Cyborg is well aware that he's an outsider on the team, a fifth wheel, the tie breaker, Switzerland…whatever you want to call it.
Starfire and Nightwing are about as close to love at first sight as any couple can get. There was never any doubt at any time from any team member that those two had fates that were intertwined. Even before they were dating, there was still a certainty amongst the public and within their tiny family that they had chosen each other. He'd never say it out loud (he'd be digging his own grave if he ever did) but Cyborg saw the same gravitational pull between Garfield and Raven.
Despite her betrayal, Cyborg is Terra's friend. He doesn't consider her family like the others, frankly she just hasn't been around long enough, but he can't deny that she's a good friend. He trusts her and has long ago forgiven her. More importantly, he supports her long term relationship with his brother. Garfield is wholesome, happy and all around good; ever since they were younger Cyborg wanted to conserve his beautiful aura. He won't let just anyone hold Garfield's heart but Cyborg is certain that Terra loves him. He can see the two-point-five kids in her eyes whenever she looks his way.
He wonders sometimes if Terra sees the gravitational pull between his chromatically challenged teammates. Then again, there aren't many times that Terra is around both teammates as Raven doesn't often seek her as a companion (she hasn't been so quick to forgive). It's not that Cyborg thinks Garfield and Raven are in love. Their emotional attention is always elsewhere. But does he think their destinies are grafted to one another? Absolutely.
His green best friend is always drawn to the dark sorceress. Whenever they are in a room together it doesn't even take five minutes for the invisible string connecting them to pull them to one another. Garfield presses and Raven pushes. But even if their encounter leads to Raven throwing him in the ocean, there is always a moment, as quick as a second but oftentimes longer, that Raven pauses and listens. She listens in a way he isn't sure the other team members are able to if Garfield's reactions to her attention are any indication. Garfield's words hold weight for Raven and Cyborg isn't sure that either of them are aware how much.
So he's an outsider, an objective perspective, the stars between the moons and their planets...whatever you want to call it.
And today, from his position as an outsider, he can tell that none of his teammates are prepared to face their new guests with their best faces. He had, unfortunately, walked blindly into the conversation between Starfire and Nightwing that made the air thick enough to be palpable. He thought he'd get some respite from his other teammates but Garfield and Raven had taken one look at each other, seriously only two seconds, and blushed so hard he was convinced Garfield wasn't the only team member who could change their skin.
So Cyborg takes initiative, being the only teammate with their head in the right mind space, and leads them all to greet their guests. His favorite part about being the spare tire on the team is that he is rarely ever tied to any drama so he can literally and physically turn his back on it whenever he wants.
The man struggles with his umbrella when Cyborg opens the door. He's holding the umbrella handle with the same hand that he holds the baked goods with. His other hand is clasped to the hand of a boy.
The umbrella shifts and Cyborg can finally get a good look at the handsome face of the stranger standing before him. He's probably in his thirties, which made sense if this boy was indeed his son. His eyes are so large though that Cyborg could easily mistake him for a young man fresh out of his teens who hadn't yet been jaded by life. He doesn't greet the team initially, opting instead to observe them all silently with an expressionless face. He tightens his fingers around the goodies, bending the thin cardboard box, and shifting on his feet a little.
The boy looks up at his father with equally big eyes, his shaggy bangs falling against the tips of his eyelashes, as if waiting for permission to speak. The man looks at the boy, clears his throat and makes eye contact with Cyborg again.
"Sorry for intruding-"
"We usually don't accept guests in the Tower, you can see how that could be a security issue, yes?" Nightwing asks, his words are sharp and direct but not particularly impolite. The man nods quickly, shifting on his feet, looking over his shoulder at the ocean. Starfire walks forward, taking the baked goods from the man's hands. The man widens his eyes, which seems impossible to Cyborg, and blinks a couple of times. His lips curl in one corner as he shoots Starfire a lopsided, closed lipped smile. He shakes his own bangs out of his eyes.
