Lonely people
Tumble downward
And my heart opens up to you
When she says she has no time, for you now
She says she has no time, for you now.
She says she has no time.
Raven twirled a wisp of hair around her finger and tried to pin it back up into her elaborate bun with no luck. Twisting her mouth exasperatedly she scoffed and began to smooth out her beautiful rose bridesmaid dress. Currently she was sitting at her table, alone, picking at the remaining half of her chicken breast. (Garfield had protested loudly to this "slaughter" but promised to pipe down provided he was able to order whatever tofu meal he wanted, to which Dick and Kory begrudgingly agreed.) Victor had fulfilled his escorting duties and capered off to mingle among the many other guests, a hobby Raven was never too fond of. Dick and Kory were too preoccupied with each other to notice much else, and Garfield and Terra were tittering together at the other end of the guests of honor table. Raven growled slightly under her breath and began tracing the floral designs on the tablecloth with her finger. She really was starting to regret leaving her notebook in the hotel room...
In the center of the dance floor, Kory laughed as Dick nuzzled his cheek into her neck and squealed excitedly as he dipped her low, her glittering white gown spilling out all around her. Raven felt a very slight pang of jealousy and almost wished Victor hadn't abandoned her before the honorary 'first dance,' even though she had instructed him to do so.
Garfield poked the green beans with his fork and strained to listen to Terra's chatter beside him. His eyes kept trailing to the empath's pouting figure opposite of him. He untangled his fingers from his girlfriend's and pushed his chair back to rise.
"I think I'm gonna ask Raven to dance. Do you mind?" Her expression dropped through the floor and her brow knitted.
"Why? Didn't she come in with Victor?" Garfield shrugged.
"I haven't seen him around. I guess he musta followed that cocktail waitress back to the coatroom." He smirked slyly and Terra giggled. "But seriously, Ter, look at her. I just want to show her a good time, eh?" He crouched down so he was eye level with her and he rested his arms on her crossed legs. "Listen, you know you're the one for me. Raven's one of my best friends, and I can't stand to see her all by her lonesome. But if it really bugs you, I can go find Vic instead."
Terra sighed and brushed her golden curls away from her face, offering a very slight smile. "I know, babe. I just get...that way sometimes, you know? Go ask her, I'll be waiting when you get back." Garfield beamed and rose, confidently strolling across the room to where the oblivious empath was sulking.
"Hey Beautiful. What's a fine thang like you doin here all by your pretty self?" He spoke in the slimiest, sleaziest, most vile voice he could muster, and when Raven's eyes shot up equipped with they're trademark deadly glint, he didn't miss a beat and wiggled his thick eyebrows suggestively. Raven scoffed and leaned back into her chair, folding her arms over her chest and biting back a smile.
"You were about four seconds away from being flung through a wall." Garfield gulped mockingly and tugged on his collar.
"Good thing I'm not a scum-bag then, huh?" He hopped up to sit on top of the table and helped himself to some of Raven's mashed potatoes. With his fingers. Raven gagged in disgust.
"There's this crazy new thing going around. It's new, but I think it will hit it big. It's called a FORK." Garfield stuck out his tongue and picked up her silverware and began expertly balancing it on the back of his hand.
"Aw, fork you, Rae." She glared again, this one less intense than the other.
"Is there a reason why you are here?"
"Other than to spread my love and charm to all corners of the world? Why yes." Garfield jumped down and walked around the table so he was on the same side as Raven. He straightened his bowtie and regally extended his hand to her. "I wish for you to do the honor of accompanying me in a dance." He said in his most upper-class tone. Raven's eyebrows flickered up and she blinked, her cheeks tinting a very faint shade of pink.
"I don't dance. Besides, you've got your pretty little Barbie to play with over there." She pointed her nose in the air haughtily and turned away, set in her position. Garfield faltered for a moment but recollected himself and sidestepped her so he was face to face with her.
"One- I'm ignoring that shot at Terra. Two- Oh, C'MON!" Another icy stare but he was not dissuaded. "You know you want to. It's fun! Do it for Dick and Kory! It's only once!...I've got about a million more of these harebrain reasons, and I can make each one sound even more annoying than the last." She cocked her head to one side and lifted her eyebrows.
"No." She said with a perfect deadpan. Garfield shrugged.
"You asked for it." He inhaled deeply and released a whine high enough to drive a dog crazy. "PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-"
"ALRIGHT! FINE! SHUT UP!" She clapped her hands over her ears and started kicking at the ground to rid herself of the sound. An arrogant grin spread across Garfield's face as he took her small hand in his and led her to the dance floor.
"Now was that so hard? Really? And isn't it our luck, a song is just starting."
