Over the next month, a routine develops for Gar and Sam. A few days of the week, Gar finds himself hiding out in Sam's room. Sam was right, Dick, Jason, and Rachel don't tend to bother him when he's in her room. And Sam actually did make a sign that reads 'keep out, ️' and hung it on her door. It's double-sided so the other side just says her name. She flips it around when Gar comes to escape and he finds it equally fun and sweet.
At first, they'd watch a movie or two and talk about whatever was bothering Gar. He's gotten better at talking about it and it's been a lot of him talking about Caulder House and his own nightmares of the day with Trigon's bullshit. Sam didn't know he had nightmares, too and she wonders how he hides it so fucking well. She's not nearly as good at it as he is and she worries about him. She never wants Gar to turn as bitter and calloused as she is about the world. He's too good.
But, after the month, the talking and movies turned into something more comfortable. Gar will bring in one of his video game consoles. Sam will play with him sometimes but other times, she just likes to watch. Gar likes Resident Evil and that's a game Sam definitely prefers to watch. And Gar has his own collection of comics. Sam turned them down at first with having a hard time reading, but after reading over Gar's shoulder a few times, she got into The Walking Dead comics. Apparently, reading comics is a lot easier than reading a book. So, now it's turned into Gar playing video games and Sam sitting with her legs on his lap, reading one of his comics in a comfortable silence, a joke here and there thrown around.
Training has also been going well for Sam. Her hands have healed and so have the rest of her injuries. She keeps up well with Gar and Rachel now, the extra training sessions with Jason and Gar have helped significantly. And she's picked up knife throwing again, something she learned back in Gotham from one of the street kids she used to run with. She's rusty and not a sharpshooter by any means, but it's something. It eases some of the tension she feels in her shoulders. When she can feel herself wanting to lose it again because something brings back too many memories, she takes Jason up on his offer to let her take it out on him. They'll go for an extra sparring session sometimes, just the two of them and Jason helps her work through it without talking about it. It always makes her feel better and if she's being honest, she really likes the support system she has with the two boys. It's something she never thought she'd have after her mom died but every day she is so grateful for the two of them and even for Dick because he brought her here. That's something she has no idea how she'll ever be able to thank him for.
It's a morning session now though and Sam is in the training room with Gar and Jason while Rachel and Dick are out getting coffee. Dick has this bright idea to start blindfolding them to train because they can lose any of their senses at any time and they need to be prepared. Jason, of course, is really taking that to the next level by making Gar and Sam not have a blindfold while he does.
"Why do I have to sit out for this?" Sam fake-whines from one of the benches while Jason ties his blindfold behind his head and Gar stands in front of him looking bored.
"Because you have that combat shit. It defeats the purpose." Jason snips back.
"Well, I don't have to be blindfolded." Sam mocks him.
"Just shut up and watch us. Take some notes, you fucking need it."
"Oh, shut the fuck up, Jay." Sam groans, leaning back.
"When I give the word, come at me." Jason says to Gar, holding his wooden sword out, ready to fight. "And don't hold back." He says, Sam rolling her eyes into the back of her head. Gar nods, looking bored and displeased with doing this. "Did you just nod?"
"Yeah, got it. Just, uh, don't hold back." Gar makes a jittered movement as if to be mocking Jason, Sam almost snickering from behind.
"Don't kill each other please." Sam mocks.
"Shut up, Sam!" Jason groans, tilting his head back. He takes a second to breathe as he gets into position. "Go!" Jason yells.
Jason swings the sword at Gar, but Gar just hits it out of the way while Jason's sword is an inch from his face. Gar's eyes widen a bit in shock and amazed, looking back at Sam. Sam makes the same expression, humming in response. Gar pushes the sword from his face taking a step forward with a swing at Jason, only for Jason to move out of the way in time and jabs his sword across the front of Gar's chest. Gar waves a hand in front of Jason's face, making sure he can't see anything. Gar gives Sam a questionable look and all Sam can do is shrug her shoulder just as confused as he is. Surely, Jason has to be able to see him because this is just weird. Jason talks about Sam's combat clairvoyance, maybe he needs to look in the mirror. Jason pulls his sword back, Gar takes a step back and then the real sparring begins.
Jason and Gar move around the mat, blocking each other quickly. It's definitely a sight to see because Jason might as well not be wearing a blindfold. Gar can't get a single hit in and barely dodges Jason's jabs. It's as if they're doing this perfectly choreographed dance. It's equally entertaining, impressive, and attractive. The two boys sparing is always a big heart-eye moment for Sam. But, somewhere along the way, Jason seems to have lost track of his rhythm, completely flipping away from Gar, giving Gar the perfect opportunity to bonk Jason on the head with his sword. Sam starts laughing while Jason rips his blindfold off, spinning around to face Gar.
"Hey, fuck man." Jason gasps at Gar, clearly annoyed.
"You said don't hold back." Gar defends, Sam getting up from her bench to join the boys.
"What were you doing? I was fucking blindfolded!" Jason yells.
"You told him to do it!" Sam defends Gar. "He just tapped you on the head, chill the fuck out." Sam can't believe he's actually mad about this. It was his idea to not have Gar wear a blindfold.
"Stay out of it!" Jason snaps, turning his attention back to Gar.
"You said:" Gar starts before he, poorly, mimics Jason's voice with the same jittered motion as before. "Don't hold back."
"Should I get the hose?" Rachel comes strolling in.
"What's going on?" Dick asks, following right behind.
"Jason's being a baby." Sam quips, crossing her arms as she stands on the other side of Gar.
"Hey, fuck you!" Jason's eyes nearly bug out of his head as he snaps at Sam, Gar moving to block Jason's view of her. Jason leans further forward to see Sam. "You could have warned me! Or fucking helped instead of doing nothing!"
"You told me not to!" Sam screams at him. "You said no because I have the combat thing." Sam mocks his voice, with a grimace before Gar stands further in the way to block her from Jason. He's not sure who he's trying to block from the other really, Jason is beet red and Sam looks like she might strangle him.
"Um, hello?" Dick states, waiting for one of them to answer his previous question.
"We did what you said," Jason turns his attention Dick. "The blindfold thing then he went nuts on me."
Sam groans loudly, putting her hands on her face in frustration.
"He said don't hold back." Gar repeats, this time his voice louder and higher pitched, the annoyance growing.
"Then why do we even learn to fight like this, man?" Jason argues, throwing his arms to the sides. "Hey, it's idiotic." He takes a step forward, pointing at his head with wide eyes, almost a crazed look in his eye. "We have eyes."
"In battle, anything can be taken from you." Dick's voice is calm as he walks further onto the mat. "Your hands." Dick says before quickly twisting Jason's arm and grabbing the wooden sword from him, making it look effortless. He moves to Gar, quickly using the sword to strike at Gar, Gar blocking a few times before Dick gets the sword right between Gar's feet, just missing him. "Your feet." Dick swings the sword at Sam, the sword aimed just a few centimeters from hitting her right between the eyes. Sam takes a step back, eyes widening and crossed as she looks at the sword. He swings the sword at Rachel, doing the same gesture. "And your eyes." He pauses before stepping back, and putting the sword down. "No matter what is taken, you must be able to keep fighting and win." Dick faces the boys and Sam again. "Alright, get changed. Attack scenarios in the tech room in five minutes. Then breakfast."
Sam, Gar, and Rachel don't argue and instead, leave the training room without another word, leaving Jason behind with Dick. This is a pretty normal thing. When training doesn't go exactly how Jason wants it to, which is normally that he doesn't win all the time, he gets mad and blames everyone else for it. This time, it's just that it was Gar who wasn't blindfolded. It's gotten a little worse over the last month, Gar and Sam are pretty sure he's just stir-crazy from being at the tower and not having any real crime to fight. He's probably bored of sparring with them and not being in Gotham so the two of them let it go easily.
"Why does Dick sound like Daniel Larusso?" Sam asks as the teens head down the hallway.
