Hey again! I hope you all enjoyed my last chapter. I've decided to keep it even though I asked you guys about chapter 6 not 7. Oh well ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ . I hope you enjoy!
-you should know who this is from
"You have got to be kidding me." Raven deadpanned, glaring at the "Sorry, we're closed" sign like it committed genocide. She and Garfield were standing in front of The Leaf Tree cafe, where there date was supposed to take place. Raven could've sworn the schedule said it was open on Fridays, but apparently she was wrong. And thanks to her negligence, she pretty much ruined their date.
Raven put her hand to her face and groaned. "Ugh. I should've know. I'm sorry, Gar." She apologized, looking over at her date.
He gave her a reassuring smile. "S'okay, Rae. We'll just go someplace else." He replied. "C'mon." He said, taking her hand and leading her away from the cafe.
Raven was a little hesitant to hold his hand at first, but saw that there was hardly anyone on the streets so she decided to let it go. "So...where are we going now?" She asked him.
"Someplace that's not the comic book store!" He replied, grinning at her.
"This had better be good." She mumbled. But on the inside she was curious as to where she was being taken.
After walking a few more minutes, they came to another block Raven hadn't been to before. She was starting to get a little concerned about where they were going. Was he going to take her to the video game store? An all vegan place? Some crumby pizza shop? It turned out to be none of the above.
They were in front of the arcade.
"You're...joking, right?" She asked him, raising an eyebrow.
"Um...well...no?" He asked more than answered. He didn't know why he brought her here exactly. He knew it would be a bad back up plan from the start, but then again he didn't think they'd need one. Stupid, stupid, stupid! He thought, mentally swatting himself. He really was an idiot. Even if Raven liked arcade games it would be a bad choice. What girl wants to go to the arcade for a date?
Raven sighed. "Gar. What part of you thought in any way shape or form that I'd want to go here?" She asked, gesturing towards the building.
"I-I dunno. I guess since I found out you and Vic played video games I figured you might, I dunno, like it?" he replied, scratching himself behind the neck.
"Well, sure. But this is an arcade, Garfield. Not our living room. The cafe I could handle because of the calm atmosphere. This placed is filled with stoned teenagers, sugar-crazed kids, and all of their emotions wrapped into one. Besides, I'd rather be with just you than a crowd of people." She explained.
Gar's heated up a little at her last statement. "I-I'm sorry. I should've thought this through better. I didn't mean to screw this up, but I, I dunno..." He said, looking ashamed. His first real date with Raven and already he'd done something wrong. You go, Logan. He thought bitterly.
Raven sensed his dismay and considered she might have been too harsh on him. "Maybe a few games wouldn't hurt."
"Huh?" He asked, looking up at her.
She smirked at him. "We're on a date here, Gar. We have to do something." She said in a joking manner.
He grinned back at her. "Then let's go!" He shouted. This time she took his hand and they entered the arcade.
At first no one noticed them enter, just as Raven preferred it. The place was, as expected, filled with gross teenagers, hyper children, and a few shady adults that resembled Control Freak. Not quite date material, but it was better than she did. Gar went over to the most recent looking game; some Black Ops rip off with modern graphics, 'real' guns, and female avatars in metallic lingerie. Raven rolled her eyes inwardly. Gar an Victor owned at least five of these games at the Tower. Of course Gar would pay a dollar per round on a game with the same plot as his others.
"Cmon, Rae! Try this one!" He said, taking one of the toy guns/controllers.
"I'd rather just watch." She stated, clearly not interested in the game. He shrugged it off and went started playing the game. He lost almost instantly and they went to another game. Then another. Gar got Raven to play a few, most of which she won, much to his surprise. Over time her deadpan looks became more and more amused and she even laughed now and then at one of his jokes. Things were going well for a while. At least, until the manager noticed the striking green skin in his gaming stop.
"Nice! You go, Rae!" Gar cheered when Raven won another solo round of Pac Man. He held up his hand for a high five. Raven gave him a tiny smile and five'd him back without much enthusiasm.