"I can hardly contain my joy." She monotonously mumbled, her feet stubbornly shuffling across the floor. She was caught off guard as Garfield gave her a spin, letting her gorgeous blush gown billow out around her before he pressed his body into hers and let free his hand slide down to her waist. She awkwardly placed her hand on his shoulder as he laced his fingers with hers and led her in a slight waltz. She discretely tried to pull herself away from him to leave some space between the two, but he just laughed and held her in tighter.
"Oh come on, Raven. We're not twelve." He then winced as Raven's clumsy high heels crushed his foot. She bit her lower lip apologetically.
"Er...Sorry. This isn't really my thing, I'm not very...you know, good. At all." Garfield forced a pained smile.
"No, it's fine. They say you don't really need toes, anyway."
"This is stupid, I'm getting Terra. She KNOWS what to do." Raven attempted to move, but found herself firmly planted against Garfield's chest.
"Uh-uh. I've got Terra all night. You, missy, are staying right here." She rolled her eyes playfully and sighed melodramatically.
"If you insist." She let a smile creep up her lips as Garfield simply smiled down at her, his grip around her slender form subconsciously getting tighter. He smiled lopsidedly.
"You know what's really sad?"
"What?"
"I know all the words to this song." Her eyes shrunk in pure horror.
"Don't-"
"I'm gonna..."
"You-"
"I'm gonna do it!"
"Dare!-" But it was too late, Garfield created a pretend romantic expression and began crooning softly to Raven.
"Some say love, it is a river, that drowns the tender reed."
"I'm not even going to look at you."
"Some say love, it is a razor, that leaves your soul to bleed."
"Must you make this worse than it already is?" His eyes sparkled mischievously as a wry, snerky sneer crawled across his face.
"Oh, I can make it worse. SOME SAY LOOOOVE IT IIIIS A HUNGEEEER, AN ENDLESSSSS ACHINNNNG NEEEEED!" He purposely strayed horrendously off-key and belted the tune loud enough to wake the dead. He'd also taken the liberty to violently swing Raven back and forth with every other word, provoking several stares from the other patrons. He opened his mouth to draw another breath and begin the next line, but Raven had quickly clamped her hand down across his chin to stop the sound. He looked appalled, and she smiled triumphantly.
"There, that should shut you up." No sooner had she said that, she felt a wet, slimy object drag itself across her palm. Her expression morphed to one of disgust, and she shrieked and flung her arm backwards, shaking the residue off her hand. "UGH! How OLD are you!"
Beast Boy was grinning cheekily, his tongue still poking out from between his teeth. He took her hand in his again and waggled his eyebrows. "Oh, come on, Raven. You know you love me." She didn't respond, but instead buried her head in his shoulder as she shook from fits of laughter.
Across the room, Terra had been watching the two the entire time with glazed eyes. It was peculiar, the feeling that stirred within her as she watched them. It was no secret that she and Raven never saw eye to eye. In fact, from the moment the blonde had been freed from her stone prison, tensions between the girls mounted so high that they could no longer remain in the same room. They had never formally made up for their little spat in the sewers. Since then, Raven's animosity for the girl had only grown and Terra retaliated with hatred of her own. In the back of her mind, the earth shifter knew that she was being childish whereas Raven's loathing was justified. It was so rare for the mystic to willingly give away her trust, and when the bond was shattered it was irreconcilable.
From the moment the rock thrower joined the team, she knew that Raven was in love with Garfield. She could see the jealousy subtly take over whenever his affections shifted. She could hear the hints and implications behind each dry, sarcastic quip. She would watch, fascinated, as the remorse and sadness clouded over her rare violet eyes.
She usually liked flaunting her relationship with the shape shifter just to mock her rival. Little things, mostly; grabbing hold of him whenever she entered the room, laughing a little too obnoxiously at each of his jokes, or the worst of all, addressing him as simply 'boyfriend.' They were small, yes, but it was all she needed to set Raven off. All too often something would accidentally crack or chip, unnoticed by everyone except the two of them- a defeat for one, a victory for the other.
Garfield always caught on to these subtle battles and would often chide Terra, which only made her despise the lavender haired woman even more. Even if they were linked romantically, Terra and Garfield never seemed to have the same connection as Raven and Garfield. The pair was constantly playing off each other with witty, cute remarks whereas the couple's relationship merely consisted of meaningless flirting. Garfield was also the only one who was able to touch Raven physically without receiving a frightening look and other than Kory he was the only one she divulged her secrets to. It was enough to drive a girlfriend insane.
Terra had been trying to delude herself for years now with lies that it was just an infatuation and she had nothing to worry about. When she realized that Raven's feelings would not vanish overnight, she tried to find a substitute for him. She once tried to convince Victor that he had been secretly lusting after the dark woman for years, but that didn't pan out. Eventually she ceased her efforts and instead resorted to polishing her golden award as she held it tantalizingly over the dark lady's head: Garfield didn't love Raven back.
