Present:

Even though they're attending the premiere together, they arrive in separate cars. Both are being chauffeured to the event, even though they typically drive themselves in everyday life. Raven isn't sure she could physically drive in this dress, even if she wanted to. And certainly not these shoes. She's spent all week since Gar asked her to the premiere second guessing the outfit, the one she's had picked out for two months now.

She doesn't want him thinking she's treating this as a date, or anything. Because it's not. She's not his date, he's not hers. They're just co-stars, attending an event relating to their movie. Together. But not as dates!

A knock on her window makes her jump, and she squints out the tinted glass to find Gar standing beside her car door. She can barely see him from this angle, especially since her driver, who had knocked to warn her, steps in front of him to open her door. She's had enough time while waiting in the passenger seat for Gar to arrive that she's managed both to work her nerves up and then slowly calm them down. The latter half seems to have been for naught, because when she steps out of the car and casts her gaze on Gar, her pulse picks up into overdrive.

She's seen him in a variety of suits throughout the years, but those have mostly been through picture and video. In person, it's been more casual suits. With sneakers. Seeing him now, dressed up in a deep olive suit that stretches nicely across his broad shoulders and tapers down his lean torso, it's an entirely different experience.

Slowly, she drags her focus up to his face, surprised to find his mouth parted in the smallest 'o,' eyes sweeping across her own figure. "Wow, Rae, you look…"

Over the years, Raven's learned to put the way she feels about a look above how anyone else does. As long as she likes the way she presents herself, that's all that really matters. But the look on Gar's face? The flip flopping of her stomach indicates that, perhaps, she cares a little bit about what he thinks.

Raven clears her throat. Or, perhaps, her stomach's complaining from her skipping lunch. Yes, that must be it.

"Thank you," she manages after a moment, smoothing the slippery fabric of the dress's skirt with a fidgety hand. "And you look very dashing."

His slack mouth curls with a bright smile. "Thanks."

Being the leading cast members, they're among the last to walk the carpet, stopping periodically to pose for pictures and answer questions. Most of the photos involve them standing next to each other, and there are several where Gar takes a step back so they can get photographed separately. Raven heaves a sigh but does as she's told when she's asked to turn and glance over her shoulder, showing the exceptionally low back of her dress. Beside her, Gar does the same, tossing a seductive look over his shoulder that makes her roll her eyes.

It's the pictures that feature his hand on her back that stand out most to her, though, because his hand rests on the bare skin of the small of her back, sending shivers up her spine. He's so warm, which never came as a surprise to her. Sometimes it's easy to tell who runs hot and who runs cold, but it's especially apparent when his heated skin brushes hers, typically chilled.

The final reporter in the lineup asks the question she's been dreading, though Gar doesn't bat an eye. "Are you here as co-stars, or are you two finally dating?"

"Finally?" Gar laughs. "What, don't tell me you've been betting on it."

The reporter, standing behind a paper marking the small crew as part of the Weekly World Star, smiles. "Not personally, but I know someone who's got twenty on it."

"Is it Dick?"

Richard Grayson has a sixth sense. He knows when he's being talked about, which explains why he chooses that exact moment to sidle up next to them. "Please. I can afford more than a twenty."

Raven rolls her eyes. "Alright. Let's go, before we miss the movie."

She doesn't exactly love watching herself on screen, but between that or continuing this lovely conversation, she'll take the former. The reminder works, and they make their way inside. The three of them find Kori and Victor before taking seats in a row together, Raven at the very end next to Gar. She glances at him as the movie starts, and he catches her, lifting a curious eyebrow.

To hide her embarrassment at being caught, she also lifts an eyebrow, which makes him grin. Of course it does.

They spend the movie in silence, watching themselves on the massive screen ahead of them. Raven sinks slightly in her seat during certain scenes, fighting a blush. It's so awkward to watch herself kiss him, especially when he's sitting right next to her, watching it too.

She makes it through the experience, though, and they eventually find themselves at the reception. Neither intends to stay long, wanting to say a few hellos and then get out of dodge. They linger in a corner of the room, scouting out the crowd for anyone they missed before they leave.

"Oh my." It escapes unbidden, an involuntary reaction to the handsome hunk of fine genetics standing across the room. She's seen him in films before, admired him from afar, but in person? Hoo. There's a lack of attraction, though, which she would expect to feel upon seeing him, but she grudgingly attributes that to the fact that she may or may not be attracted to some certain idiot friend of hers.

"What?"

Gar's a half a step behind her, peering over her shoulder to try and find what made her mutter. After a couple seconds of searching, his lip curls. "Ugh, what is Garth doing here?"

Raven turns her attention to Garth again, following Garfield's glare. "What's your problem with him?"

"I don't have a problem with him," he declares snootily, implying the exact opposite. "He's the one with a problem. Total ego maniac."

Humming, Raven observes Garth's conversation with a lesser known TV actress. He's smiling kindly, the expression doing nothing but wonderful things for his gorgeous face. The actress giggles, and Garth laughs in turn. "He seems nice."

Gar's lips purse. "Until you meet him. In fact, let's go say hi and you can see for yourself."

Since Raven's got no qualms with getting a closer look at the guy, they make their way over. The TV actress gives them a polite smile but makes herself scarce, immediately feeling out of place amongst the bigger fish, or so Raven presumes. She herself was in the position just a few short years ago.

"Gar!" Garth's greeting is immediate and cheerful, shocking Garfield into stopping short. "Hey, I watched your last movie I don't know how many times. You did a great job, man, I don't think I could have pulled off a role like that."

"Uh…"

Raven lifts an amused eyebrow, turning an accusatory stare on Gar. He meets it, utterly perplexed. Egomaniac, huh?