Rachel lets out a chuckle. "He literally sounds like Mr. Miogi."
"He says we watch too much TV, maybe he needs to stop watching the Karate Kid and Cobra Kai." Gar laughs.
"Maybe he doesn't know what to do so he's looking to them for inspiration." Sam jokes.
"Someone should tell him it doesn't work like that." Rachel adds in.
"Awww, but it'll just break little Dicky's heart." Sam mocks, placing her hands over her heart with a fake pout.
"Yeah, I'm looking to be on his shitlist." Gar chortles as the teens reach their rooms.
"He would never put you on his shitlist." Rachel scoffs, Gar raising a brow at her.
"He's taken you right on under his little batwing." Sam adds in.
Sam jokes about Dick but over the last month he's grown on her quite a bit. He's really not so bad when she's not making him mad. He's kind of making it obvious that he really wants to make sure they're ready before he sends them out on some type of mission. He can also even be funny sometimes and partake in jokes. He's even joined them for a movie night so he's grown on Sam but she has to poke fun.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Gar questions, looking between Sam and Rachel.
Rachel and Sam look to each other from across the hall. Sam shrugs. "Well, I think we mean he's really nice to you and sees you as responsible."
"Yeah," Rachel nods in agreement. "You always do what he says, besides that one time." Rachel looks to Sam.
"Which was my fault so Dick didn't fault you and probably admires your ability to risk getting into trouble with him to protect me and Jason." Sam explains. "And it was just sparring."
"That's not true." Gar defends. "I don't always listen to him."
Sam and Rachel exchange another look. "When was the last time you didn't do what he said?" Rachel asks.
Gar stands for a second, trying to remember the last time he didn't listen to Dick and as he thinks about it, the girls have a point. He does do what Dick says all the time, without even questioning him. It's who he is though. He exactly like to disobey authority. Sneaking out behind the Chief's back was different, this is Dick. And, every time someone has went against what Dick has said, shit hits the fan so maybe Gar is onto something.
"Okay, that's fair." Gar chuckles, looking to the floor and back to the two of girls.
"It's not a bad thing." Rachel reassures him. "We'll never be in trouble."
"It's not that bad being on his shitlist." Sam states. "But, yeah, it's not a bad thing. It's probably better to not have him mad, though it is very fucking funny sometimes." Sam gains a sinister grin.
"Okay, don't listen to Sam." Rachel rolls her eyes with a sigh. "It's not funny and it's best for everyone to not piss him off."
"I haven't pissed him off in like a whole week, that's a record." Sam holds her head up high, Gar chuckling under his breath.
"You are proud of that, aren't you?" Gar asks.
"Kind of." Sam giggles. "No, but really, Rachel is right. It is better not pissing him off, he's kind of cool when he's not mad."
"Yeah, I'm not looking to make him mad anyway." Gar shakes his head. "You and Jason have that handled."
"They are very good at it." Rachel mutters.
"Teamwork." Sam grins.
"Okay, get changed." Rachel cuts the conversation. "Otherwise he will be mad because we'll be late."
"Yes, ma'am." Sam jokes, walking into her room, Gar following her lead and heads into his room.
Later that night, the teens found themselves doing their own things. Gar and Jason made up while Sam found herself in Rachel's room. Rachel is sitting at her desk while Sam is laying on Rachel's bed, upside down with her head off the end of the bed, looking at Rachel. Usually, when the boys hang out, the girls spend time together. Sam likes to give Rachel shit for being Dick's lap dog but Sam does like her and enjoys spending time with her. Rachel really likes having another girl around, the month she spent with boys was not the best. She loves them, besides Jason, but they're a little much sometimes. Too much testosterone in one place for her liking.
"So, when do you think Dick will let us do something?" Sam asks, scrolling through her phone, keeping her head hanging off the end of the bed.
"Not you, too." Rachel groans.
"What?" Sam questions, moving her phone to get a better look at Rachel. Rachel just widens her eyes and raises her brows. "No, I mean, I'm just wondering. I'm not gonna go rogue again, I promise." Sam rolls her eyes, a smile coming to her lips.
"Mhm." Rachel hums. "I don't know. Do you really think we're ready?"
"Oh, I mean I think I am." Sam quips. "Ya know, given the track record." Sam scoffs. "Jason's probably been ready in his entire life. You and Gar seem to be fine."
"Yeah, but we don't stand a chance against Dick even if it's us four against him."
"We could if he'd let us use our powers." Sam waves her left hand at Rachel, her palm glowing green.
Rachel rolls her eyes. "I don't have that kind of control, Sam."
"True," Sam starts, pulling herself up and flipping around to lie on her stomach and face Rachel. "But, if he would let you use your powers maybe you'd gain some control."
"That's not how you did it, right?"
"No," Sam scoffs. "But, it's probably different for you. You were born with them and your powers are clearly stronger than mine. Maybe not using them makes it worse." Sam offers. "Your side." Sam's words go hesitant.
Rachel's eyes widen, surprise and a hint of panic consuming her face. "How did you-"
"Don't freak out, but I saw them when we were sparring. I didn't tell anyone or anything." Sam's voice is nonchalant but understanding.
"Thank you." Rachel's voice is soft. "Can we not talk about it?"
"Sure." Sam shrugs. "What'd you wanna talk about?"
Rachel gains a cheeky smirk and Sam can already tell where this is going. "So...about the boys." Rachel's smile splits her face.
Sam lets out a dramatic sigh. "Yes, Rachel?"
"What's going on?" Rachel laughs.
"Whatever do you mean?" Sam plays dumb, an innocent smile playing on her lips.
Sam knows Rachel isn't oblivious. Sam tends to flirt with both of them and she is almost always with at least one of them. Over the last month, it's just become a little more obvious.
"Come on." Rachel laughs. "Do you like either of them?"
Rachel is curious, sure but she sees how Sam flirts with Jason. It's different with him than it is with Gar, anyone could see that. Gar is Rachel's friend and while she likes Sam, she is kind of worried that Sam is playing a game with the two of them. If she hurts Jason, fine, he'll probably deserve it but not Gar.
"Hmmm." Sam hums. "Oh, yeah." Sam nods quickly.
"Which one?!"
"Both." Sam states as if it were obvious.
"Right, okay." Rachel nods, trying to wrap her head around someone actually liking Jason. Gar she completely understands but Jason? "Both of them?"
"I know, you're really trying to not gag at Jason." Sam laughs. "He's, ya know, a smartass and hot and shockingly funny." Sam neglects to include every nice thing Jason has said to her and done for her, something she likes to keep like a secret. "And Gar, well, I don't think I need to explain Gar."
"Okay, so what are you gonna do about it?" Rachel asks. "A love triangle." Rachel has a teasing grin with her words.
Sam grimaces. "Ewww, I hate love triangles." Sam groans. "I know what you're gonna say, but humor me and tell me what you think."
"Well," Rachel leans forward, resting her elbows on her thighs, hands holding her head. "Fuck Jason," Rachel starts, getting an eyebrow raise and a devious grin from Sam. "Not literally, oh my gosh." Rachel rolls her eyes as Sam chortles. "He's an asshole to everyone, including you." Rachel argues against Jason.
"Right, yeah, but he is also nice to me and I'm also kind of an asshole to him." Sam defends with the scrunch of her nose.
"Yeah, but today, you didn't even do anything and he was throwing a fit because you did what he asked."
"Okay," Sam nods tilting her head to the right. "That's a fair point, actually. Continue." Sam puts her elbow to the bed, using one hand to hold her head up.
"He calls us freaks."
"I think Jason thinks everyone is a freak though." Sam states.
"Maybe, but it's still hurtful." Rachel argues.
"Doesn't really bother me." Sam shrugs casually. "Also, fair though." Sam nods in agreement.
"He didn't stop you from going to Jerry's which was a bad thing, Sam." Rachel points a finger at Sam, disapproval on her face.