But, it was in this moment, this quiet minute of silent reflection that Terra realized she was wrong. How she managed to remain blind for this long was a mystery, but the truth had finally dawned on her. Tilting her head to the side and letting the flaxen, shimmering spirals cascade past her shoulder, she absently wondered if he knew as well. She narrowed her eyes at them, mistaken by others as an act of disdain but was merely utilized to get a better view of their features. They were both smiling serenely, until he jokingly slid his hand down her backside and she slapped it forcefully, readjusted it, and rebuked him for being sly. It was obvious.
He didn't have a clue.
Feeling the strong need for alcohol in her system, she reached for her champagne glass. Having previously drained it, she furtively looked around and snatched up her neighbor's drink and downed it in one shot. Now, while slightly inebriated, it would be much easier to see the brightside of the situation. Sure, the boy she was dating was unknowingly in love with her arch nemesis, but at least she still had her looks, right?
Her reflection in the silverware seemed to state otherwise.
She grunted and dropped her chin into her palm, reassessing the problem. It really wasn't much of a loss. She had never wanted to admit to herself that she had only remained with Garfield to flaunt it over Raven. But now a new door seemed to open. She could break up, they could go out, and she would be free to date and dump and do as she pleased. Actually, it all seemed to be playing in her favor.
She leaned back into her chair, helping herself to another's glass of champagne, and smiled.
And from that moment on, Terra never loved Garfield again.
Garfield messily dropped the coins into the slot and stole a glance of the numbers scrawled on his palm. With one eye on the hand, he balanced the receiver between his ear and shoulder and cautiously dialed, careful not to make any mistakes because he was unsure of how much spare change was in his possession. The booth was filthy, covered in filth and obscene comments scribbled jokingly all over the walls. The sensible thing would have been to make the call from his own house, but with Terra on the prowl he simply couldn't take the risk. He rocked back on his heels, nervously coiling the cord around his fingers.
"C'mon...pick up pick up pick up..." he demanded softly as his nails danced along the ridges of the metal wire. He was very apprehensive and began walking the perimeter of the phone booth, bullying the curt rings on the other end of the line. The silence in between each chime seemed like an eternity, mocking him with its vociferous peace. Finally after about a year or so, he heard someone pickup and the faint sound of someone drawing a small breath of air to speak.
"Hello, you've reached Raven."
The statement seemed more declarative than interrogative, but the jaded boy was so relieved to hear her voice that he didn't care enough to notice. He began talking incredibly fast before she could figure out who he was and hang up.
"RAVEN its Garfield! I know you hate me right now but I really need to-"
"I'm not here right now, but I should be later. If you don't know what to do after this...you're an idiot."
He swore loudly, causing the booth to shake and the balloon of a young girl innocently passing by to burst. She broke into tears, opened the door, kicked Garfield in the shins, and ran off with dead threats of telling her mommy.
The ANSWERING MACHINE. What a blow. Garfield banging the phone against his forehead and groaned. With a sigh, he leaned against the glass and waited for the beep. He had to give this message to her, direct or not.
Seven blocks down, four streets over, and three floors up, Raven sat alone in her kitchen, swimming in an NYU sweatshirt with her head in her hands. She had been so miserable that the energy literally melted away from her, and instead of logically sprawling out on the couch, she couldn't will herself to even hover out of the uncomfortable wooden chair. A paperback was folded over in front of her, but she couldn't focus on what she was reading. She sat there staring off into space, wishing she'd never even liked tea in the first place.
When the phone rang, she didn't even bother with it and decided the machine would catch whoever called. If it was truly urgent, they'd leave a message. The caller coughed awkwardly and cleared their throat, delaying their inevitable speech.
"Uh...Raven...this is Gar."
She nearly toppled out of her chair at the sound. She rose, seething in silent fury. How DARE he have the nerve to call her, after he...Without a moment's hesitation, she flew across the room and extended her hand, her finger suspended just above the erase button. Before she could press it, he spoke again.
"Look, I know you're probably listening to this right now with your hand over the delete button-" She blinked in astonishment and stealthily glimpsed around her apartment for a potential hidden camera. "But please...for a moment...hear me out." He'd always know that her weak point was the childlike tone he adapted whenever he desired something, and so she resigned to him and folded her arms over her chest, expectantly staring at the device as if it were the boy himself.
"Alright...this is going to be the hardest thing I've ever said. Bare with me, you really need to hear this."
"Oh get on with it, twit." Raven muttered impatiently, dropping her chin into her open palm.
