate it!

Azarath Cat: You're another one of my loyal readers, and I appreciate it so much! It wasn't as much of a book as it was a collection of short stories. However, I am writing a novel that is fairly similar to the kind of style I use here in fanfiction! I'm very excited about it, and I hope to release it in the future, as a free e-book of course. As for advice, I'm very inexperienced with publishing, but I self-published through Lulu. The cover was the trickiest part but I designed it myself. It came out great though! I'm not ready to release my actual identity to my online readers though. I will be when I finish my novel, however! I do know that earning an audience, especially online, is one of your best bets to market your book, especially if you're planning on making money out of it. I know that's something I'm planning to work harder on, though I'm not ready to sell anything just yet. If you establish a name for yourself early on, things will come much easier. It's hard work, but good luck! If you need someone to check out your novel when it's finished, I can't promise anything, but I might be able to take a look at it :) Again, thanks for being such a loyal follower!

Fangurll15: Thanks for reading!