"But he didn't let me go alone, Rachel." Sam mimics her actions.
"But, but," Rachel starts. "Gar would have tried to stop you and went with you if you were still insistent on it."
"Wait, how did you know Jason didn't try to stop me?" Sam furrows her brows, putting her hand back down.
"No one believes he tried to stop you." Rachel laughs.
"Alright, you've got me there." Sam states. "But, you have to give me one pro to Jason otherwise it sounds too biased."
Rachel pauses trying to think of something good to say about Jason. She actually didn't hate him originally. She kind of liked him actually but after the whole Trigon situation, he's been pretty nasty to her. They can get along and be civil of course, but when Jason's mad, Rachel tends to be the person he's the most mean to and Rachel has grown to think he's too entitled and too arrogant. Neither of them have actually bothered to have a conversation about any of it or figure out how they can get along better.
"I am biased." Rachel laughs, not able to come up with anything. "He's just so," Rachel grimaces. "He hates me for no reason."
"I meeeaaannnn..." Sam winces.
"What? Did he say something?" Rachel leans forward and if Sam knows something, she is all ears.
"No, but it's not that hard to figure out from where I'm sitting." Sam's eyes go a little wide and she's surprised Rachel hasn't figured it out.
"Well, tell me! I don't like that he hates me."
Sam pauses and for a second she debates saying anything. It's not really her place. But, Jason also hasn't told her why he hates Rachel. This is just Sam putting all of the pieces together. Rachel is her friend anyway and it would be a lot easier if the two of them got along so, Sam decides to tell Rachel what she thinks.
"Okay, from where I'm sitting, it seems like he hates you and thinks you're a freak because he was possessed, right? Seems like the issues that surround you guys is because of that night, right?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, Gar is a bit...wishy-washy about Dick. He listens to him maybe a little too much sometimes. He's protective of you, sure, but he's a different kind of protective when it comes to you. Jason...hates you. I'm just saying, all of you have that night in common, right?" Sam asks and Rachel nods. "And how was Jason when you first met him?"
"Fine, he was...Jason." Rachel laughs softly. "Cocky, charming in his weird way, a bit braggy about Robin but kind of funny."
"Okay and he was chill with you, right?"
"Yeah."
"So, what happened between Chicago and Trigon?"
"He helped Dick with something and Dick sent him back to Gotham. He showed p at my mom's with Dawn and Hank, Trigon was there already." Rachel explains plainly.
"Mhm, and you and Gar were?" Sam gestures a palm out, moving it in front of her.
"Trying to escape." Rachel furrows her brows, still completely following.
"Okay, so follow me: Jason gets sent to help Dick by Bruce because Jason is following in Dick's footsteps as the new Robin. He's a shiny new Gotham toy. He helps Dick just long enough for Dick to not be interested in getting to know the kid who's taking over for him because Dick quit and sends him back to Gotham but Dick keeps you and Gar around, right? Two kids he, otherwise, has no relation to. At least Dick and Jason were taken in by Bruce and have Robin in common so they are, actually, like brothers. But, you're just some kid who found Dick and Dick decided that was good enough for him to bring you under his wing and then Gar got to tag along and neither of you were sent back to where you came from, just Jason despite Jason offering his help." Sam explains, speaking with her hands.
"Right, okay." Rachel nods along.
"So, fast forward, and Jason shows up to help again. Only this time, instead of helping he gets possessed and starts trying to kill his best friend. He nearly beats his best friend to death because this random ass girl Dick plucked off the streets has a demon dad. THEN, because none of that was enough, none of that was good enough for Bruce and Bruce sent him here to be with, the older brother who didn't want him in the first place and he gets to be with the person who his brother chose over him and got him possessed." Sam finishes her explanation.
"Uh..." Rachel pauses, blinking slowly trying to process everything. "I...I didn't think about any of that. How did you even figure that out?" Rachel knows Sam and Jason are close but she didn't expect Sam to have this long explanation that seems to make sense.
"Yeah, I mean I get it. It happened to you, too. You were front and center. It's not always easy seeing that kind of stuff when you're in it. But, that's just what I can gather from it. Jason seems to be someone who needs attention and just wants to know he's doing a good job." Sam sways her head back and forth slightly. "Gar's talked about it and Jason mentioned it which, when Jason mentions something like that, I think it bothers him at least a little bit."
"Okay, so what should I do? I really don't want to hate him and fight with him all the time."
"You could talk to him." Sam states as if it's the most obvious answer in the world.
"Because that'll go over so well." Rachel mutters.
"No, you let him just talk his shit. Go on his little rant and swear fest that he does. He'll call you a freak. He'll just rant for like five minutes or whatever and then you apologize. Even if you don't want to, you apologize to him and then he'll feel obligated to apologize to you and then you can have a conversation about it. You just have to let him blow his steam."
"You really get him, don't you?"
"Trauma bonding will do that." Sam chuckles. "As I said, sometimes being an outsider is easier. I didn't know all that bullshit or what happened before. Plus, we do have Gotham in common."
"So, I should just talk to him."
"Yep. It really is that simple with him." Sam lets out a sigh as she nods. "He is not that complicated."
"Okay, I'll give it a shot." Rachel leans back in her chair. "Okay, I have something good to say." Rachel states and Sam gestures a hand out, encouraging her to proceed. "He talks to you and he's honest with you. And if he talks to you, I think that means he understands you like you do him. So, that's three for Jason." Rachel gives Sam a proud smile.
Sam laughs "Yeah, he is and he does understand, actually." Sam nods softly. "You may pitch your case for Gar now if you want."
"For starters, he is cute!" Rachel squeals without missing a beat. "His green hair,"
"Looks so good on him!" Sam mimics the squeal.
"Yeah! And he is so protective and kind, to everyone even people who aren't so great. He's open and brave." Rachel's face softens. "He seems to make you feel comfortable."
The corner of Sam's mouth twitches into a soft smile. "Yeah, he smells like strawberries." Sam laughs softly. "He does make me feel really comfortable, and safe. I feel like I don't have to worry about anything. Um...one of my first nights, I had a nightmare and I thought Jerry was in the tower. He held my hand and searched the tower with me, knowing Jerry wasn't around but he never made it weird or made me feel bad about it. He just...did it."
There's a warm smile that comes to Rachel's face. "Hey, Sam."
"Hm?"
"I think you have an answer." Rachel laughs softly. "If you really wanna go for Jason, that's fine. I will never get it but if it makes you happy, I get it. But, you didn't have that kind of thing to say about Jason and you got all soft about Gar."
Sam pauses because she does have similar stories to say about Jason. Jason still reads to her and he still lets her take out her aggression and feelings on him without ever questioning it. He was there through her beating up Jerry in the best way he could have been but she can't tell Rachel that. Sam knows Jason doesn't want to be seen as soft for anyone, not with his friends anyway, and those things feel like little secrets between them. They're like little passwords into their friendship that only they have. It's their things. Just theirs and Sam would really likes to keep it that way. So, she has to shrug and nod along. She does really like Gar, she isn't arguing that anyway. But, she does wish Rachel could see the Jason Todd Sam is so fond of. It's not fair that Jason doesn't even have a fair shot in a conversation like this. He deserves some type of fairness.
"I don't know if I should do anything about it anyway." Sam lets out a sigh of defeat.
"What? Why though? You like them and it's pretty obvious they like you, too."
Sam shakes her head. "I like how it is. If I decide to tell either of them I like them and something comes of that, it might ruin stuff with the other one and I don't wanna ruin anything. I think the both of them have had too much ruined in their lives."
Rachel shakes her head. "If you want to go for Gar, you should talk to Jason first. All jokes aside, I see how he looks at you and I see how he treats you when you guys think no one is looking. I don't actually think you liking Gar will ruin it."