"How did you get here dude?" Garfield asks, eyeing the umbrella as rain falls steadily against it.
"We have a small boat." The man tightens his hold on his son's hand slightly.
"It's raining," Raven states. The man nods. Cyborg looks back at the sorceress. As the only teammate who was able to interrogate people who weren't speaking, her reaction to people they didn't know informed the rest of the team about how they should be reacting. Raven doesn't look defensive though.
"I'm assuming if you were a journalist, you'd be smart enough not to sneak a scoop out of five superpowered beings?" Raven asks.
"I'm not a journalist," the man says. "I own a bakery."
He lets go of the small child's hand to gesture to the side of the box in Starfire's hand. Daily Dasik, Cyborg reads in purple cursive letters.
"So you're bringing us desserts?" Nightwing asks, a single eyebrow arched. He crosses his arms over his chest, making his muscles bulge more than usual. The man looks at Nightwing's arms, then at his son, and nods.
"Well you mustn't stand in the rain any longer! Join us on our patio. It has an overhang that will protect us from the rain so that we can enjoy your delicious baked goods," Starfire says, already moving their guests to shelter.
"Thank you," the man says gracefully, following Starfire's lead. The remaining team members shoot each other quick looks before following the trio.
When they get to the patio, Starfire opens the slightly damp box to reveal the warm confections inside. Garfield and Starfire warm up immediately at the sight of the crispy golden goodies. Cyborg walks over, discreetly scanning the baked products for any foreign objects.
"You drink coffee man?" Garfield asks, slapping the man on his back. The man jolts away from the touch causing Garfield to raise his hands defensively. The changeling mouths sorry; the man stares at him absently for a bit before physically shaking himself out of it and sinking into one of the seats Starfire offered him.
"I am more of a tea person," the man says. Cyborg was beginning to notice that he wasn't a man of many words.
"We can bring you some! How 'bout you big guy?" Garfield asks the boy. The boy looks up at his father who waves him off with his hand.
"I can just drink water," the boy shyly says, looking at Garfield through his bangs.
"You guys got names?" Garfield asks, reaching for a chocolate croissant. His eyes almost roll into the back of his head when he takes a bite.
"I'm Dal and my son's name is Cris."
"Cool. So Rae and I will grab the beverages for us," Garfield says, mouth full of croissant. Raven shoots him a look.
"I never agreed to that."
"I don't want to be a bother," Dal says immediately, hands lying flatly against the table top. His posture is perfect.
"Don't worry 'bout it Dal. Rae just doesn't like it when I boss her around. Got nothing to do with you. This is delicious by the way," Garfield says, waving his half eaten croissant in the air. He uses his other hand to grip onto Raven's wrist and proceeds to drag her towards the kitchen. She resists at first, glaring at the green man, but eventually caves in and follows.
"Please eat," Dal tells Nightwing who stands like a statue near the Tower's entrance, his hands lying on his utility belt. Nightwing doesn't respond for a few beats and Cyborg watches as Dal's almost imperceptible smile twitches into an uncomfortable frown.
"I don't eat desserts in the morning," Nightwing finally says.
"I shall be eating his then," Starfire says with a bright smile, taking another cookie out the box. She's about to take a bite when she pauses. "Cris, was it?"
The boy looks up, eyes almost glittering at the sight of Starfire.
"Would you like to share this cookie with me?" she asks, breaking the cookie in half before the boy even responds. He nods absentmindedly. Starfire flies over, tapping the boy's head affectionately, and handing him half of the cookie. "I trust you are comfortable here?"
"Well...I'm a little co-"
Dal shakes off his rain jacket, handing it to the boy.
"Please do not fuss over us," he says, resuming his original position, hands flat against the table top.
