A week passed and Garfield slowly got back into the swing of things. While many things had changed in their routine, the Titans were still the Titans, and Garfield found his place quickly enough. Nightwing had at first drilled him relentlessly, but it was evident that Garfield hadn't stopped training himself and was in prime condition. All that was left was learning the new battle tactics that the team employed in the field, and adjusting them to include Garfield. Everyone else had gone to the training field, but Garfield had one thing to take care of before he went down.
His new uniforms had come in today, and Garfield sat in his room with a box of them. Morphing one of his fingers to have a claw, he cut open the box and pulled one of them out. He immediately remembered why he didn't bring any of his uniforms with him. The spandex-like material was specially engineered to accommodate his shifting forms, like some sort of magic. But, Garfield hated it because it felt so unnatural on his skin. He preferred wool, or cotton. Materials like polyester, or neoprene, or whatever the hell this stuff was gave him the willies. With a grimace, he slipped on the new uniform.
Garfield looked at himself in the mirror and was glad to see that he didn't look like an idiot. The suit came in two main pieces, the shirt and the pants. There were of course a belt and a pair of boots that came along with it, but those were more like accessories. The shirt was a tightfitting hooded T-shirt that had a two-tone color scheme, while the pants also had a similar design. He had decided on black and red for his colors since no one else was wearing red anymore. His suit wasn't very high-tech but it did have one feature, by pressing a button on the belt the colors would shift to gray and black, essentially turning it into "stealth mode". Garfield looked himself over, turning to get different angles, and grinned. I've still got it. Pleased with his new look, he tied his hair back into a short spiky tail, and made his way to the training field to meet with the others.
Today they'd be doing individual obstacle course runs, and Garfield was excited to let loose with the full extent of his powers. After the first year, he hadn't really transformed during his time away, and he missed the experience. It was something so completely liberating it was nearly addicting, but he had to stop in order to hide completely. Now that he was back, he was free to indulge in his power, and he had spent his time doing just that.
When he got there he saw everyone gathered together, talking in a group, but as he approached they saw him and broke apart. Garfield expected this, but it still hurt on some level. It was subtle, but they weren't used to him being back and it showed in how some conversations he just wasn't allowed to be a part of. He'd just have to suck it up, and earn back their trust.
"Hey guys, what's happening?" He asked in a jovial tone.
"Hey B! Nice suit, man!" Cyborg greeted.
"Right? Pretty spiffy, if I do say so myself." Garfield struck a pose.
Starfire flew over and landed next to him. "Yes, you cut a most impressive form!"
Her outfit had changed from the simple top and skirt to a complicated array of straps and lengths of cloth that exposed more skin then they covered. Not much was left to the imagination, and Garfield was surprised that Nightwing had let that happen.
Maybe he likes showing off his mate? She's certainly a prize worth coveting.
I doubt it. Nightwing doesn't really think like that. Also, stop objectifying women.
"Thanks Star." He turned to Nightwing and clapped his hands together. "So! Let's get started. Who's going first?"
The outfit that Nightwing had on was completely black from head to toe, with a blue pictographic bird on his chest with wings spread from shoulder to shoulder. It was much better than his old uniform, with its bright colors and flashy cape. Hardly appropriate for a supposed master of stealth. He had grown out his hair, which was combed back and flowed down to his shoulders, and of course wore a mask that covered his eyes.
"Why don't you go first if you're so eager?" A dark figure asked from his left.
Garfield turned to face the sorceress it came from with a witty retort in mind, but it died on his tongue. Raven's uniform had changed the most radically, at least in his eyes. The cloak and leotard had been replaced by a hooded longsleeve shirt that was a deep indigo . It hugged her ample chest, and cut off to show a generous amount of her supple stomach. Her pants were tightfitting black spandex. The pant legs had slits up the sides about an inch wide that exposed her pale skin to just below her hips that laced up with dark purple silk, and fit nicely into her stylish calf length boots. He'd already been here a week, but Garfield didn't think he'd ever get used to seeing Raven like this. She didn't have as much skin exposed as Starfire, but for some reason he just couldn't handle it.
