...
It had been a week since Kori had left, and the tower felt quiet, the team incomplete.
And things were only going to get worse.
Victor got an offer to join the Justice league. He was clearly hesitant to accept the offer, and leave what little there was left of the Titans.
But he figured Richard was right. Things change, they aren't kids anymore, Maybe it was time they all started a new transition.
Growing up is hard. They still are and always will be friends, is what they all said, but the Titans... were no more.
...
Garfield had his hands in his pockets as he walked down the quiet, empty halls of the once full Tower. The lingering silence haunted him, as memories of the good old days flooded through his head.
He slowly walked past the bedrooms that his friends once occupied.
No more of Kori's upbeat pop music. No more of Victor's electric tools and tinkering. Now they were just empty rooms.
He slowly walked past Richard's room and scowled at his name on the door, because if there was anyone to blame for the Titans disbanding, it was him.
He continued down the hall, when he mindlessly walked past Raven's room. Her door was open, and she was on the floor putting her things in boxes.
"So, now you're leaving, too?" He asked somewhat harshly, leaning himself on the door frame.
"The Titans are done, Gar. It's time to move on." She said without facing him, as she continued putting more books in a box.
He rolled his eyes, huffing harshly at the reminder.
"You know you don't have to stay here all alone. You could cash in that big inheritance of yours, and go some place nice." She suggested.
"Alone?" He scoffed, and it caused her to turn to him before sighing sadly.
"I'm sorry, Garfield."
"So, when are you leaving?" He asked, his tone still bitter and harsh.
She glanced downward, hesitant to answer. "Tomorrow morning."
"Of course you are." He said bitterly, before storming out of her room.
Raven let out a long sigh, his cold demur causing guilt to wash over her. She wished there was something she could do to relieve his sorrows, but there wasn't.
...
It was late when Raven finished putting all her stuff in boxes, and stacked them neatly in her room. She hadn't heard a thing from Garfield since his harsh exit, and she was beginning to get worried.
She started roaming the tower, looking for him, but he was nowhere to be seen. She had to admit ever since the others had left, the tower had been depressingly quiet, and it just added to her guilt for leaving him behind.
Raven did eventually find Garfield on the roof. She had opened the door and spotted him sitting near the edge hugging his knees, as he stared out at the starry night sky.
She let out a quiet sigh, before leaving the door and walking towards him. He didn't even turn to her, or acknowledged she was there as she sat down next to him.
She mimicked his position as they sat in silence for a while, until out of nowhere he reached out an arm and pulled her into a one-armed hug.
Raven slowly let her head rest on his shoulder. She might not have shown it, but the loss of the Titans had been hard on her too, and left her feeling depressed.
They were all that's left…
"You don't have to leave, you know." He told her quietly.
She glanced downward sorrowfully. "I'm sorry Gar, but we can't stay here, I can't anyways."
He slowly glanced away, reluctant to admit she was right. "I know." He sighed softly.
"I know you're upset about all this. I am too, but we need to move on. No one is dead. We're all still here. We will just be in different places." She reminded him, in an attempt to comfort him.
And she could feel him slightly nod in acknowledgment.
"I know you're scared of what's going to happen. I am too. But we will always be friends. We will always be here for you." She told him sincerely, before letting her voice soften. "I will always be here for you."
He smiled lightly, her words indeed comforting him, and giving some courage for what he was about to do next. He slightly gripped her in his one-armed hug and turned, slowly leaning down towards her soft expression.
His eyes were half lidded as were hers, as he grew closer. But before he could kiss her, she lightly put her hand to his chest.
"Stop." She said it quietly, and he immediately froze, but didn't retreat.
"Stop what?" He asked in the same whispered tone.
"You're lonely, and afraid. And you're only doing this because you don't want to be alone."
"You're wrong." He told her, without moving away. "I am lonely. And afraid. And I have nothing to lose. So, I'm going to try something that I've wanted to do for a long time."
Her face flushed slightly as she continued to stare at him though half lidded eyes.
"I'm not just afraid, Raven. I'm terrified. Are you going to tell me you don't feel the same way?"
"No." She answered softly.
"We're scared. We're lonely. And we're both still here. Even if it's only for a short amount of time. And right now, and for the longest time, I've wanted you; I need you; I trust you. And I don't want to feel alone. So, the question is… do you feel the same way?"
She couldn't fully direct her thoughts, as she uncontrollably felt his rush of intense emotions. But despite her being hesitant to do all of this, she couldn't deny that she reciprocated them.
So, agreeing she had nothing to lose, and everything to gain, she suddenly pressed her lips against his...
Richard was right, they weren't kids anymore. Time to stop denying that there wasn't something building between them. Life was moving too fast to not bask in the moment, and their one, and possibly only chance to acknowledge their feelings.