"...Raven...I...I miss you...so much. I haven't seen you in hours and it feels like months." Raven rolled her eyes. "You need to know how much I care about you."
"Bullshit."
"I'm really a warped person, to honestly think that by ripping you apart I would be showing you that you mean everything to me. I-I don't know what I was thinking. You didn't deserve that. It was unfair of me to subject you to that. And...it was even more unfair...to lie to you."
Raven raised an eyebrow and could slowly feel her acrimony dissolve as she leaned in closer and untangled her arms.
"Yeah. I straight out LIED. Man, I don't know how that one got past you. I mean, come on- one minute I'm proclaiming my love for you and the next I'm denying it? God, I am stupid...I don't deserve to breathe the same air as you. I...I couldn't figure out where my priorities were. Sure, the order now is somewhere along the lines of 1. You. 2. You. 3. You. 4. Pie. 5. You...and the list goes on from there. But...there's...Terra..."
Raven turned away and closed her eyes, quietly pacing around the room and massaging her temples.
"Remember how I said I was stupid? Multiply that by about a million. How could I NOT realize that I don't love her! Really! This...this shit for five years was completely fake! Everything was a lie!" His voice was gradually growing in sound and anger. "Our relationship is built on a lie! She-She only wanted to be with me to spite you! And I KNEW that, but I stayed with her ANYWAY! Hell I married her! What the hell was I thinking!"
He was panting, trying to regain his composure. Raven laced her fingers and pressed them against her cheek, eagerly awaiting his next word.
"It should be easy. I don't like her, I date you. Duh. But...it's not that simple. I-I can't just abandon her like that. Sure, she's well provided for but...I vowed to be with her forever. For better or worse. And it's against everything I stand for to go back on that vow." Raven felt her heart drop through the floor, and she swallowed the lumps multiplying in her throat.
"I-I'm gonna have to work everything out with Terra. I can't just dump her like a sack of potatoes. I have to fix what I ruined, and this is at the forefront. Raven, I want you to listen to everything I'm saying right now, it's probably the most important thing I will ever tell you." He paused, and she found herself gripping the machine as she waited for an answer.
"Raven, I love you. I love you so much it actually hurts. If I could have my way, I'd spend every waking moment with you; I'd make your tea just how you like it and I'd meditate with you as much as you wanted and I'd buy you a truckload of that shampoo you use because it smells godly and the thought of it drives me crazy. But...I can't have my way. We can't ever be together because I've got this golden weight holding me down. I have to stay true to Terra, as much as I don't want to."
Raven stopped breathing as her eyes glistened over, and her hand steadily moved to her lips and her shoulders fell.
"I'm always going to love you, Rae. I'm just going to have to pretend I don't." It was eons before he spoke again. "We'll probably have to move, because I can't stand the thought of knowing where you are and not being there with you. Just...remember...every time you see me, whether through the papers or on the news or even in person- every single time I lovingly embrace Terra, I'm pretending she's you. Every time I kiss her quickly, I'm wishing I could be kissing you. And every time I con the world into thinking we're happier than the goddamn Brady Bunch, I'm dying...because I'm not with you."
"Anyway...I think you've had enough of my rambling. Man, this worse than a soap opera. You could sell my lines for big bucks, Rae-Rae. I wish I could say I'll talk to you later. I...I guess this is goodbye. I love you. I can't say that enough. I love you, I love you, I-"
The machine suddenly beeped, signaling that he had run out of time and the rest of the call was lost. Raven was quiet for a long time, unsure of what she should do next. Her pulse was racing and her cheeks burned intensely. She was surprised to see her vision suddenly blur by an onslaught of tears, so she quickly blinked them away and slunk back into her old habit of repressing any sliver of emotion. She stared at the machine, almost asking it for advice. Once again, her hand floated out and her finger settled itself on the erase button, tracing the slight plastic protrusions that poked out of it. But, after a moment, instead of pressing it, her finger lifted up, and she hit 'save.'
Terra heaved, spewing everything within her out again. Her throat was blazing, her stomach was churning, and she had never felt more miserable in her life. She had used one hand to secure her hair and keep it out of her face and the other to balance her weight on the porcelain bowl. Her eyes were watering from the acid eating away the roof of her mouth, but she considered this a blessing because her lovely view of her own vomit was obscured slightly. She gagged and coughed and felt the disgusting substance slosh its way out of her mouth and splash into the water.
When she had finished, she sat back on her legs, staring at the ceiling and gasping for air. She reached up for a towel to dry her sweat-drenched face as she rolled the revolting taste around in her mouth. As she held the cool cloth to her face, Terra tried to figure out what was making her so sick. It was uncommon for her to catch colds and she hadn't eaten anything that would upset her. Suddenly, something lurched within her.
But it was far too low to be from her stomach.
