Garfield kept his promise and did not bring up any of the kisses since. She was pretty sure he has kept his mouth quiet about it too because everyone has been acting normal so far.
Actually, thinking about it, he hasn't really annoyed her for the last week since they volunteered together. He has gone twice since to volunteer, thankfully crime was low as of late. She went once with him for a half shift, she really could not stay as long as he could due to energy it cost her helping the kids manage pain. She was even considering teaching them how to meditate, in order to help their pain management. Many might have been too young, but there were still some older kids and teens that may benefit from it.
The new approaching concern for Raven, however, was Kid Flash's party. Since Wally was not officially a part of a Titan sector, the party would be at their tower. As expected, Cyborg was in charge of the food, Robin organized the guest list, Starfire and Beast Boy decorated and cleaned up and Raven…well Raven just usually Ravened.
*sigh* I guess this would be the perfect time to start being more present.
Where do I start? Azar knows the most complex food I can make is tea. This is my attempt at trying to be sociable, so I shouldn't reach out to the guests to check if they are coming. My room can serve as a haunted house, decoration is not my forte.
Cleaning it is.
I'm sure Gar and Starfire wouldn't mind help on the cleaning, allows them to decorate the tower some more.
Raven hovered to the common room planning to begrudgingly volunteer her cleaning services. It was 11 am and she already had her morning tea already and was managed to fit a meditation session in, she's got this.
Around this time, it was a free for all for who can be in the common room. Normally Beast Boy would barely be waking up, but with the volunteering his sleep schedule likely has shifted. Starfire often spent time with Robin, even while he was working at times. Sometimes she would read her magazines, paint her nails or do another quiet activity while he was in his office. It was probably the only time in the day Starfire was ever quiet and still. Cyborg could either be working on the T-car, some new tech, or cooking something.
If luck was on her side, only Robin would be there so she could tell him how she wanted to help clean up for the party and he could just pass the message along. She loved her friends, and even if she apparently did not know them as well as she would have liked, she knew they were going to make a big deal out of nothing. Raven would also accept Starfire so she could just tell her she was planning to help once and for all.
But of course, this was Raven. Luck and Raven were mortal enemies, at least according to her.
Everyone was fully awake in the common room. Robin was on his laptop doing Batman knows what, Starfire and Beast Boy were sitting on the couch watching TV, while Cyborg was prepping for lunch.
Great. Okay well it's not a big deal after –
"Friend Raven! I am so happy to see you! Do you want to join friend Beast Boy and I in watching the Channel of Discovery?", Starfire exclaimed gleefully from the couch next to Gar.
"Hey Raven, I am making Cy's world-famous double meat chili. It's almost done, I was going to save you some, or do you have time to join us?", Cyborg said with a warm smile.
Test one, chili.
"Sure Cyborg, I will join you", Raven replied in her classic tone.
Chili might not have been her favorite, but it was a start. Besides, anything Cyborg made was the best version of the food anyways.
Cyborg was caught off guard, but he was glad his little sister was planning to eat with them.
"I was planning to go to the mall soon to buy new shoes for The Kid Flash's birthday, would you like to accompany me?", Starfire asked with all the hope in the world.
Raven was in quite a pickle. She could either escape the cleaning all together and accompany Starfire shopping, which was another personal hell, or be alone with Gar in cleaning. Even though Gar has not bugged her for a good minute, she was worried that her luck would quickly run out like it has so far already. On the other hand, shopping, Raven's worst nemesis, after Trigon of course. Fortunately for her, Raven did not have to choose the lesser of two evils.
Robin intercepted with, "Actually Cy, I am going to step out for a bit, save me some food for later yeah? I have to go buy something for the party as well, I think I am starting to outgrow some of my clothes".
Raven swore she heard Gar mumble lucky under his breath.
It was true, Robin started to get taller and develop more grown features. It was evident that he started to shave, and his chest was started to broaden more. His uniform was able to stretch to meet his growing body, but it was clear that it was only going to last for so long. "Yeah Raven, come with us", Robin said with a small smile.
She was able to feel Robin's sincerity. However, there was no way she was going to third wheel. She loved both friends dearly and deeply and was happy for their happiness with one another, however she gets enough of their PDA and emotions at the tower where she could at least distract herself with her books. The mall and being with Jump city's celebrity couple? No thanks.
"Thank you for the offer Starfire, but I did not sleep so well, so me at the mall around so many people probably will not be a great idea. I think I will stay behind and help clean up for tomorrow's party".
There was a pregnant pause and Raven was not sure why until Cyborg interrupted.
"What you say Rae? I think my audio might have gotten some interference because it sounded like you said you would help clean for tomorrow's party".
Raven gave Cyborg a death glare and he quickly got back to making his chili.
Raven was clean, she and Robin were the tidiest in the tower, she wasn't sure where the shock was from.