"And Raven, it's so nice to meet you. I'm a huge fan."

"Likewise," she compliments, resisting the unusual urge to blush. The Garth, a fan of little ol' her? She hears Gar huff, but when she looks to see what's wrong now, he's wearing a politely indifferent expression. "I especially enjoy your work with psychological thrillers."

Garth dazzles her with one of those kind smiles. "Thank you, they're a lot of fun to film. You should give the genre a try, maybe we can work on something together."

Flattered, she tucks some hair behind her ear. "I would like that."

Someone calls Garth's name, and he waves at whoever it is. "We'll have to catch up again sometime," he suggests. "I'll keep you in mind when I read scripts, Raven."

The three of them give their goodbyes, and Garth leaves to meet up with whoever wants his attention. "I don't know what you're talking about, Gar, he's very pleasant."

He scoffs, then puts on a show of batting his eyes and flipping imaginary hair. "I would like that," he mimics, doing a very poor imitation of an especially girly version of her.

Raven grimaces, crossing her arms. "Do you have a problem?"

"You're smitten," he accuses, turning his head in various directions until he spots the buffet. He heads off towards it, and she follows.

"Smitten?" she repeats, incredulous. "I admire his acting, Grandpa." And, alright, he was her first and only celebrity crush growing up. But he's a lot of people's crushes. Garth is gorgeous, nice, and a fantastic actor.

"Right," Gar agrees dryly, clearly not agreeing at all.

Her eyes narrow. "Why do you care, anyway?"

He takes a toothpick and shoves whatever's stuck on the end of it into his mouth. "I don't."

Obviously, whatever hang up Gar had about the other actor isn't going to be dismissed with one pleasant interaction. Fine, that's not really her problem. "Whatever. Let's just go."

After he's found something to eat on the way out, they make a clean exit. With enough practice over the course of their careers, and a few 'no entry' doors, they've found an avenue to hide from the press. For a short time, they're walking the narrow perimeter hallways of the building, navigating carefully through the darkness. Neither talks, the sour mood from earlier persisting between them. Raven's actually relieved to see the door to the outside ahead of them, wanting nothing more than to go home and get out of this stupid dress.

Before she's close enough to reach it, Gar tugs on her wrist until they're standing still, barely visible to each other under the glow of the exit sign. She eyes him warily, growing impatient the longer he silently stares at her. "What?" she clips out.

He licks and then bites his lip, heaving a quick, nervous sigh. "I- I don't know how to say this. Or what to say. But I want to say it before we go out there."

That gives her pause, and her impatience melts away. Mostly. She still wants him to actually say whatever it is that's keeping her here in the dark and not at home in her pajamas. "When have you ever thought about what you said before blurting it out?"

He smiles, but it quickly flickers out. "This is important."

She doesn't say anything, hoping to wait him out.

"And terrifying."

"Oh for the love of- just say it."

"I really like you."

She goes cold. Not in a bad way, necessarily, but her heart lurches and her limbs feel stuck where they are. The last time he said he liked her, though, he followed it up immediately with the request to be friends. She waits for the addendum, or the 'but,' except he's just standing there waiting, too.

"... Raven?" He fidgets. "I don't expect any certain answer, but anything would be nice right now. I feel like I'm gonna pass out."

Her mouth pops open, and then shut. "Oh."

Gar groans, rubbing his hands over his face. "You're killing me, Rae."

"Well, why are you telling me now? Just because you're jealous of the iota of attention I showed another actor?" She doesn't attribute lies or manipulation to Gar, but the timing's hard to ignore.

"No! I mean, kind of yes, I guess, but not for the reason you're thinking. Man, Raven, what kind of person do you think I am?" He actually sounds hurt, and she feels like the lowest person on earth. This is what she was worried about. She's afraid that she can't trust him the way he's earned the right to be trusted. It's not his fault. She's damaged.

She can't look at him. "I think you're wonderful, Gar," she admits on a sigh. "I'm the terrible person, and I can't for the life of me fathom how you could like me."

It takes a moment for that to really sink in with him, and when it does he shakes his head. "I already told you, didn't I? You're cool, funny, and nice." She opens her mouth, but he barrels on over her. "And you're badass and pretty and I want you, Rae. I know you can feel it, how much I want to be with you. You told me so."

She eyes the door. "That's not exactly what I meant." But on some level, she supposes, even then she kind of knew.

"Well, it's what I mean. I want to go on dates, hang out with your kids. Meet your fish."

That does it. Before she can stop it, the laughter tumbles out. It's small, but it's bright, and it makes him smile. She really loves that smile. And, finally, she thinks she's ready to accept that she deserves it. She deserves him. She's not the person she's been convinced her whole life that she is. She is badass, and pretty, and nice, damnit. "Do I have to list nice things about you now?"

"I wouldn't be opposed," he baits, leaning in close with a pleased little grin.

He's worked hard to break down her defenses, she supposes he's earned it. She should be working hard for him, too. "You're annoying," she begins with a dramatic sigh. "And you're a dork. But you're generous, and considerate, and I've never liked anyone more than I do you. You make me feel wanted, and I want you, too."

There's a smile on his face that she hasn't seen before, one that makes it hard for her to breathe because of what it implies. Feelings she's never had directed at her before are out in the open, easy to read in his expression. There's no mask there, now. "I don't think our lists are exactly even, but I'll take it."

She rolls her eyes. "Good, because I'm not about to grovel."

What she does is take the lapels of his suit and tug him close, giving him a kiss that puts the kitchen scene to shame.

The end! If you feel so inclined, drop a review so I know what you think. Regardless, thank you for taking the time to read my story.