Goddamnit. God. Dammit. This is goddamn torture.
But you only inflict it on yourself. I'll say it again, she we could have her.
See, you say that, but you actually have no idea.
It wouldn't hurt to try.
It would hurt. A lot. Like, an unimaginable amount. Pain so excruciating that I could go on for another two days, and fail to scratch the surface.
"Got to admit, you set yourself up for that, Green." Cyborg came up and slapped him on the back. "I'll start it up for you."
Cyborg had change the least out of all of them. Same face, same color scheme. He had switched out some parts, making them sleeker, more modern looking. But all in all, same tin man.
"Fine. I'll go." Garfield said petulantly. It actually didn't matter, Garfield wanted to go first anyway. He walked over to the starting point where he began stretching his arms and legs.
The course in front of him started opening up and changing. Out of the ground rose turrets, laser grids, razor wire, electrical fences, and a horde of robots of varying sizes and functions, as well as a few things that Garfield couldn't figure out at first glance. Walls, columns, and moving platforms were raised, trenches and pits with ropes to swing across formed. There was even a giant robotic monster. Garfield turned to Cyborg and raised an eyebrow.
Cyborg was leaning on the control console, grinning. "I upgraded and added a few things last night."
"All this for me? Cyborg, I'm touched. You shouldn't have." Garfield said with a grin as he lowered into a ready stance.
"Let's see what you got kid!" Cyborg yelled. He raised a hand, and slammed it down on a button.
All at once the obstacle course came alive. Electrified cords attached to pedestals began to whip around at blinding speeds, nozzles spewed forth liquid fire, the turrets targeted Garfield and began unloading their ammunition. Garfield had started sprinting before Cyborg had finished speaking, dropping to all fours and shifting into a cheetah. He approached the first obstacle, a fifty foot concrete wall with barbed wire at the top. Without slowing down he reached the wall and began running up, shifting smoothly into a falcon when he reached halfway up. At the top he weaved through the barbed wire and divebombed to the other side. Once at the bottom he shifted into a wolf, and started jumping from platform to platform across electrified water to save a mannequin in the center, dodging automatic fire and swinging pendulums along the way.
Garfield turned back into human form and tackled the mannequin to the ground as a roaring inferno passed overhead, rolling back to his feet and running with it draped over his shoulders in one smooth motion. As he cleared the last few platforms and reach the end he was confronted by three robots, each holding a different weapon. Without missing a beat he stepped in to the left to put one of the robots in the way of its compatriots. He slammed one booted foot into its knee, crushing it, and used his one free arm to redirect the sword in its hands back towards itself, impaling it. Using the now neutralized robot as a shield, he ran towards the safe zone and deposited the mannequin from his shoulders before turning and facing the other two. He ripped the sword from the chest of his shield and threw it towards the robot with the gun, dropping the scrap metal in his hands and rushing the other one. This one swung at his legs with a bat, which he leapt over and planted both feet on its chest, knocking it over. He moved immediately to the other one, morphing his arm into that of a gorilla, and proceeding to pummel it to the ground before grabbing the gun from its hand and unloading the clip into its chest, at the same time crushing the head of the previous one underfoot.
Several more minutes passed like this as Garfield went from one challenge to the next. He blended hand to hand combat with his animal forms almost flawlessly, coming out of every confrontation with barely a scratch. Each problem that presented itself he solved with unique and unexpected solutions. Finally he reached the end of the course, and hit the button to turn everything off, falling on his back and raising one fist to the air. Garfield lay there panting, and staring up at the sky. He hadn't realize how much he missed this, how incredibly good it had made him feel. How it felt like he belonged, like his powers were something to be used, not hidden. The others approached and he propped himself up on his elbows, grinning.
"So? How'd I do?" He asked cheekily.
"Pretty good. Overall you did pretty well." Nightwing said without much enthusiasm.