Sam's brows furrow with Rachel's comment. The way Jason looks at her? Sam didn't think Jason really looked at her any kind of way. But, it's interesting because Jason is still relatively guarded. Easy to figure out when it comes to the trauma and figuring out why he is the way he is but everything else, he has this ten-story wall up. He'd probably combust if he knew Rachel saw him looking at Sam in any kind of way. But, it's something that warms Sam's heart and makes her smile.
"You think so?" Sam asks, her face soft.
"Completely unbiased and actually thinking decently of Jason, yes." Rachel gives Sam a reassuring nod. "Do you like Gar more though?"
Sam blushes. "I don't know. I think so because it's just...different with him. It doesn't feel like a game with him." Sam scoffs. "I am endlessly afraid I'll ruin him though."
"What do you mean?" Rachel's voice goes sad.
"He's been through so much and so have I but he finds it in himself to be there for everyone, all the time. He seems to be accepting of everything that's happened to him and I'm so afraid that I'll never be that and I'll just...ruin him with my pessimism and bitterness." Sam's eyes go sad with the last statement.
Rachel wheels her chair over to Sam. "You can't ruin him. He's Gar." Rachel gives her a soft smile. "He's a lot stronger than you think. I think he'd do anything for you." Rachel puts her hand over Sam's. "I saw the way he stepped between you and Jason today. He knows you can handle yourself but he did it anyway, I don't even think he noticed that he did. You won't ruin him."
"Thanks, Rachel."
"You guys would also just be super cute." Rachel gosh.
"Oh my gosh." Sam hangs her head with a laugh.
Sam feels a little better getting to talk about it with Rachel. She would never bring it up on her own. Talking about her romantic feelings is not something she likes to drown people with. And she feels bad for liking both boys. It's not her fault, but there's a guilt that echoes in her stomach when she thinks too long about it. Talking to Rachel though, helped.
She adores Jason. She adores who he is when no one else is around. But, maybe that's the thing. Jason is different people around different people. Sam doesn't know if he'd ever be able to be the person who he is in private with her publicly. She doesn't want to play a guessing game with him. It's too much for her, right now. But, with Gar, Gar is just who he is. Sure, he censors himself sometimes but everyone knows exactly how Gar feels about everything and knows what he likes and what he doesn't. He's transparent. He is comfortable in the best sense of the word. He makes Sam so happy and he never makes her mad. He makes her stomach twist with knots and bubbles. Sam swears she could never stay sad as long as she's around Gar.
But, despite what Rachel said, it scares her that maybe her trauma could be the straw that breaks him. People can only take so much and he's been through it all. What happens if dealing with all her shit, in a romantic way, breaks him? She would never forgive herself for it.
A knock sounds on Rachel's door, Rachel telling them to come in. And speaking of Gar, he walks in with two plates containing a slice of pizza on each plate. He's all smiles as he walks in.
"I thought you guys might be hungry." Gar offers the plates out to the girls.
"Thanks, Gar." Sam takes one of the plates from him and this is a perfect example of why she likes him. Always so caring and attentive to other people.
Rachel takes the other plate. "Thanks." Rachel offers him a smile.
Sam takes a bite and winces, Rachel eyeing her and then her own slice of pizza. Sam chews slowly, giving Rachel a thumbs up while Gar holds back a laugh. Rachel's eyes narrow slightly as she takes a bite. Immediately, Rachel winces, pausing her chewing and Sam lets out a laugh as she chokes down her bite.
"It's so bad." Sam laughs.
"Who made this?" Rachel asks before spitting out the piece into the trash.
"Dick did." Gar explains, laughing with them. "The crust is made out of cauliflower."
"Gross." Sam grimaces.
"Why would somebody do that?" Gar asks, the laughing subsiding as if he's grieving for the pizza that could have been.
"If we hate eating, then we have more time to train." Rachel says.
"Because he's losing his mind." Sam is still grimacing about the pizza. The pizza never did anything to Dick and yet, he did this.
"Okay, so it's not just me. He's totally obsessed, right?"
"Like I said, Daniel Larusso." Sam states.
"He just wants to make sure we're ready." Rachel sighs.
"Yeah, you're right." Gar chuckles softly. "What're you guys doing anyway?"
"Talking shit." Sam winks at him, Gar's posture stiffening and she does love making him squirm.
"Just talking." Rachel laughs softly.
Gar nods slowly. "Right, okay." He clears his throat. "Movie night?" Gar asks.
Sam looks to Rachel, a cheeky smile on display. "I'm always down for a movie night. Rachel?"
"Of course, we can make some popcorn since the pizza is a bust." She laughs softly.
The three of them head to the living room, Sam and Rachel tossing their pizza slices into the trash in the kitchen before joining Gar in the living room. When they get to the couch, Jason and Dick are watching the TV, eyes glued to the screen. Sam sits next to Gar, following his stare on the screen while Rachel sits on the ottoman.
A police chase ensues on screen, Dick almost blocking the entire TV as he stands watching with his arms crossed like a dad in his fifties.
"We're live at a downtown car chase featuring a stolen vehicle. Police now seem to have the suspect cornered." One of the news reporters says as footage from the top of a parking garage shows a black car surrounded by cop cars.
As they watch from the tower, a girl with grey hair gets out of the car and without hesitation, starts beating up the cops. Sam watches in a state of awe and shock. Whoever that person is, they are very ballsy. Jason leans his elbows on his knees, getting this cheeky half-cocked smirk as he watches.
"Who the hell is that?" Rachel asks.
"Someone who has no self-preservation." Sam mutters.
"A total badass." Jason gawks at the screen.
Sam's heart sinks a bit with the comment. Other people can be a badass, that's not it. It's the way he's looking at the screen. His eyes are wide and he's in such a state of awe, it reminds her of the look he gave her after she beat up Jerry, after the initial shock of it all. He's got a thing for violence, clearly and maybe it hurts a little but Sam will never admit that. Instead, she keeps watching as the girl continues to beat up the cops, taking down every one of them who comes at her.
"The suspect does appear to be female. She's got silver hair. She does seem to be injured. We're not sure how badly." The news reporter says as the girl looks directly at the camera from the helicopter, her eye left covered with bloody gauze.
She is very pretty.
"Wait for it. We're not sure where she thinks she's going." The news reporter says as the girl runs to the car she 'stole' and leaps off the building.
Sam's jaw nearly drops as she watches. On second thought, Jason might have a point. That's pretty badass. Who just jumps off a parking garage? She's either crazy or knows something no one else does. It's impressive. Gar looks worried about the girl though and Rachel just looks shocked. Jason, on the other hand, is almost matching the expression on Sam's face but with a bit more awe and infatuation.
"I'll be back." Dick says without looking back and just walks right to the elevator.
"Okay, what the fuck did we just witness?" Sam asks, looking around the room.
"Someone scared for their life, probably." Rachel says softly.
"A badass kicking cops' asses! It was awesome." Jason cheers.
"I'm with Rachel." Gar adds. "She didn't look badass, she looks scared." Gar glares at Jason.
"It was still awesome." Jason defends.
"Think Dick is going to find her?" Sam questions, ignoring the back and forth between the other three.
Without a second thought, Gar closes his eyes and nods while Rachel and Jason say yes in unison.
"He has a thing for strays." Gar says quietly.
"Noticed." Sam laughs softly as she looks down to her lap, a somber expression coming to her face.
"You guys still down the movie?" Jason changes subject, sitting back in his seat. Rachel is the only one who catches the look Jason gives Sam. It's subtle, but his eyes linger on her just a second too long and his jaw clenches just slightly while his eyes soften just a little.
Sam shrugs. "Might as well."
Gar and Rachel agree, Rachel moving to sit on the other side of Sam. It's Gar's turn to pick a movie. He chooses Back To The Future, a true classic. The teens sit back and start to enjoy the movie together. Sam thinks about if Dick finds this girl. Will it change the dynamic? She's actually really comfortable here and she enjoys where her friends are with everyone. If Dick brings someone else in, will that change? Of course, Sam knew she wouldn't be the last stray Dick brought home but it's weird with the potential to not be the new person.