His arm immediately tightened around her, as his other lifted up, and his hand caressed the side of her face. The kiss was delectable and divine, as they both pressed closer to one another, urging for more. More passion, more desire, more everything…
Their troubles didn't exist. The pain of reality was forgotten, as they were engulfed in the moment. And slowly this interaction seemed to fill in the empty hole that was there, and made them never want to stop.
With a sudden urgency she hadn't anticipated having, she found herself plunging forward, pushing him back onto the ground. She pulled away from him, breaking the contact as she looked at him slightly embarrassed by her impulsiveness.
He couldn't help but smile at her, excited by the sudden passion that he had provoked in her. He lifted his hand up, caressing the back of her head as he pulled her down to him, connecting their lips once more.
Hearts pounded in chest as body heat skyrocketed. Lips were vulgar and hot as their hands gripped one another desperately.
All the pain they were feeling, all the heartbreak and sadness was washed away with desire and yearning for something that had slowly built up over the years.
She finally pulled away, only to prop herself above him as they breathed heavily and gazed at each other's dilated, lust filled eyes. The moment didn't last long as he leaned himself up right into a sitting position with her on his lap as he buried his face in her neck, kissing it hungrily.
She tilted her head to the side to give him more access as she held his head firmly with the sensation. She let her legs straddle him tightly as her fingers firmly gripped his hair, and he teasingly let his sharp teeth linger over the tender skin of her neck and collar bone.
She let her hand go up and down the fabric of his shirt, letting her fingertips stimulate certain areas before resting at the buckle of his belt.
She fumbled with it, almost mischievously, before undoing it and slowly prying his pants open. She didn't get far with the action as he suddenly grabbed her waist and flipped them, gently laying her down on the flat ground.
He loomed himself over her, never breaking from her lips as she slowly pulled his shirt up over his shoulders. Unfortunately, he had to break from her then to remove the garment, but made sure as soon as it was off, he was down at her level once more.
Nervous hands gently pulled up her shirt to her navel before skimming down to fumble with the button on her jeans.
Neither one of them had expected this was where the night was going to lead. Even after the kiss was exchanged, they hadn't anticipated it leading to such an intimate moment.
But as all the reasons why they should stop came to mind, all the reasons why they shouldn't were much stronger.
She suddenly pushed him onto his back, flipping their positions as she straddled his waist. She glanced down at him with a heated breath before quickly pulling her shirt over her head.
He propped himself up slightly, and he had barely enough time to gawk at her, or even breath before she was back on him again, pressing her starved lips against his.
He wrapped his arms around her back, pulling her as close to his as possible. The summer night air might had been chilly, but their body temperatures were so high, they couldn't feel the cold.
Without breaking contact, she lifted her hips and pulled her jeans off her hips, sliding them off her legs. He took the opportunity to quickly yanks his own pants down his legs, kicking them off his feet before pouncing on her.
As the world around them continued on, time had stopped briefly on the roof of the tower. They were all that was left, and they made the most of it.
…
Garfield woke up when the late morning sun shined in his face. He cracked his eyes open and slowly smiled realizing whose bed he was in. He was practically beaming as memories of what happened that night on the roof came rushing back.
But that happy feeling soon faded as he realized Raven's room was empty. He looked back and forth, just to see all her things were gone, along with the boxes that contained them. All that was left was empty furniture.
Pain and disbelief washed over him. He couldn't believe it... He just couldn't believe it. This was beyond cruel, even for Raven. How could she do this to him after the night they shared.
He moved to the edge of the bed and let his feet fall to the ground. He sat there for a minute, emotionless, until he made an angry snarl and slammed his fist on the nightstand, right on a pen and notepad. He immediately turned to it with a curious face as he picked up the note.
I know you're scared and probably angry that I left. But trust me things will be okay. We're all scared of change and being alone, but we have to grow up and move on. We will always be Titans in our hearts.
But right now, we need to focus on the other side of ourselves. We are more than just Titans after all. I know Beast Boy wants to be a Titan, and he will always be one.
But right now, I want you to put Beast Boy aside and start focusing on Garfield, and what he wants. And I know one thing he wants is to not be alone. So I want you to come stay with me at my new apartment.
…
Raven stood in the small living room in her new apartment. She leisurely stacked her books on a bookshelf when she heard a knock from her door. A telling smile grew on her face, knowing very well who it was.
Smiling to herself she put the book in her hand down and walked towards the door. She opened it, and before she could acknowledge who it was, Garfield had bolted forward, kissing her.
She managed to pull away, the small smile never leaving her face, as he started trailing kissing her neck.
"So, I'll take that as a yes?" She asked, and he quickly nodded, before swiftly picking her up.
She did a light intake of breath in surprise, as her legs wrapped around his torso, and he blindly carried her to the back of the apartment…
...