Her pale azure eyes were as round as disks as she realized what was going on.
"Oh sh-" She tottered forward again and spat up her own self-loathing.
Terra uneasily kicked at the frayed edge of the rug in the hotel hallway. She didn't understand why she was so tense. After all, it wouldn't be her first break up, and probably not the hardest either. Maybe it wasn't the brightest idea to dump him RIGHT after he watched his best friends get married. A week or so, perhaps but-
No, this had to be done now. Any more stalling and she'd end up never doing it. After all, there was no chemistry anymore, no thrilling spark. Neither of them loved each other (although only one knew this) so it was only logical for them to part ways. Still, maybe she should...
Too late, Garfield had already emerged from the bathroom, wiping his moist hands on the seat of his pants. He looked up and reeled back in astonishment, startled by her presence, but smiled sweetly and looped her arms around her slender waist.
"Nice look." He chuckled, referring to her velour sweat suit and elaborate hair which, after a full night of dancing, she had been too tired to undue. She giggled and kissed him on the nose. "So what are you doing out here, babe? Waiting for me?"
She did her best to look cheery. "Something like that." He awed and spun her around, but set her back on the ground when she requested it.
"What's going on?"
"I need to talk to you about something really important."
"Oh. Ok." He released her and led her to a small cushioned bench pushed up against the wall. Taking her hand in his, he said quietly, "Is everything alright?"
Terra took a breath- this was it. She braced herself for anything. She'd previously concluded that Garfield wouldn't cry, but might beg to stay with her. She decided she'd have to move into another room for the night since it would be too painful otherwise, and had even packed her things. She knew exactly what she wanted to say and had planned responses to what she suspected would be his reactions. The whole ordeal was a cool, calculated equation.
"Well...sweetheart...sometimes people find each other, and against all odds manage to stay together in a loving, healthy relationship."
"Like us."
Perfect. He'd set her up in the best way possible. Now would be the point when she slowly reveals that they are not those people and gradually he would pick up that she had no interest in becoming one of them. The Hill Technique, she called it; bring them up only to pull them down. It was the most effective, albeit a little cruel. She smiled as cutely as she could; it was imperative to keep smiling so he wouldn't suspect too early that she was breaking up with him.
"Well, actually..." Then instead of beginning her lecture riddled with overused clichés that everyone and their grandmother have used, she froze. She looked past Garfield's shoulder at Raven as she slowly ambled down the corridor, haphazardly plucking Bobbie pins out of her sophisticated do. Something clicked inside the blonde; if she let go of Garfield, then he could belong to Raven. A miniscule part of her squeaked that that was the whole point of dumping him, but she didn't bother to listen to it. The idea of those two together was painting itself across her mind. The sheer thought of Garfield and...that wretched woman, the person she despised more than anything in the world was enough to make her gag. She couldn't let Raven be that happy. If Raven was happy, Raven wins.
Garfield's brow lifted and he gently shook her hand. "Ter? You there? Helllllo?"
Terra shook her thoughts away and blinked before plastering an insanely false smile on her face. Before she knew it she had aborted the plan and was letting her mouth do the work.
"Yes, Gar. Just like us. And that's what I wanted to talk about. It might be the booze or just all this loving wedding...stuff...but I realized that...I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Garfield's eyes widened and his jaw dropped.
"Terra." He whispered. "Are...are you saying you-"
"Yes. Yes, I want to marry you!" Garfield was glowing in excitement and he threw his arms around her, planting kisses along her neck and into her shimmering hair.
"Oh, this is awesome! We have to tell everyone! I'm so happy, Terra, I'm so happy! Are you?"
Terra returned the hug with lackluster passion but held her gaze on Raven. The empath hadn't seen the whole event because she had engaged in a battle with her hairclip, but when she casually turned to visit the vending machine for a drink, she caught sight of the two. The lavender haired belle was immobile and watched them with wide, horrified eyes. Terra made eye contact with her, and in the most devious, sinister way, flashed her eyes in a way that simply said, 'I win.' That was all it took to make Raven dissipate into the wall.
"Yes, Gar. I couldn't be happier."
Despite how dark and dreadful his day had been, Garfield was suddenly overwhelmed by his boundless optimism.
He'd done all he could with Raven, the rest was in her hands. It was obvious that he would never be able to see her again, not after that 'Days of Our Lives' worthy schpeal he had left her. That, and he knew if they were ever to meet again it would be much more difficult to resist temptation.
He had spent the afternoon trying to put himself back in the mindset he was in at fifteen. What had struck him so appealing about Terra? What was that instant click that made him long to be with her? Something had attracted them to one another at some point, even if now it was long dead. He had to get back to when it all began, when he fell in love with that beautiful, bean-pole blonde that had stumbled upon their front door on that sultry August day.