Just as the movie ends, the elevator brings Dick up. The teens all rush over to see if he found the girl who leaped from a parking garage. All four of them stand and watch the doors open, Dick carrying the girl who's unconscious. Gar, Jason, and Rachel jump into action to help but Sam steps aside. It's not that he found her and she's worried about the situation. It's that she wonders if this is what it was like when Dick brought her back. Everyone comes to see the new person, wonders if she's okay, who she is, and where she came from. What she is. It feels too real and it brings back every bad thought she had prior to being in the tower.
It feels too exposed and she remembers how terrifying it was that first day. Surrounded by new people she didn't know if she could trust but having nowhere else to go. That, in and of itself, was also traumatizing even though it worked out for the best and she loves it here. It was just scary so she stands back as Dick asks to Gar to come with him since Gar has some experience with injuries from staying at Caulder House.
"Hey, you okay?" Rachel asks seeing Sam's pale expression.
"Huh?" Sam shakes her head, almost not catching Rachel talking. "Sorry, yeah." Sam nods quickly.
"What? Scared you're gonna be replaced or something?" Jason jokes. His tone is his usual sarcastic, airy tone he uses when he's just trying to mess around. Not even a flirt, just joking but it strikes a nerve a little.
"Fuck you, Jason." Sam barks at him.
Rachel's even taken aback by the remark. This is what the two of them do and Sam's the only one that fires back. Rachel expected her to say something about Jason being replaced but that's not it. And Jason is completely shocked, almost frozen in place. He was just joking and he knows Sam knows that.
"Okay, fuck you." Jason snips. "It was a fucking joke."
"Well, maybe I'm not in a fucking joking mood, dude." Sam rolls her eyes before storming off towards her room.
Jason stands for a second, looking at Rachel for help. "Did you guys have a fight or something?" Rachel asks, thinking they didn't because surely Sam would have mentioned that when they were weighing the pros and cons of the boys.
"Not that I know off." Jason scoffs. "Did you?" Jason's voice turns accusatory.
"What? No!" Rachel defends. "She was fine when we were hanging out."
Jason sucks in a breath. "Alright then." He shrugs, trying to play it off as if it's not bothering him but Rachel can see through it. Gar is helping Dick anyway.
"Just go talk to her." Rachel rolls her eyes, her words reluctant.
She's rooting for Sam and Gar. They're softer and cuter. Rachel, as Sam's friend, is worried that if Sam decides she likes Jason more and wants to see where that goes, it won't end anywhere but in shambles. It's more than just Rachel and Jason not getting along. It's that Jason is a walking fuckboy. He's the dangerous rebel parents warn their teenagers not to date because they'll get in trouble and get their hearts broken. Maybe Rachel thinks too little of Jason but with Gar, she's sure Gar wouldn't hurt Sam, ever. But, Sam is her friend and Jason at least understands her better than anyone. She isn't going to get in the way of that.
"You're her friend." Jason holds his head up, as if trying not to let on how he's definitely going to her room when Rachel leaves.
"So are you?" Rachel narrows her eyes at him. "I'm gonna go to my room and wait for Gar to be done, you talk to Sam." Rachel nods once at him before turning and heading towards her own room.
Jason waits until Rachel's door closes and then he goes straight to Sam's room. He thinks he's coy but he's almost as transparent as Gar is. Jason isn't subtle even when he's trying to be. Rachel isn't blind. She sees the way he watches Sam. Both of the boys do. Rachel has caught Dick nearly choking and grimacing at the three of them with their flirty jokes. But, to Jason, it's like he exists in a tinted bubble where no one can see any of it.
"Come in." Sam calls out as she's laid on her back on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
Jason opens the door, walking in and shutting the door behind him slowly. "How did you-"
"I heard Rachel shut her door, figured you were behind her." Sam doesn't look at him, just keeps her stare on the ceiling.
"Alright, well what the fuck was that out there? I was just fucking with you like always." Jason huffs, sticking his hands in his pockets.
"It was just weird." Sam mutters.
Jason walks to the foot of her bed before plopping beside her, laying in the same position. His arm brushes hers as he turns his head to look at her and then back at the ceiling. The ceiling is white and boring, a stark contrast to the decorating she's done to her room. There are sketches across the walls she did with Dick's permission. Movie posts for Jurassic Park, Scream, and Love and Monsters with a few others hanging sporadically. Her shelves have Funko Pops from shows like Stranger Things and The Walking Dead. A box of cheddar jack Cheese Its and a bag of Skittles sit on her nightstand. The room is hers, it's a home within a home but the ceiling is a sterile white, cold compared to the rest of her room.
"Like..." Sam pauses. "Is that what it was like when he brought me back?" Sam asks, looking at Jason.
Jason looks back at her, her blue eyes about as welcoming as a hurricane. "Yeah." He answers honestly. "It was weird. You looked dead, though." Jason looks away from her, not able to hold eye contact.
It was weird when Dick brought her back, worse than weird. Dick went out to run an errand and then when he came back, he had a burn and Sam who literally looked dead. Her cheeks were hollowed and she was covered in bruises and cuts. She was pale and looked so horrible, without even knowing her, Jason is positive it broke everyone's hearts to see her. It didn't matter if Sam had powers or if she could fight, she needed help. It was one of the moments since Bruce sent him to train with Dick that he really viewed Dick in a different light, kind of like a hero without the mask (not that he will ever admit that). He just helped this random girl off the streets despite the fact she burned him. It was different. It was sad and scary.
"Gee, thanks, Jay." Sam rolls her eyes, looking back to the ceiling.
Jason sighs, sitting up and turning to lean on his elbow, looking at her. "Look, I'm saying it was fucking freaky when he brought you here because you were really hurt." Jason explains and Sam catches a hint of sadness in his eyes. "And fucked up." Jason adds in. "He asked for Gar's help then, too. You know the rest, I guess. Gar wouldn't tell us what was going on with you."
"Why?" Sam asks.
Jason wrinkles his face. "Because you were fucked up."
"Fair." Sam nods before she lets out a sigh."I just hope she's okay, ya know?" Sam says. "It's like...seeing it just felt so fucking weird but I hope whatever happened wasn't too traumatizing. It made me...mad again. I haven't been mad like that since Jerry."
Jason nods with understanding. Seeing Sam like that, it was worrisome. She's got a fire and that's why Jason finds her fun but, it's how it went. It doesn't matter that Jerry deserved it and Sam deserved to get revenge. She didn't feel better afterwards because it didn't erase what happened. And Jason doesn't want her to ever feel that way again. He was the only one that was there for it.
"Wanna work it out?" He gains a smirk.
Sam decides to challenge him now. He came to check on her and just that bit of talking did make her feel a little better. It's not about being replaced. She knows Dick won't replace any of them. It's just a bit triggering being on the other side of it this time. But, talking with Jason helps.
"Work it out how?" Sam matches his position, making their faces closer.
Jason's voice hitches in his throat. "However you want, babe."
The term babe is something he's grown accustomed to using when he's messing with her. To Sam, that's all it is. He's using it to get under her skin because it works. He gains this cheeky, taunting grin of accomplishment every single time he says it because Sam squirms in her seat. Sam's heart always skips a beat with the pet name. It's always this mix of wanting him to shut the fuck up and wanting to hear it in a way that's not him just messing with her, but like he means it. And she never knows what to do about it.
"Shut up." Sam rolls her eyes, pulling away. "You know what I mean, shithead."
"I call you babe, you call me shithead, huh?" Jason chortles, tilting his head to the right.
"If the shoe fits, BaBe." Sam mocks, leaning in again, eyes wide and she sees it for the first time.
Jason squirms and suddenly, she completely understands why he calls her it. It's the way his face brightened but his eyes shot open like a deer in headlights. It's the way he jerked his head back and she could visibly see him hold his breath for a second. It's a little funny and it's really cute.