"Thank you appa," the boy says, shyly tucking his chin into his chest, sitting back in his seat. Dal brushes Cris' bangs behind his ear, and lifts his chin up. He sends him a quick warm smile. It's the first relaxed expression Cyborg has seen the man make. Silence falls over the trio. Dal doesn't rush to fill it. The rain falls down rhythmically around them.
He grabs a small cannoli from the box and a napkin. He places the napkin in front of him, taking a delicate bite of the pastry then lying it against the napkin. He chews slowly, eyes closed. Whenever a crumb falls off his chin, Dal uses a finger to move it onto the napkin. He doesn't ask from more space than he's given. Neither does his son, who is silently enjoying his cookie. Garfield and Raven return, carrying trays of warm beverages for the group.
"It's chai," Raven says, placing the tea in front of Dal. Dal bows his head in thanks, accepting the warm beverage. He takes a sip. Their guests eat silently, until Dal's napkin and cup are empty. He folds up his napkin so that the crumbs don't fall out and rubs the corner of his son's lips which are smeared with chocolate. That is what he is doing when he speaks again.
"I consider myself an honest man. Though I think that that may be hard for you all to believe coming from a stranger. I own a small bakery. I live in a quaint apartment on East Main St. with my only son," Dal says, finally looking up from his son's clean face. He looks around at the expectant Titans. "I am telling you this so that you will not shut your ears when I tell you the real reason I have visited today."
He pauses, laying his folded up napkin against the table once more.
"I...grew up with Jacob. I know he's in the tower." he says. Nightwing marches forward from his stationary position. Starfire closes the box of baked goods. Dal leans back in his chair, shooting Cris a quick look. Garfield looks at the boy and folds his hands in front of him; his shoulders tighten.
"I would like to see him," Dal finishes, his hands resume their position against the table top.
"That will not be happening," Raven says. Garfield keeps his eyes on the young boy.
"Cris, buddy, I think we got some rain boots that might fit you in the tower. Wanna go play in some puddles?" he asks. Cris shakes his head.
"I want appa to see Jacob," Cris says, his voice more steadier and louder than it's been all day. Dal places his hand over the young boy's hand.
"You go play. Appa has to finish this conversation himself," Dal says, keeping his eyes on the team. Cris looks like he wants to protest but follows Garfield into the tower anyways.
"You would bring a small boy into such a situation?" Starfire asks, looking like she wants to regurgitate the treats she just ate.
"Cris is a smart boy. He saw Jacob on the news and figured out where I was going. Snuck onto my boat."
"And as his father you decided this would still be a good decision to carry out?" Raven asks. Dal doesn't flinch at the sharpness of her words. He pauses, looking around at the team. He doesn't seem anymore uncomfortable or unsure of himself than he was when first greeting them, even after such a big request.
"I have brought baked goods and the most important person in the world to me. Cris would not be here if I planned to cause a scene. I am making a simple request that you have every right to grant or deny."
"Man, how do we know you aren't up to something?" Cyborg asks, running a hand over his head.
Dal shrugs.
"No way you can know for sure."
"You know Jacob?" Raven asks. Dal looks at the rain drops falling off the edge of the overhang. He doesn't say anything, his mind seemingly elsewhere. Then he hums into a soft nod. He does not take his eyes off the raindrops.
"Even people on death row are allowed visitors," Dal says, then seals his lips in a way that suggests he will not say more on the subject.
"People on death row don't have powers," Nightwing finally speaks up. Staying true to form, Dal does not try to argue. Nightwing pulls up a seat next to Dal, leaning forward so that their faces are only half a foot apart. "You don't strike me as a fool. Audacious and overly-confident to make such a bold request of practical strangers? Yes. But a fool? I'm sure you understand that any attempts to help this man escape will be met with the fullest extent of abilities."
Dal looks him in the eyes. Nightwing taps his fingers against the table in front of him, then leans back.
"We will need to perform a detailed background check on you before we even consider this a possibility. I'll also need to discuss it with my teammates."