He'd been planning, too. Thinking ahead. When he found whatever it was about his wife that was so appealing, he'd exploit it to the breaking point and force himself to only see the good in her. He would make himself happy with her; he promised himself that he wouldn't spend his life pining away despondently until he withered away like a rose after the first crisp snowfall. He would force his torch for Raven to burn for Terra.
He'd already mentally packed his bags. He couldn't stay in town, not when every street sign, lamppost, and mailbox wore her face. He decided to move out east, maybe to New York. Not to the city through, he'd had enough of the hustle and bustle of daily life. They would move upstate and buy a house, a big one, with blue shutters and a big backyard. And kids. They would have three kids; two boys and a girl. The girl would be the oldest and named after his mother. The boys would be twins and wild and would have his eyes.
And at night, after they had gone to bed, he would sit in the den and play the latest gaming system he'd just bought for the boys. And she would creep in, silent as the darkness, and seductively slink her arms around him, and she would sit in his lap and watch for a while, before she would coax him into a more productive way of spending the evening.
These thoughts were what was keeping him afloat, keeping him from sinking into the blackness of the world that he'd created for himself. He'd managed to craft a little raft out of his pipe dreams of a new life and on it he drifted out of the murky sea waters and into the bright horizon.
He knew he'd have to tell Terra about Raven. That was the one flaw in his scheme. As much as he hated to do it, he might have to play up the 'Raven's in love with me' bit of the story while 'accidentally' omitting the part about his own feelings in the matter. He had to play to her weaknesses, and naturally her biggest weakness of all was her revulsion for Raven. If he could get her to believe that Raven was entirely at fault then maybe it would be easier to patch up the relationship.
Garfield groaned and slid his hands around the back of his neck, digging his nails into the layer of skin that covered his spinal cord.
He was going to hell. Thinking that just sealed the deal.
Although the idea of actually having to do that left a sour taste in his mouth, Garfield couldn't shake his wonderful feeling of giddiness. In his head, everything was going swimmingly, and he couldn't help but be a little elated to tell Terra his plan.
It was with this confidence that he entered his home for the last time.
It was darker than he had expected it to be, and the usual crisp, Fabreeze-fresh air was stained with the awful stench of smoke. Coughing, Garfield waved a hand and pulled his shirt collar over his mouth and nose. He stumbled to the light switch and flicked it, only to have it not work. Glaring angrily at it and eventually hitting it, Garfield sighed and bumbled around the ebony room searching for some form of illumination.
Suddenly the curtain of the picture window parted, releasing a swell of silver glowing moonlight into the room. Garfield squinted and managed to make out a slender, silhouetted figure with a burning crimson spark glittering between her fingers. Shielding his eyes with his hand, Garfield took a step forward.
"Ter?"
The blonde didn't speak, but slowly blew the smoke out of her perfectly o-shaped ruby red mouth.
"Since when do you smoke?"
"Since when do you take the time to notice?" She took another long drag and sighed contently, the gray smog drifting slowly out between her parted lips. She gestured for the couch and Garfield sat, expecting her to sit beside him. But instead she sat across from him in an easy chair, folding her magnificent legs over one another. She stared straight at him, her face the only part of her that was concealed with darkness.
"We need to talk."
Garfield grinned, in spite of the eerie atmosphere. "Yeah, great! I really wanted to talk to you about some stuff." His voice was too cheery to be on the same page she was, but she raised an eyebrow and egged him to proceed anyway. "I was thinking we're ready to step it up a little. Like, leave town, start again?" She knew where he was going with this and she lifted a hand to halt him, although he ignored it. "I mean, we've been together so long, maybe it's time we cool our jets, settle down-"
"Garfield."
"-Start a family." He wanted to go one and tell her about the dog that he'd already picked out, but something told him to stop. Terra's hand slowly returned to her lap and she took another drag of her cigarette.
"This isn't what I meant." She drawled, the smoke puffing out and giving life to her words. Garfield's brow furrowed and he tried to speak but was quietly silenced again. Terra rolled the ashy cylinder around between her ring and middle fingers. The vermillion radiance of the cigarette made her gold ring flash a bright, sinister red, like the fires of hell. "You know our marriage is in shambles." Garfield jumped on the defensive.
"But we can fix it! It can be like that song! We can work it out! We can work it out!"
"Ga-ar." She muttered with increasing frustration.
"Try to see it my way, do I have to keep on talking til I can't go on?-"
"This isn't a time to be cute, Garfield." She snapped ferociously, her face momentarily flashing in the moonlight. Garfield sat back like a scolded child and fiddled with his thumbs, listening to her every word. "It's not something that can be repaired overnight."