"No, you can't use my thing against me!" Jason yells, a smile tugging at his lips with burning cheeks.
"Hmm, too late." Sam gives him a confident smile before sitting all the way up.
He's fun. He's fun to mess with but she's not sure if there's anything more than there. She isn't sure if she likes him because he's hot and because he's fun or if there's something below the surface. He is this unknown iceberg that she's trying to navigate around in the dark. There is always more than what's on the surface but she can't see how much. She can't tell if what they do goes more than a foot under the water or if it's nearly touching the ocean floor. The only way to know is to dive in, following the rugged surface as far as they can, risk drowning. Maybe some risks aren't worth taking.
"Get changed, meet you in the training room in twenty minutes." Jason sits up and gets up off the bed, a sadness filling his heart but in a way, accepting that it'll never be him.
He sees the way she looks at Gar. He sees the way they are and how it's always more than a joke and maybe if Jason cooled it down and was just real with her in a normal situation, they could have that, too. If he could just, throw the sarcasm overboard in a normal situation, he could dive in with her. But, he's never been a very good diver.
"Yes, sir." Sam gives him a fake pout and Jason narrows his eyes, the pounding in his chest, echoing through his ears. All he can do is roll his eyes at her before heading out to his own room to change.
Sam and Jason get changed and Sam heads out of her room first. When she reaches the kitchen, Rachel is grabbing a snack. Sam asks if Jason has been by yet but apparently he hasn't so Sam sits down to talk with Rachel while she waits. While she waits, Gar comes walking in from the other hallway, clearly done with whatever he was doing with Dick and then Jason walks in as if everyone were on cue. The four of them decide they'll all train together since they're actually due for a training session again anyway. But, before they can get going, they hear the sound of shoes. The four of them peek around the corner of the kitchen to see the new girl trying to sneak out of the tower. All four of them follow her to the elevator, staying back while Dick comes in from the other hallway.
"Going somewhere?" Rachel asks as the elevator denies the girl access to leave.
The girl turns around as Dick steps forward. "We need to talk." Dick says, the girl glaring at him with the one eye that's not covered.
Dick sends the teens off to the training room while Dick talks with the new girl. The four of them spar for a little while, making little to no conversation between them. The four of them are mostly just wasting time until they can find out what Dick and the new girl talked about and what's going on. They all have mixed emotions about it but all four of them are curious and intrigued. So, they train for an hour until Sam and Rachel ask Gar to grab a snack and a drink from the snack counter around the corner.
Sam sits on the floor, her hands resting behind her while her legs are stretched out and Rachel sits on a bench. Jason continues to practice with a wooden stick, more or less haphazardly while they wait for Gar to come back. Gar is only gone a few minutes before he strolls in with a box of Cheez-Its and three Gatorades.
"So, what do you think is going on out there?" Gar asks, handing Rachel the box of Cheez-Its and Sam a Gatorade.
"If it's anything like when I got her, bombarding her with too many questions." Sam says, opening the Gatorade.
"He's probably just trying to find out who she is." Rachel states.
"So, bombarding her with too many questions." Sam repeats as Gar sits on a bench.
"It wasn't that bad, was it?" He asks.
"He sent you to talk to me because I refused to talk to him so kind of." Sam chuckles.
"He's giving her a cell job. That's what he does cause he can't resist a stray." Jason says sounding annoyed.
"As if it's a bad thing." Sam quips, gesturing her left hand around the room. "We were literally all strays."
"Don't take his side." Jason mutters, a whine in his voice.
"I mean I knew he'd be bringing in new people. I just didn't...I guess I just didn't think it'd be so soon." Gar explains with the shrug of his shoulders, leaning his elbows on his knees.
Sam tilts her head slightly to the right trying to figure out if this is what happened when Dick brought her back. They had only been together a month before Sam showed up so the fact Gar thinks it's still soon, hurts a little. It all worked out okay with Sam being here, so what's the difference between her and this new girl?
"We didn't even know if we can trust her. Hell, we don't even know what the fuck she is." Jason raises his voice, growing more dramatic.
"What she is, is a person who needs help." Rachel's voice is stern as she looks at Jason.
"Or," Gar starts, holding up his fingers, Gatorade in hand. "Is she a person?" Rachel tilts her head, giving Gar a displeased look.
"You guys sure do know how to make people feel welcomed." Sam rolls her eyes. "Is this how you guys acted when Dick brought me here?"
Gar gives a yikes expression. "Well...yeah." He nods sheepishly. "We didn't know you."
"You burned Dick." Rachel adds.
"You also looked like shit." Jason points out, a grin on his lips.
"So? It all worked out with me. She's just a person." Sam defends the new girl.
"How did she survive the jump?" Gar leans in, voice raising slightly.
"So, you think she's a metahuman?" Rachel asks.
"Yeah, or, or an alien." Gar throws his arms to the side, defending his point. "Like Kory."
"I need to meet Kory, she sounds fun." Sam states, Gar gives her a questioning look, shaking his head before his eyes widen, as if asking her to agree with him. Sam lets out a sigh. "That's kind of fair though."
"Really?" Rachel snaps her head in Sam's direction.
"You said it yourself, I did burn Dick. If she's also a metahuman or...an alien..?" Sam gives Gar a questionable look before looking back at Rachel. "We don't know."
"Well, if she was like Kory, those cops wouldn't be alive right now." Rachel argues, looking back to Gar before grabbing a few Cheez-Its and offering the box to Sam.
"She can fight." Jason chimes in, taking a short break from fighting the air. "Alright, I'll give her that. Whoever she is, she's had training."
"Did you guys see her eye? When Dick was changing the bandages?" Gar asks, clearly going somewhere with this.
"What about it?" Rachel asks.
"It was gone." Gar scoffs, almost amazement in his voice. "But the wound had already healed." He leans forward as if not completely believing what he'd seen.
"Well, that's pretty sick." Sam gives an approving smile.
"You serious?" Jason asks.
"She's been here one hour and the three of you are already obsessed with her."
"You don't think it's sick as fuck that she jumped from a roof, into a building and her eye is already healed? That's awesome." Sam defends her stance.
"She's a freak." Jason huffs, his voice a higher pitch this time. "Look my vote is we kick her ass out." Sam scrunches her face at Jason just as Gar starts.
"Okay, wait, who says we even get a vote?" Gar asks.
"Who says she even wants to stay?" Rachel argues. "Look, it's hard to believe but maybe her idea of paradise isn't sharing a bathroom with you, Jason."
"Well, I think she should stay, just for the record." Sam states. "Assuming, she isn't going to kill us all."
"You do?" Jason scoffs.
"Uh, yeah, as the newest person Dick found on the streets, my vote is yes." Sam holds her head up high.
"It'd be easier if we knew who she was." Gar states.
"I know how we can find out exactly who she is." Jason gets that knowing smile on his face, the one that always says he's up to no good.
"Do I get to participate this time?" Sam quips knowing exactly what Jason is up to.
"I thought you said it was wrong." Gar points out.
"Well, yeah," Sam scoffs. "But, I wanna know if she's gonna kill us, especially if Dick gives us a vote. We should know who's sleeping under the same roof as us, right?"
"See, she gets it." Jason says with pride.
Sam rolls her eyes at Jason before looking back to Gar. "You didn't get caught the first time."
"Alright, fine." Gar agrees, still not liking the idea of going behind Dick's back again to look into someone but he's not gonna say to Jason and Sam.
"You knew and you're okay with it?" Rachel questions. Rachel knows she would at least be pretty mad if the boys went and looked into her instead of just talking to her. She's surprised Sam isn't mad.
Sam shrugs. "I mean, it would have been nice had they just asked but let's be honest, I wasn't gonna tell them shit anyway. So, I get it. They had to make sure I wasn't a serial killer or some psycho."
"We could talk to her. Maybe she's more open than you." Rachel suggests as Sam hands the box of Cheez-Its back to her.
