"Do you think things would've been different if we hadn't all met each other when we did?" Raven asks, her back against the roof of the tower. Garfield had been looking for shapes in the clouds when she had to come outside to meditate. At first she had been irritated but now as she lifts a finger to trace the outline of a cumulus cloud that looks a little bit like a dog she recognizes that this is a little bit like meditation too.
"I actually talked to Terra about this an hour ago and she says she's never thought about it," Garfield shifts, his arm lifted to the sky, parallel to hers. Raven drops her arm against her stomach, turning her head to her shape shifting friend.
"What about you? Have you thought about it?"
Garfield's finger stills in the air. He turns to face her.
"Not until recently."
The clouds roll by. Raven bites her lip, making whirlpools in the fabric of her cloak with her fingers.
"Jacob can't control his powers," she says. "Maybe Nightwing is right. Maybe I'm not that different from my brothers."
Garfield doesn't say anything, blinking a couple of times.
"Can I be honest?" Garfield asks. Raven nods.
"I think you love him."
"Love him?"
Garfield grins, putting his hands over his brows and squinting so he can get a better look at the dark sorceress' face.
"I'm an idiot Rae. I'm not good at math. I can't tell you the names of all the American presidents or what their platforms were-"
"Plenty of people don't know that stuff. You're not an idiot-"
"I'll never be as smart as you guys are though. Wait...please, just let me finish. I'll never be as smart as you guys. I've talked to my therapist about it. I'm okay with that. I try to better myself but I don't have to be as smart as you guys. And I've also realized that even though I'm an idiot, you guys can be too."
Garfield laughs at Raven's offended expression.
"Rae relax. You speak six languages and you absorb books. No one is calling you dumb. But look at how long it took Nightwing to tell Starfire he had feelings for her? I may not be book smart...but I let myself feel my emotions. I know feelings. I know people"
Raven tightens her cloak around herself, feeling exposed.
"And maybe that sounds weird 'cause I'm talking to an empath. I don't want to cross a boundary at all," Garfield says, looking at Raven for a cue that he should stop talking. She doesn't say anything.
"Rae, I've been in your mind. And you have to compartmentalize your emotions so you can keep them in check. You meditate and dissect how you're feeling like analyzing a book. Because you have to. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that existence. I admire your ability to have control of yourself."
"But I have the privilege of feeling a little more recklessly. And I think this privilege might let me be a little more aware of the spots where feelings intersect."
"And love and hate? Those fuckers gravitate towards each other like magnets. It's fucked."
"What does this have to do with Jacob?" Raven interjects. Garfield grins. He looks to the sky again, his grin fading into a smaller smile.
"When Terra betrayed me when we were kids, I was in so much pain."
Raven looks at Garfield's side profile. The way the sun is hitting his face. The sharp angles of his face.
"I loved her," Garfield says simply. His hand reaches up to his chest almost of its own accord. "I loved her so much."
"And I knew. I knew that she never wanted to hurt me. I fought hard to bring her back."
"And then she was...gone," Garfield's eyes look far away. "But she came back. And I was over the moon. And she knew who she was and she could live authentically and freely and I was so so happy."
Garfield pauses and he turns to Raven. She feels her breath get caught in her throat.
"So so happy...but I still had to get over my grief of being betrayed. Of being seriously hurt. By someone who didn't even exist anymore. I had to forgive who she was because I was in love with who she is. And that whole process was long and painful and it cost me a lot of money in therapy sessions."
"My love and my sadness existed at the same time. And they were both strong."
"I don't love Jacob."
"Love and empathy, especially for people with special abilities like us, are basically the same thing, Rae."
"Look who I have found outside of the Tower!" Starfire beams, walking in with ten bags of groceries in each hand as if they weigh nothing. Garfield pauses his video game to look behind Starfire. Standing with an aluminum pan filled with food is Augustine.
"Hey bro!" Garfield says, quickly getting up and grabbing the plate of food from Augustine's hands. "Let me take this for you! Grab a seat! I'm playing Race Kart."
"What are you doing here man?" Cyborg asks, slapping the younger man on the shoulder.
"My mom wanted to bring you guys some food so I told her I'd take the trip for her. Not many people can say that you need to take a boat to visit their home," Augustine says, looking past the boys at the sorceress sitting on the sofa, face partly obscured by a book.