Cyborg stepped up from behind and gave him a hearty shove. "Pretty good? BB nearly aced this course on the first try! I'd say he did better than pretty good!"
StarFire was the next to speak up. "Yes, I thought friend Garfield's performance was exemplary!"
Nightwing crossed his arms. "I will admit you were very impressive, but I'm not thrilled about how ruthless you were dealing with your opponents. It was pretty brutal."
"Well yeah, these were robots. Of course, in a real fight against actual people I'd hold back, at least a little." Garfield held up his index finger and thumb to indicate how much.
"Still…" Nightwing wasn't convinced.
"Dude, chill out. You worry too much, Nighty Whitey."
"Nighty… what?" Nightwing asked, his eyebrows shooting up.
"Nighty Whitey? Cause you're so uptight?" Garfield looked at Cyborg for understanding, but received a similar look of confusion. "Cause it rhymes with tighty whitey, like the underwear."
Nothing.
"Forget it. It's obviously too smart for you if I have to explain it. Raven gets it."
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't bring me down to your level." She deadpanned.
Looking at her from this angle he could see her face for the first time that day, and it was breathtaking. It wasn't any different from yesterday, and she hadn't done anything special. Raven wasn't one to spend a lot of time applying makeup or doing her hair like Starfire, but damn if she didn't knock him off his feet every time he saw her. He grinned, and stuck his tongue out at her. If only…
Garfield popped up from the ground, and dusted himself off. "So who's next?"
Raven sat at one end of the couch in the common room, calmly paging through a book and contemplating her predicament with Garfield. It felt like it was five years ago, Raven not knowing how to address her concerns with Garfield, and not wanting to involve the others out of respect for his privacy. Back to square one. Well, that wasn't quite true. At least this time around she'd worked up the courage to talk to Garfield directly, and he had more or less said that he would be willing to talk to her about it. Maybe.
Now she just had to come up with a way to force the issue. Which wasn't easy, mainly because the last thing that she usually wanted to do was muck about with other people's personal problems. But this was a special case. Raven closed the book in her hands and placed one corner against her pursed lips, thinking. The few times that she and Garfield had confided in each other like that, it had been because the problem had already developed into something serious, and she didn't want to wait for that to happen with this. Maybe she could just level with him, and that would be enough. Though somehow, that didn't seem likely.
"Raven, can you do something for me?" Nightwing's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
She put down her book and stood. "Sure. What do you need?"
"I need you to distract Garfield while we set up for the party."
"What? Why me, why not Cyborg?" Raven asked, flustered.
Nightwing raised two fingers, and began ticking them off as he listed his reasons. "Because, one, Cyborg needs to coordinate everything for the party, and two, you spend the most time with Garfield, so it won't be abnormal to take him out."
Raven mentally went over the past week, and cursed under her breath. Dammit, he's right. Between her concern for whatever his problem was, and the lingering anxiety that he might leave again, she had spent a lot of time around the green idiot. Much to her chagrin.
"Just get him out of the Tower for a while, but be back by eight. Everyone should be here by then, and then we can get started."
"And what should we do for," She pulled her phone from a pocket dimension, and looked at the time. "Three hours? Seriously?"
"I don't know. Go see a movie, walk in the park, anything. Just get him out of here." Nightwing said as he turned to leave.
"It's not a date, Nightwing." She stated, more than a little indignant at the idea.
"Just do it." He called back.
Raven sat down to take a second and center herself. Dammit. Well, maybe this is a good thing. I can try to figure out a way to open him up. Moments later she was outside Garfield's door, hand poised to knock. What would they do? She wasn't going to take him to a movie, that was for sure. And what would they do in the park, play catch? So that also was not an option. Thanks for nothing, Nightwing. She stood like that for a while, thinking. Maybe it would be all right just to bring him to one of her cafés. Just sit down and talk for a while over some good coffee. The more she thought about it, the more she liked it. They could start out with just normal conversation, and as his guard lessened she could begin to pry at whatever was bothering him. Viewing it like that, it wasn't that nerve-racking. What did she have to be nervous about anyway, it was Garfield for Azar's sake. Raven brought her hand down to knock against his door just as it opened, and ended up hitting Garfield in between the eyes.