"I don't know, Rach." Gar sucks in a breath. "She didn't seem too willing to talk since she was...trying to leave."
"I'm not helping," Rachel shakes her head with disapproval.
"No asked you to." Jason chortles.
"Shut up, Jason." Rachel groans.
"Can we just get back to training?" Gar groans, growing tired of the conversation.
Sam gets up with the suggestion. "Please."
The four of them start their training again until Dick walks in to tell them they call it a night. The four of them go their separate ways to their rooms and the bathroom for their nightly showers. All of them choose to leave the girl alone in her room. Dick said she isn't up for much talking but he's got it all handled, whatever that's supposed to mean. So, the teens wrap up their night and head to bed.
It takes Sam a little while to fall asleep. Ever since beating up Jerry, she's slept a little better. Nightmares still rear their ugly head about once a week but it's better. It went from every night to once a week, which is an improvement. Beating up Jerry didn't help Sam feel better about what she went through but knowing that he got to suffer, knowing that Dick turned him in and they saved a little boy from the same treatment, it did ease some of the weight from her bones. It's just a matter of dealing with and working through the trauma he left her with and actually being at the tower surrounded by these four strangers, which helps because to some extent, they all get it.
No one wakes up one day and decides to be a hero. There's something deeper about it and for the five of them, it's trauma. The want and need to not let another innocent person live with what they went through and there's something remarkable in that. But, that doesn't erase any of the trauma they've all gone through. And for Sam, seeing the new girl brought in in the same way Sam was, it brings everything she tied down back up to the surface. Another nightmare scares her awake.
She sits up straight in bed, eyes wide but weighed down with sleep. Her heart is thundering in her chest, the room dark beside the city light illuminating her room through the window. Her hands are shaking in her lap, glowing green, something she's never even told Gar about.
When the nightmares are really bad, it's as if it triggers the acid and her hands start glowing. Luckily, it's never been bad enough that she actually produces the acid and burns through the bed. But, it is something that scares her even more. If nightmares can trigger the glow, what else can? And does that mean she's losing control of it? If she doesn't have control, then what? Sam doesn't actually want to hurt someone, especially by accident. But, she chooses not to wallow in it because it's not going to do her any good and it's only going to make her feel worse. So, she snatches her phone from the charger and heads to her door.
She tip-toes through her door, closing it behind her and makes the short walk to Gar's room. The door is unlocked just like it always is and the pinball machines give a blue glow to his room with the city lights shining through his windows. A comforting smile tugs at Sam's lips as she shuts the door. The green-haired boy is curled up on the left side of his bed, facing the door and Gar always look so comfortable sleeping, lips parted lightly. He's a lazy sleeper and Sam thinks it's the cutest thing she's ever seen.
"Gar?" Sam whispers softly, sitting on the edge of his bed. Gar doesn't even budge. "Gar?" Sam calls, shaking him slightly, stirring him awake.
He peeks an eye at her, his hair a complete mess. He gets this lazy-tired smile on his face as he sees her. "Nightmare?" His voice is rough and drenched in sleep, something Sam swears she could play on repeat for hours on end and never get bored. Sam nods softly, the smile falling slightly. Gar lifts the blanket for her. "C'mon." He mumbles, inviting her in.
"Thank you." Sam whispers to him, getting up and sliding under the blankets with him.
Gar turns over on his back, stretching his arm behind Sam's head so she can lay on his chest. "Anytime." Gar looks down at her, this cute smile on his face that has the power just to make the world seem like a better place. Gar smiles at her and everything seems like it's gonna be okay, like nothing in the entire world will ever be scary again. There's a kind of magic about him and Sam adores every aspect of the boy with soft eyes and green hair.
Sam cuddles up against his chest, resting her arm over his torso and lightly gripping his t-shirt. She can hear Gar's heart and it's the most comforting sound she's ever heard. It's slow and steady. She remembers the first night she went to him after a nightmare and it was awkward.
She didn't know what to do or say. All she knew was that he'd make her feel better and she didn't want to be alone. He did make her feel better but they were both...tripping over their own feet trying to figure out how to sleep or how not to. Gar didn't want to make it weird or be too in her face about it and Sam wasn't sure if she wanted to be too close him. It was a mess, actually but she settled on his chest anyway because that's what felt comfortable. That poor boy's heart nearly beat out of his chest for almost half an hour. He was so nervous.
He'd never slept with anyone like that before and he just adores her with everything in him. He never wants to mess anything up and he didn't know what to do. Gar followed her lead and it made him more nervous than he's ever been. But, there was a sense of comfort in it because Sam chose him to be with when she's scared. Something about him, made her comfortable enough to fall asleep and sleep soundly. Something about him, felt right to her. And that makes Gar's chest swell every time she comes to him for this. He wishes they'd do it more than just when she has nightmares but he never has the guts to ask. So, he wraps his arm around her while the steady pace of his heart lulls Sam to sleep.
Sam wakes up first, before either of their alarms. They've moved throughout the night, Sam's rolled over, facing the door while Gar's arm is lazily draped over her waist. She can hear him softly snoring behind her and she carefully rolls over as to not disturb him. The peacefulness of his face makes her smile as she watches him. And for a second, she almost forgets there are other people in the tower. She forgets about her nightmare just a few hours before and everything, right now, feels so right.
She feels safe and happy and comfortable. And calm. Her brain is quiet with him. It's not bitter or cold or full of range. It is at peace with every horrible thing she's seen and been through. Just...peace. And maybe that's what it's all about.
Maybe, it's not about flirting all the time or who makes you question the intentions of everything for fun. Maybe it's not about shared trauma or experiences. Maybe, it's just about who's there for you when everything feels like it's caving in. Maybe it's about who sticks around when the darkness closes the blinds. Maybe it's just about the person who lifts some of the weight from your shoulders when everything gets a little too heavy and maybe it's about the person that makes you comfortable and finally lets you feel peace. Maybe that's what it's all about.
But, that's all just maybes.
"Do you always stare at me when I sleep?" Gar mumbles, voice drenched in sleep as he opens his eyes, blinking slowly at her.
"No." Sam scoffs, feeling her cheeks start to burn. "You were snoring." Sam brushes it off.
"Sorry." Gar chuckles softly.
"It's okay, I don't mind." Sam gives him a smile. "You're cute when you're sleeping through, you look peaceful."
Gar's eyes widen and she called him cute. What does he do? "Oh...yeah?" Gar asks, feeling his breath hitch in his throat. "Thank you. Uh, so do you." Gar offers, as if waiting for her to laugh or make a sarcastic comment but she doesn't. Her smile is sweet like honey.
"Thanks." Sam looks away just as hers and Gar's alarms start blaring at full volume. "Ew." Sam grimaces, rolling over and grabbing her phone from his nightstand, Gar doing the same. "Want pancakes?" Sam asks, looking back at him.
Gar raises a brow, she's never offered him food that wasn't a snack before. "Sure? You can make them?"
"Wow, rude." Sam lets out a laugh, her voice still filled of sleep. "Yes, the fuck I can, Garfield."
Gar laughs, the use of his full name makes flowers bloom his chest. He doesn't normally like when people call him it but Sam? Sam call can him Garfield when it's like that. "I was just checking! Vegan pancakes?" Gar raises a brow.
"Hey, there, what kind of monster do you take me for to offer you pancakes and not offer a vegan option?" Sam quips. "Of course."
"Sweet." Gar beams at her and Sam offering to make him pancakes makes him feel really important. "Do you need help?"
Sam shakes her head. "Nah, consider it a long overdue thank you for letting me sleep in here and for dealing with my bullshit."
"I don't mind." Gar says with ease as a gentle laugh leaves his lips. He never minds being there for anyone, but especially Sam.
"I know but I'm gonna thank you anyway and make you pancakes because you deserve it." Sam gives him a cheeky smile before tossing the blanket off of her and getting up from the bed. "You can watch though." Sam gives him a wink, the heat rushing to Gar's cheeks and Sam watches his eyes go wide, mouth moving not knowing to say. She scrunches her nose as she laughs. "You're also cute when you get flustered."