"It's better for us for security reasons," Nightwing says. Augustine nods.
"Sure, sure…" his voice falls off, still looking intently at Raven.
"Hello Augustine," Raven says, not looking up from her book. Starfire practically springs into the air as Augustine's face turns red.
"You must stay and enjoy this food with us," Starfire exclaims, grabbing Augustine's arm.
"I wouldn't want to intrude," Augustine says.
"Absolute nonsense! We cannot eat all this food alone!"
"Is that okay with everyone else?" Augustine asks, shifting on his feet.
"Of course man!" the changeling exclaims.
"Okay...you said you were playing a video game?" Augustine asks.
"Yeah, come on. Cy didn't wanna play and it's no fun by myself," Gar says, resuming his seat next to Raven much to Augustine's disappointment.
"Can you concentrate on your reading with the noise?" Augustine asks Raven when he takes the seat next to Gar.
"Years of practice," Raven says, turning a page in her book.
"Mom packed some fresh ginger root for tea and I picked up a loaf of bread from this bakery my mom loves, it's called Daily Dasik."
"We know of it," Garfield says, looking towards the sorceress in a very careful, calculated way. Augustine quirks a brow, never having seen his friend tiptoe around anything.
"Yes, Changeling is partial to their chocolate filled croissants, if the chocolate smears he sported all day were any indication," Raven says, turning another page in her book.
"Hey! Don't act like you didn't down three chocolate chunk oatmeal cookies!"
"Yes, with my mouth. I didn't try to absorb it through my cheek."
"Chocolate smears are how you know it's good!"
"I'll be sure to leave that in my yelp review. Is the location and number of chocolate smears important?"
"Of course, one chocolate smear is no bueno. Three chocolate smears is ideal. The weirder the location, the better the desert was. This is basic food-ology."
"How many points for three chocolate smears and one on the tip of a pointy green ear?"
"Oh man, Dal will get too much business if we write that."
"Yes, the thirteen year old fangirls will flood the bakery."
"That sounds like judgment from someone whose fanbase is anyone who flat irons their bangs," Gar says, grinning ear to ear. Raven has closed her book, a much smaller, tame, closed lip grin gracing her face.
Augustine clears his throat. Both the changeling and the sorceress jump a little in their seats.
"Oh, you guys know the owner?"
"We're...acquainted," Raven says. "Did you say that the ginger is packed in one of the bags?"
"Yeah! I can make the tea if you'd like!"
"That's alright. I got it," Raven says, dusting off her cloak. "Would you like some?"
"Yeah! That would be super nice of you."
Raven moves to the kitchen. Garfield waits until she's out of ear shot to talk to his friend.
"Dude, I thought you didn't like that tea your mom makes."
"I'd drink gasoline if she was offering it bro," Augustine says, sure of himself. Garfield laughs but it rattles in his chest a little differently.
"Listen dude, Raven's amazing. She's smart. She's beautiful. She's humble. Has zero clue how many men trip over themselves for her. But I don't want you to get your hopes up. I don't think she's in any space to date anyone."
"You speak really highly of her."
"Sure I do. I love her," Garfield says. It isn't the first time he's said that about his friends. It isn't even the first time he's said that about Raven. But when he says it now, in front of Augustine, he can't help but feel a little naked. Garfield clears his throat. "I love the whole team."
"There's no harm in trying, right?" Augustine asks, unsurely. Garfield shrugs.
"Let's keep playing," he says, ignoring the way his back muscles tighten beneath his skin. A few minutes later Raven brings Augustine his cup of tea and excuses herself to her bedroom. Starfire waits until the door closes behind her friend before unplugging the boys' video game.
"You must ask her to dinner now!" Starfire exclaims excitedly. "She is most likely on the roof-"
"Woah, Starfire, don't you think you are putting too much pressure on him?" Garfield asks, looking at the overwhelmed Augustine. Starfire glares at her friend and he sinks back into his seat.
"Friend Augustine, are your feelings likely to change in the coming fortnights?" Starfire asks. Augustine shakes his head.
"Then why let these feelings brew when you can get your answer now."