"Ow? What was that for?" He asked as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Well, this is off to a great start. "Sorry. I was trying to knock."
They stood for a moment, an awkward silence growing.
"So, did you want me to close the door so you could try again, or what?" He scratched the back of his head.
"Uh, no. We need to go out."
Garfield's eyebrows shot up. "Um…"
"Not a date." She said firmly. "Just to talk. "
Impossibly, his eyebrows went further up. "I swear to God, Raven, whatever happened, it wasn't me." He said as he began slowly walking backwards.
Raven was insulted. "Don't be immature Garfield, I just want to talk." She began walking after him.
"No offense Raven, but it doesn't feel like that." He replied without stopping. "It feels more end-of-my-life than it does friends-having-a-chat."
"Now you're just being rude." She placed a hand on her hip, still advancing.
Garfield bumped up against a chair and fell over. His eyes widened as he looked up at her standing over him. "Oh dear God!"
"Don't be so dramatic, you baby." Raven said as she enveloped them both in her dark aura.
A few minutes later they were sitting comfortably in a booth at one of Raven's favorite cafés. The afternoon sun lit up the windows at the front of the eatery, and people could be heard making conversation or ordering their drinks. Raven sat across from Garfield nibbling on a pastry, and trying not to make too much eye contact. Now that she was here she was nervous, and she had no idea why. She brushed a lock of her hair behind one ear, and took a sip of her tea. Garfield had, of course, ordered the drink with the most sugar, and sat with both hands around his paper cup. One of his legs wouldn't stop jittering, and his eyes didn't seem to rest in one spot for long. If she didn't know better, she'd say he was more nervous than she was.
"Something wrong?" She asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"It's nothing. Just haven't been around this many people in a while. Animal instincts are going a little cuckoo." He pointed at his head and twirled his finger with a rueful smile. "What did you want to talk about?"
"I guess that, for starters. How have you been adjusting, being back and everything? I assume you were pretty much living in isolation."
Garfield let out a single dry laugh. "Pretty much. Being back is… It's alright. I like being around everyone again, that's for sure. Situations like this though," He gestured to the surrounding people with his drink. "They're pretty jarring. I think that I'll have to do a couple dry runs before I get back to serious hero work."
"I'm sure Nightwing will insist on it." Raven said dryly, earning a small smirk from him. "What else?"
"There's not much. Just enjoying modern conveniences mostly. Music, Internet, food, showers," Raven raised a disbelieving eyebrow at that. "You know, that sort of thing. I'm also trying to catch up on everything that happened while I was away. I missed a lot. Did you know that there's a new Gamestation?"
"Must have slipped me by, I'm afraid." She deadpanned.
He rolled his eyes. "Anyway, add to that all the TV and movies I missed, and you're faced with a pretty daunting situation."
"Yes, I'm sure glad I'm not in your shoes. I don't think I could bear the weight of such an enormous task." Raven said sarcastically.
"Oh sure, make fun. It may sound easy, but it takes guts to sit in front of that TV and invest your time. I doubt a novice like you could do it."
"I'm sure I'm supposed to say something like 'want to bet?' right now, but I'm not going to waste my weekend trying to prove you wrong."
Garfield snapped his fingers emphatically. "Darn, thought I had you there."
Raven rolled her eyes, then leaned forward, resting her arms on the table. "So, I'm really curious about your time away. What did you do while you were gone? You dodged the question when you first got here, but now I want to know."
He lifted his cup to his mouth, and drank slowly. With a sigh, he placed it down on the table again. "What's there to know? I was just kind of drifting from place to place. Nothing special."
She just fixed him with a glare, and drummed her fingers on the table.
"Fine." He said. "But prepare to be spectacularly bored."
