Laundry
By Mezzo-chan
When it came to the mundane chores, Garfield always did the laundry.
It was a point of silent compromise with them, the laundry.
Raven had her reasons, Gar respected that, which was odd to say the least.
In their youth he had been all questions and tactless curiosity, relentless in his probing of Raven who, beyond her psychosomatic need for herbal tea and reluctant enjoyment of her team's childish games (Stank ball came to mind), was an enigma.
But years had passed, and Garfield was a little wiser now, a little more aware of her idiosyncrasies. She chose not to question this out loud, but what Raven didn't realize there were some things Garfield had decided to let lie.
He needed to know what she was thinking, how she was feeling, he wanted to wheedle his way even deeper into her life, but Raven had things about her that he felt didn't need explanation.
Laundry was one of these things.
He remembered well what had happened last time she'd elected to do laundry.
She had looked awkward in such an ordinary activity, but went through her job with simple precision.
Until she pulled out the cape.
That stupid cape that someone had thrown into the laundry along with everything else.
He didn't even know whose it was, but obviously it was enough to upset her.
He remembered her screams. She was crying and holding her head, screaming and screaming over and over, boring a hole into his brain.
He'd sprinted through the doorway, the team far behind him.
She sat curled into a ball, the cloak clutched in an angry grip.
"It won't come out, it's staining everything!" she sobbed, her breath mere gasps.
"What's wrong Raven, what's wrong!" he shouted, shaking her by the shoulders.
"There's blood everywhere! It's not my fault! It won't come out Garfield!"
That stupid cape. That stupid bloodless cape that was making her scream. He ripped it out of her hands and told Cyborg to burn it.
"It's not my fault," she wept into his chest and he stroked her hair, murmuring small words of encouragement.
Thus it came to pass that Garfield opted to do the laundry, and he never inquired about the cape. Raven would watch him causally as he folded clothes, his back to her.
"Why do you always—"
"Because I want you to be happy," he'd reply simply, a goofy smile on his face, and an understanding met. He didn't need to know her inside and out.
He just needed to know her enough.
Author's Note:Written while listening to Imogen Heap, which may explain the way it's been written. I do like this chapter, but I feel it is done a bit strangely.
Sorry I took so long to update, and thanks to everyone who has been leaving such lovely comments! I hope I can update again as soon as possible!
Up Next, Chapter 19: Reunion