"…Oh my! Friend Raven you will accompany us tomorrow for the party?!", squealed Starfire and launched at Raven to give one of her signature soul escaping hugs.
"…Star…fire…please…", and Starfire forgetting her strength, put her smaller friend down. Raven brushed herself off and exclaimed, "I always attend, what is the big deal". Like seriously? What was all the commotion?
"Well, you typically just say hi and bye".
Oh no, not Robin too. He was the one that I thought would back me up.
"Sometimes you would say you weren't feeling well and wouldn't come with us to some events. I never bugged you about it because it was none of my business. But you said you were going to help clean for the party as if you were planning to attend the whole time".
"Okay fine you got me. Maybe I haven't been a social butterfly, but I am just trying to be with my friends. Like seriously. No end of the world stuff or prophecy related things I swear. We are older now and I have to get along with other Titans and I just want to enjoy my friend's company. I will try to be just a ray of sunshine at the party, okay?".
Beast Boy gave a sigh of relief after hearing about no apocalyptic scenario, but Starfire then exclaimed with huge eyes, "Raven you must come do the shopping with me at once! We have to decide what you will wear tomorrow".
"Star I have clothes", reassured Raven.
"Not for tomorrow", Starfire quickly replied.
"Yes, I do…Hey are you trying to imply something?", Raven asked with an arched brow.
"No nothing! Okay friend, I will do of the compromise. I will buy some outfits that I think would look gorgeous on you and you can choose what to wear. If you do not like any of them, I will return them the day after the party. Is that reasonable?". Starfire gave one of her well-known puppy dog faces. Not many could resist the face, but then again Raven was not like many.
With a deep sigh, "Fine. No promises though, if I do not like anything then I will wear what I have got it?".
"Yes, friend Raven! I will do my best and you will love it I know it!". Starfire started floating in place, probably from the amount of joy she was emanating.
"Right, just save yourself the trouble, no pink whatsoever of any shade. That will increase your chances of me actually choosing something".
With a deep sigh, "Very well. Okay boyfriend Robin are you ready to depart?"
"Ready when you are".
Starfire and Robin both waved goodbye and departed to the mall. Starfire quickly talked to Beast Boy about buying what was needed for the party while she was out.
Once the couple were gone, Beast Boy turned off the TV and walked towards Raven. Cyborg was still busy cooking and paid them no mind. Raven could not help but feel her stomach doing somersaults, that was somewhat new.
"Hey Rae, I guess that leaves you and I left with cleaning", Gar said while rubbing the back of his neck. "It is not so bad, especially since it is the both of us. Plus, with your powers you probably will get it done in half the time it would take me. The main areas are just the bathrooms, the kitchen, common room, and the roof. We can't really clean the kitchen right now since Cy has to cook and all for tomorrow, Star and I usually do it together right before everyone gets here. Do you have a preference of what to clean?".
Well, it was nice of him to allow her to choose. The bathrooms were the obvious choice that no one would choose to clean, but it was not bad especially since they would only have to clean the two guest bathrooms. They all had their own bathroom was attached in their rooms so that wasn't required for cleaning for tomorrow.
"I can take the bathrooms, they're not that big and haven't been used since basically the last event a couple of months ago. It can't be that bad. Besides with my powers it won't be such a big deal to clean, you would actually have to touch things, so I will spare that for you. I can also do the roof if you want. All I have to do is just summon a breeze and that will clean away all the debris, no big deal".
"Really Rae? Thank God, since my nose is starting to become more sensitive, I was dreading cleaning the bathrooms, you're a lifesaver. I can clean the common room then, tomorrow Starfire can arrange it how she wants for the decoration. As for the roof, thanks for offering to clean it, but I think it will be best if I help you too. We can start setting up the arrangements today, and I don't think you know how it is supposed to be. No offense!", he raised her arms in defense with the last statement.
There is a specific way to set up the roof?
Again, Gar hasn't pulled anything, nor really has pestered Raven since their awkward conversation a week ago. Couldn't she just clean up the leaves and he arrange everything later himself? Or was he trying to have another "talk".
No. Raven was over thinking this. This was just cleaning, nothing romantic about cleaning. Besides, he probably needed her help with some lifting since Starfire was not there.
"Okay, once I am done cleaning the bathrooms, I will come back and we can help set up the roof".
Gar replied with a smile, "Sounds good, I might as well get started, want to make sure everything is ready in case there's an alarm later".
They both went to their designated cleaning locations soon after.
I really hope he doesn't pull anything weird up there, thought Raven.
Here is my chance, thought Garfield with a small smile etched on his face.
Turns out one of my deadlines are much earlier than I anticipated! With that being said, it will be a solid minute before I can update again. Hopefully I can upload a new chapter by the end of the week, I will be much mofre active mid- February