Then they sat for some time together as he regaled her with the stories of his travels. He started out with all the countries that she knew he'd been to. How he had avoided them in England and Europe, and his journey through Africa and India. He had actually seen them in Indonesia after he'd been staying there for some time, and he told her of the elaborate plan he employed to escape from the country unseen. Then he told her of all the places he'd been that she didn't know of. His adventures through Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Burma. Some of the stories were normal, boring tales, but others were spectacular adventures worthy of the Justice League.
Raven was thoroughly impressed. More than that, she felt… happy. More relaxed, and comfortable than she had in ages, or really ever. While talking with Garfield she found herself smiling, and even laughing at the ridiculous antics he told her of. The way he spoke, and gesticulated was vastly entertaining, and she found no small pleasure in watching his face light up when he related a particularly funny or heroic part. She always remembered being annoyed with him, because he was loud and obnoxious, and it was only until right before he left that she had found some enjoyment in spending time with him. Now he was completely different. He was still silly, and definitely eccentric in his speech and manner, but he was somehow calmer, more tame. In some ways he was very mature. She found his company delightful, which for Raven was an entirely new experience.
"And that was the second time Eddie saved my life." Garfield said, finishing his latest story.
Raven shook with barely suppressed mirth. "Is there any situation that you can't make a complete ass out of yourself?" She managed to gasp.
"Not if I can help it." He replied with a grin. "But we did end up saving the village, so really, I'm a hero."
"No doubt. I'm more surprised you found someone named Eddie in such a remote location." She replied, wiping a tear from her eye.
"Oh, his name wasn't really Eddie. I just called him that because I couldn't pronounce his long and overly complicated name. It pissed him off to no end." He grinned even wider.
"You would. So then what?"
"After that I picked up my things, said my goodbyes, and made my way across the border into Nepal. I spent the next two or so years finding a place to settle down that was out of the way, and living off nature. More or less. Then you found me, and you know the rest." Garfield sat back in his seat with a satisfied smile.
"Well that's quite an epic tale you lived, Garfield. It's no wonder you're basically a legend in that part of the world." She returned with a genuine smile.
Garfield just sat there and gazed at her for a long moment.
"What?" She asked, worried she might've said something wrong.
"Nothing. Just that you're beau–" He cut off abruptly, his eyes shifting suddenly to the front of the café.
Raven turned to follow his gaze, and felt her good mood curdle.
"Dammit. I forgot all about that." Garfield grumbled. "Don't worry, I'll take care of them."
At the entrance a large crowd had gathered, the vast majority looking in through the windows. They were obviously there because of the two superheroes casually chatting and eating. No doubt the media would show up soon, and Raven had no intention of sticking around for that. They frequently made her out to be some sort of hellspawn that was barely under control. And her friends wondered why she hated people. Raven was about to turn back and say something when, just then a reporter burst through the crowd, quickly followed by a cameraman. The reporter was a tall, thin woman with with fine features, and auburn hair, wearing a white blouse and short blue skirt. She turned to the cameraman, and started speaking.
"This is Karen Cardinal, and you can see, the hero known as Beast Boy is back in Jump City." The woman turned around to find Garfield was already standing, and approaching with a smile. "Beast Boy, everyone wants to know, is it true that you will be rejoining the Titans to watch over our city?"
"Rumors of my return to the Titans are largely overstated, but in this case, they're true." He said, taking the microphone from her hand, and smiling into the camera. "And it's not Beast Boy anymore, it's Wildling."
Well shit. It's been, like, a month since I updated this story. But before you set my house on fire, hear me out. Everyone seems to like my other story, If I Wasn't Broken, better, so I refocused my attention on that. AND, I really want this one to be good, so I'm spending a lot more time writing, and editing it. I'm hoping the longer chapters will keep you satisfied. If it doesn't, well, tough. That's pretty much it. Read, and let me know what you think. I'm thinking I'm going to start adding some adventure, just to kick up the pace. If you haven't read the other story I mentioned, do so, it comes highly recommended, and check out the other one I recently started, Codename Titan.