"It will take time." Her hand rose as if she were about to strike, but it quickly settled back in her lap.
"We're not teenagers anymore, Garfield. Our problems can't be wiped away by a trip to the malt shop." Her tone was enough to send shivers crawling down his back. It wasn't that it was threatening or foreboding in any way, it was simply so...calm. Relaxed and even, like the eye of the storm. Garfield knew he was in for the worst, so he pulled out the shield and dodged the problem the best way he knew how.
"When did we ever go to a malt shop? Are those even around anymore?"
"Shut UP." Her voice barely elevated above a whisper, but it still frightened the green man to no end, and he wondered how his pants were so dry. He could see a section of her hair fall out of place and a hand lift to fix it. On the way up, she treated herself to another drag. "It's actually kinda funny that you mention you wanted to start a family." Her head lolled on the back of the seat.
"And why is that?" he asked in a cautious tone.
"You're timing is just very good." She sat up, leaning towards him like a cat stalking its prey. "I'm pregnant."
Garfield could barely voice his joy. He felt his insides churn and his face was shining like a starry night. Suddenly he was assaulted with the thoughts of attending his son's fist baseball game or having his daughter stand on his feet while he waltzed. Before he could control himself he exploded from his seat and dragged Terra into a tight embrace, spinning her a few times around the room before setting her down and touching her abdomen.
"Oh my God, this is so wonderful! This is what we needed! We can make it work for our child! Our beautiful little kid that's growing inside you right now!"
Terra brushed away his affections, but he continued to graze her face and shoulders with his fingertips.
"I can't believe I'm going to be a father! I can teach them to blow spit bubbles with their tongue! And take them to the park on Saturdays! And-"
Without warning, she slapped him. Hard, and across the face. Gasping and eyes wide in shock, he touched his reddening cheek, and for the first time all night, he could see her face clearly. She wore an expression on anger and malice, but he didn't let that deceive him. It was an act. It was evident in her turgid, dead eyes.
"Wake up!" She shouted. "Is this how I get through to you? You're acting like an idiot, now listen to me!"
"I-I was just happy..." he stuttered, but cut himself off. She turned away, her profile facing him and her hand cradling the bridge of her nose. She was hushed for a long time, and he bravely continued. "I don't see why I can't-"
"You're not going to be a father."
He was motionless, his body refusing to act upon what was just said. "W-What?" he murmured in disbelief.
"This kid? It's not yours."
Garfield felt a sledgehammer go through him and crush every dream he'd planned so meticulously. He saw the smiling face of his little girl shatter just before he led her down the aisle to her waiting fiancée. He watched as the beautiful house with the blue shutters fall through the foundation. And he saw the picture of him and Terra holding hands explode into oblivion.
No. This is some sick joke. She couldn't...not when she was married...
"You're lying." he rasped, still unable to gain control of his body. She looked up, her face a perfect deadpan, and slowly turned to him.
"No, sweetheart, no."
"But...But that means you...and you couldn't have..."
"Yes."
"N-No."
"Yes."
His breathing was quaking and his heart was about to tear itself out of his chest. Everything was slowly setting it; the late night calls, the fact that she was never around, the cold manner she'd been treating him with. But...how? How could she do such a thing? After...
"How long?" He growled, his voice climbing in intensity.
"Six months." She replied without hesitation.
"Do I know him?"
"Very well, actually."
Garfield's inner beast unleashed its rage and he ran headlong into her, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her like a ragdoll.
"YOU WHORE! YOU GODDAMN WHORE! WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS! AFTER ALL WE DID!"
He continued to berate her and scream, but all the while she didn't wince once.
Finally, he felt his strength drain from him, and his fury was replaced with an unparalleled desolation, and he found himself suddenly stroking her tenderly and feeling as if he would collapse
"No, no no no no. Not after this. Not after everything I've done for you."
"Exactly what have you done for me, Mr. Logan?"
"I gave you a home! I gave you a job! Damn it, I loved you!"
She laughed cynically, slapping away his gentle hands. "You haven't loved me in years." she replied dryly.
"But I cared about you enough to not hurt you. You-You have no idea what I gave up, do you? Everything I did...our plans...Raven..."
"Yeah I suppose you can go finish things off with her, seeing as we're not going anywhere." And he was screaming.
"I didn't DO anything with her because I knew it would hurt you! I stayed true to you because I made a promise and I kept it! I killed myself, I killed Raven, ALL FOR YOU!"
Garfield's knees buckled beneath him and he sank into the ground.
"Everything for you...Everything." She stared at him with that cold, unfeeling gaze, and walked away from him, arms folded as she watched the moon move across the sky. Garfield looked up at her, bathing in moonbeams, her long golden hair cascading past her shoulders, one arm tucked around her stomach as the other hooked outward, holding a burning cigarette with her numb gaze fixated on some unknown point in the distance, her ice walls gradually sealing her off from the rest of the world.