Gar lets out a sigh and he thinks she might be the death of him one day. "I'm not flustered." Gar defends, sitting up before rubbing his hands over his face.
"Mhm, sure, you're not." Sam nods, words leaking of sarcasm.
"I'm not!" Gar defends further with a tired laugh.
"Okay." Sam shrugs, turning on her heels. "Sure." Sam snickers. "I'll meet you out there."
"Yeah, okay." Gar nods, falling back onto his pillows as Sam leaves, leaving his door slightly ajar.
Sam makes her way to the kitchen, Dick is, of course, already in there with his coffee. It's been a month and somehow Sam still almost always catches him while he's in here. Surely, this man has other things to do in the morning but no, he is always here. But, Sam just 'morning' him and walks over to the drawer with the pans, pulling out a griddle. Dick watches her with a raised brow, casually sipping his coffee. Sam grabs the ingredients including regular milk and soy milk for Gar, one of the non-dairy options Dick keeps stocked for him. Sam continues to rummage through the kitchen, casually glancing at her phone for all of the ingredients.
"What are you doing?" Dick finally asks.
"Making pancakes." Sam says with confidence, measuring the flour into a large mixing bowl.
"Right." Dick clicks his tongue. "Since when do you cook?"
"Why is everyone so shocked?" Sam scoffs, measuring the milk for Gar's before grabbing a sticky note and a pen from the counter, marking the batter with 'Gar'.
"You haven't cooked anything that doesn't go in the microwave or isn't frozen since you've been here."
"Well, that's because it's convenient." Sam quips as Rachel strolls in, sleep still in her eyes. "I like convenience."
"Is she cooking?" Rachel asks through a yawn.
Sam looks at her with wide eyes, pausing what she's doing. "Okay, seriously?"
"What the fuck is going on?" Jason chortles as he walks in. "Since when do you know how to cook?"
"That's what I said." Dick raises his mug at Jason.
"You know what, none for any of you!" Sam glares at them, pointing at them with a whisk, some bits of batter dripping off the end. "I'll clean that."
Rachel gains this knowing smile as she sits next to Dick. "Wait, are you making Gar breakfast?" She asks and Sam's cheeks shoot a fire engine red. Jason's heart plummets into his stomach. He always knew but it stings.
"What makes you say that?" Sam asks, trying her best to not be obvious.
"You have the soy and dairy milk out?" Rachel points at the different kinds of milk. "I also heard you leave his room."
"Okay." Dick says loudly, getting up from his seat. "I don't need to hear more of that. Good luck making breakfast. It's very nice of you, Sam."
"Thank you, Dickolas." Sam gives him a thankful nod.
"Left Gar's room, huh?" Jason asks and Rachel regrets saying anything.
"Yeah..." Sam says quietly, going back to her batter.
Jason knew, of course he did. Sam mentioned it to him in passing. She sleeps in there when she has a nightmare. And neither of them hides it. It's not some big secret or anything but with Rachel actually mentioning it, someone else mentioning it, it's like Jason is suddenly much more aware of it and it hurts a little. But, he reminds himself that he never had a shot anyway. He plays this fuckboy thing up so much but he's never been much good to anyone anyway. And he knew it wasn't him because of the movies and the way she talks to him. Jason hoped it'd be him, but the pit in his stomach told him it wasn't so the only thing he can do is brush it off because that's what he does. And Sam sees it across his face, guilt flooding her stomach, almost making her nauseous but she ignores it and continues making breakfast because Sam likes Jason and she likes Gar. But dealing with that early in the morning doesn't sound pleasant, so dodges her sinking heart.
"Want any?" She asks the two of them.
"Please." Rachel gives her a soft smile.
"Yeah." Jason nods, pulling out his phone and scrolling away.
Sam continues making breakfast as Gar strolls in, a bit surprised to actually see Sam at the stove. She really doesn't cook and it makes Gar chuckle to himself. Dick actually does a lot of the cooking but it really is rarely ever good so they normally end up with a frozen pizza or takeout. So, this is nice and something that Gar never really expected from Sam. She's so snippy and sarcastic that whenever she decides to be soft, it throws him a bit but in the best way. She's full of surprises and Gar wants to know all of them.
As the teens sit down with their breakfast, Dick walks out with the new girl, explaining they were leaving for a bit. The girl made a comment about not wanting to stay which prompted Rachel to ask why. The girl didn't have much of an explanation, looking more like she just wanted to leave and not turn back. Dick didn't really say much else though and just like that, they were gone.
"You still wanna know who she is?" Jason asks, stuffing pancakes into his mouth.
"Obviously." Sam nods.
"Yeah." Gar sighs, eating his own pancakes. "Hey, these are really good." Gar compliments Sam.
"Everyone is so shocked." Sam laughs.
"How'd you learn to make them?" He asks.
"Oh, I can follow a recipe." Sam chortles. "I can make a sandwich from scratch, everything else I just Google."
"That makes sense." Rachel nods.
"Nothing?" Sam looks to Jason, waiting for a quip. Sam fully expects him to boast about how he could do this in his sleep if he tried. Or how he's had better pancakes from Denny's or IHOP, something sarcastic at least.
"Eh," Jason shrugs. "I can do better." Jason gives her a smirk, choosing to shrug it off.
"Mhm. Sure ya can." Sam nods.
The teens finish up their breakfast and make their way to the new girl's room where Dick changed her bandage. Gar saw Dick toss her bandage in the trash and just like they did with Sam, they snatched it and brought it to the comms lab. Jason takes it from Gar and uses some of the technology to grab a blood sample to run through the computer. Gar takes a seat in the chair, Sam standing behind him and resting her arms on the back of the chair. Jason stands off to the side, eyes glued to the screen as Gar types away. Jason starts pacing a bit behind them as the screen starts loading, trying to find information on the girl.
"You're gonna burn a hole into the floor, Jay." Sam states, glancing back at him.
"Yeah? What if this is her plan, get Dick alone and attack him or some shit."
Gar and Sam both look over their shoulders at him. "I don't think she's gonna attack him, man." Gar lets out a sigh.
"Yeah, I think we're safe there." Sam nods her head while the two of them look back at the screen, the computer making a noise as it loads.
"Come on." Jason paces twice more before standing next to Gar. "Come on."
"Match identified." The computer says once everything has loaded.
"Rose Wilson." Gar says, leaning forward and clicking a button. "And that's her dad, Slade Wilson."
"Well, fuck." Sam lets out a scoff.
"No...fucking...way." Jason says, eyes wide as he puts his hands on the computer panel, leaning forward as if not believing what he's seeing.
Gar looks between the two of them, confused. "What?"
"Deathstroke." Jason says, something cross between amazement and shock coming over his voice.
"Bad dude from, what? Five years ago?" Sam looks to Jason.
"Think so, yeah. He killed one of the Titans." Jason explains, keeping his eyes on the screen.
"Wait, how do you know that?" Gar looks behind him at Sam.
"I had a lot of free time, Titans, Justice League, Robin, ya know? Found it all interesting. Deathstroke killing one of the Titans was pretty public. Aqualad, right?" Sam glances at Jason again for confirmation.
"Yeah." Jason nods.
"So, this girl, Rose is Deathstroke's daughter?" Gar asks, turning back to the screen.
"Seems that way." Sam lets out a sigh.
"Think he did that to her?" Gar's voice is pained with the question.
"Wouldn't put it past him." Jason adds. "Dude is fucked up."
"We have to tell Dick, then. He has to know." Gar urges. "Maybe we could look further into him.
"Yeah, do that." Sam agrees with him and the three of them watch, reading what shows up on the screen while they wait to inform Dick. If Deathstroke is involved, surely that's something Dick would have clued them in on if he knew. So, now it's up to the three of them to bring it to Dick's attention before Rose gets too close, just in case.