"Star-" Garfield starts again, sinking back again when Starfire literally hisses at him.
"Go to her! According to her communicator she should be on our roof," Starfire says, looking at her communicator.
"Star, we're only supposed to use the tracking devices in emergencies," Nightwing half-heartedly scolds his girlfriend. She brushes him off. The alien looks at Augustine with barely constrained enthusiasm. Her hands clasped together tightly.
"Well-" Augustine says, looking at Garfield. "I guess now is as good a time as any."
Starfire squeals, flying to the ceiling and back down again.
"Bring her some of this fresh bread! It will put her in good spirits!" Starfire says, zooming to the kitchen and back again, squishing the bread in a fist.
"Alright Starfire, take it easy on the bread," Augustine chuckles, grabbing the baguette from her.
"Well, here goes nothing," Augustine sighs, moving to the elevator.
"I'm not sure that was the best idea Star," Cyborg says. Starfire turns to the group of much less enthusiastic men.
"How so?"
"I don't think that's going to go well for him," Cyborg finishes.
"How can you know that? Do you believe this?" Starfire asks her boyfriend. Nightwing looks sheepish.
"I think there's no way of knowing for sure," he tries to be honest while keeping his girlfriend's spirits up. Starfire frowns, her feet meeting the ground for the first time since Augustine entered the tower.
"Garfield?"
"I don't know Star," Garfield says. But he does. And he's trying to come to terms with the immense relief he feels.
"Oh no," Starfire mumbles, putting her hands over her lips.
Five minutes later, to no one's surprise, Augustine walks out of the elevator with his head hung low. The men have the social awareness to look preoccupied. Starfire, unfortunately, does not.
"Oh friend Augustine! I'm so sorry! I will go talk to her," Starfire exclaims, already moving to the elevator. Augustine grabs the alien's elbow.
"She just isn't interested, Starfire. There isn't much you can say to her," Augustine says, looking the alien in the eyes. Starfire cringes.
"Please forgive me," Starfire mumbles, her eyes watery.
"You thought I had a chance. There's no need to apologize," Augustine says. Then he looks around the room. "Please, my mom will be devastated if you guys stopped visiting our restaurant. Don't let things get weird."
"We'll be there next weekend dude," Garfield says, getting up and smacking his friend's shoulder.
"Thanks brother," Augustine says, gripping Gar's shoulder. "I'm going to head out, enjoy the food."
"Oh man that's rough," Cyborg says, rubbing a hand over his face.
"I'll go check on Rae," Garfield says.
The door to the common room closes behind Garfield cutting off all sounds of Nightwing trying to console Starfire. The hallway is quiet and dark. Garfield takes a few steps forward, wondering what he'll ask Raven when he sees her. Does he need to visit her right now? Does she need alone time?
Garfield hears a distant thump.
Hmm.
The hairs on his arms start standing on end the further into the hallway he moves. He looks down at his arms. An itchy feeling spreads down the skin of his back. Something is off. He transforms into a fly, zooming to Raven's room.
There is a figure outside of her door.
He can't see that well in the dark but the figure is much taller and bigger than his small friend. He flies closer.
Augustine?
He transforms back into his human form, alerting the man of his presence.
"Hey man, what are you doing outside of Raven's room?" Garfield asks, keeping his tone relaxed even though his muscles are flexing beneath his uniform.
"I just wanted to apologize for making her uncomfortable."
"Yeah dude, I get it but Raven's super picky about her privacy. I think it's best if you leave," Garfield says, his voice pointed like an arrow. The shapeshifter crosses his arms over his chest. Augustine raises his hands.
"Of course. Of course," Augustine says.
"How'd you get up here so fast? I just saw you in the common room," Garfield asks, eyebrows crinkled.
"I must have snuck past you."
"Right, of course," Garfield says, uncrossing his arms and reaching into his pocket to press the emergency button on his communicator. Augustine looks down at the hand in Garfield's hand in his pocket.
"Hey Augustine?" Garfield asks. "Dile a la Señora Cuadrado que me cocina más comida."
"Por supuesto, a ella le encanta cocinar para ustedes," Augustine chirps. Garfield takes a step back.
Augustine came to California when he was 3.
He doesn't speak Spanish fluently.