And he was suddenly struck by how tragically beautiful Terra Markov truly was.
Without a word, he rose and stumbled out the door, unaware of where he was going but secure in the knowledge that he had to leave. The door locked behind him with a click, the last sound of the apartment he would ever hear.
Terra glanced back over her shoulder and sighed, dropping the cigarette and crushing it under her foot. She gawked at her ring for a long time, but with a fierce grimace ripped it off with a scream and threw it across the room. The golden circle rolled gracefully in small spirals before stopping short at a man's feet. He chuckled quietly to let her know he was present.
"I'd say that went well."
She whirled on him with the most vicious look she could harbor.
"I. Hate. You." The malevolence drooled from her words, but he only laughed again and advanced, stepping on the ring as he passed.
"I can see why, seeing as how much I've ruined your life. Or was that you, my dear?" She her glare intensified and she slowly moved towards him with every word until she was nose to nose with his smug, haughty face.
"You don't seem to get it, do you? We're probably the two most fucked up people in the whole damn world. Imagine what our kid is going to be like."
She turned away from him curtly, folding into herself and closing her eyes. A warm pair of arms snaked around her waist, and though she did not want to, she gave into the dark seduction she had succumbed to long ago.
"I do think you handled him brilliantly. Honest. Just as I would." His voice was low and blown into ear with such heat that she suddenly longed for his body. He kissed her neck twice and murmured again.
"You've done well...Apprentice."
Raven sat at the foot of the stairs, pushing a ball around with her foot. The other was curled up over her thigh and her arms were folded on the beautiful marble. She realized that she couldn't stay in her room because all she would do was replay the message over and over again. She had showered and changed; for some reason she had the inclination to look decent. After milling about the apartment, trying to think of other ways to occupy herself and failing miserably, she slinked down to the entrance of the building with the plan to go for a walk. This idea never set foot, because she couldn't bring herself to leave. She was chained to the apartment building like a phantom.
So here she was, pathetically kicking a rubber ball she'd found softly before letting it roll back to her. She still couldn't believe she had been reduced to this. She often compared herself to a mopey teenage movie where everyone cries and slits their wrists. She was somewhat right. Years on hiding her emotions had finally caught up with her.
She was desolate because she was in love.
As much as she hated to admit it, even though she was free, her emotions still bound her like a captive on a ship.
She kicked the vending machine prize again, but this time it didn't come back to her. It swerved away and dropped into a knot in the floor, never to be seen again. Groaning in frustration, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes, picturing how wonderful life was when she was about to destroy the world.
There was a sudden knock at the door which surprised Raven, considering visitors didn't usually come this late. It was a hurried and desperate knock and, concerned and curious, she hoisted herself up and cautiously unlocked it.
Standing on her front stoop, drenched from the pouring rain, was Garfield. Weeping.
His body shivered from the cold and from the sobs he heaved. The tears were falling gracefully past his beautiful cheekbones and showed no signs of stopping. Horrified, Raven stepped outside, ignoring that fact that she was getting soaked as well. As he held his gaze with hers, her tender, sympathetic gaze that vowed never to hurt him, he wanted to say everything; what Terra had done, how worthless we was, how much he wanted to be with her forever.
But all he could manage was, "She's gone, Rae. She's gone."
It was all he needed to say. Raven wrapped him in a loving embrace, soothing him with gentle hushed words as he wept into her shoulder. Having no strength to stand, he slowly slid to the ground without releasing her and she followed, stroking his dripping locks as she lifted her face up to the thunderous sky, the rain crashing and sliding down her face like droplets of stars. She glittered and sparkled in the pale moonlight, and she glowed because of something else.
And that was how they remained, two lonely souls, keeping each other warm.
I WIN AT LIFE!
I cannot be any prouder of this story. I think it turned out so well and I actually updated in a somewhat reasonable timeframe! Yay!
I believe it must be said that I really do like Terra. She's actually one of my favorite characters. I think Terra has two sides of her, as we all do, of good and evil. Hers were simply more pronounced than others and she confused wrong and right. I don't hate her, even if it was monstrously fun making her a bitch. :-)
I want to dedicate this story to Alys. I was your secret santa on the shrine, but being the jerkus I am I never got to finish your story since it was magically wiped off the face of the earth and, well, who wants a secret santa in March? You're an amazing person and I want you to know that I wrote this for you.
Actually, speaking of shrine...eh he he...I kinda lost my password...and I haven't been able to get it back for months. Uh, help?
Please, please review this. I really put a lot into it and I'd like to know what you think. Thanks for reading. Love, love, love.