"This hasn't been half bad, Gar. I'm glad we came here." She commented.
Gar grinned widely and her got closer to her. "And I'm glad I got to go here with you as my-" he was about to say 'date' when another voice cut him off.
"You!" A large, burly man hollered. He stood over Gar, glaring down at him after yanking him towards him by the hood.
"Whoa! Hey! What's your-" Gar yelled, looking up at the man.
"You aren't allowed in 'ere, rat boy! I don't allow pets in my shop!" He spat, pushing Gar away with the hand he grabbed him with. "Now get lost!" He hollered, shooing him away. The force hit Gar so hard he fell to the ground.
Raven had expected Gar to growl, unsheathed his claws, and let his anger out at being called something like a pet. She was prepared to hold him back when his anger sunk in, but as the man snorted and stalked off, Gar didn't even flinch. He just sat their, on the ground, staring at the floor. Raven knelt down beside him, trying to see his face, covered by his shaggy bangs. "Gar?" She asked him, scared that she would frighten him. She listened closely and heard the sound of his shaky breathing. That was when it hit her. The wave of emotions, all from him, flooded into her almost instantly. She felt anger, but that wasn't nearly as overpowering as the hurt and grief he felt. That was evident in the small tears threatening to fall. And she knew exactly why.
Raven slowly stood up and turned towards the man, a look on her face that screamed 'I-will-murder-you-without-regrets'. "Sir." She rasped in a threatening, cold tone. The snobby man turned around to face her, a dopey look on his face that was meant to look tough.
"Whadda' you want, Hot Topic?" He replied, spitting as he spoke.
She continued walking towards him. "I'm afraid you can't be here." She said.
"Oh yeah? In my own shop? Tell me. Why the fuck would I listen to that?!" he responded, his fat, acne covered face jiggling as he talked.
Raven didn't even wince. "You said it yourself." She replied. She was now standing inches away from the man. She whispered, "There's no animals in this shop."
The man didn't have a second to think when Raven's eyes glowed white and the door magically swung open. "Huh?" He asked, just before he was pushed out the door by an unseen force. His large body hit the pavement outside the arcade. People gawked at the mysterious girl who just threw the overweight owner outside of his own store. But Raven paid them no mind. She was more focused on getting Garfield home.
"W-why did you-" Gar stammered as Raven helped him up.
"Because he deserved it. Now come. Let's go home." She whispered, enveloping him in her soul self. Within seconds, they were gone.
Raven teleported them straight to her room to avoid their team mates asking questions. Gar was still a little shaken from all that had happened, do he didn't realize where he was at first. Once he did, though, he got even more uneasy.
"Um, Rae?" He asked, standing still while looking around the room.
"Yes?" She responded, hanging up her jacket.
"Well, uh, not that I'm trying to make this weird or anything, but...why are we in your room?" He asked quickly. His face was already pink.
"I figured you might not want our friends asking questions about what happened so I brought you here rather than to the common room." She explained. "Would you rather be there, or..."
"No!" He blurted out, holding up his hands. "I-I mean...this is fine, Rae. Better, actually. I mean, we're still technically on out date, right?" He asked hopefully. So far their date hadn't been so great, so he wanted to try and make things better if he could.
"I suppose..." Raven replied. "Would like some tea?" She asked.
"Uh...sure. I don't think I've had any of your tea, so..." He said.
"What kind?" She asked.
"...There's more than one kind?" He asked, confused.
"We have blueberry, raspberry, ginseng, sleepy time, green tea, green tea with lemon, green tea with lemon and honey, liver disaster, ginger with honey, ginger without honey, vanilla almond, white truffle, blueberry chamomile, vanilla walnut, constant comment, and earl grey." She replied.
Gar blinked. "Did you make some of those up?" He asked.
Raven rolled her eyes. "I'll just make you white truffle." She said, opening her door and walking out.
"Uh...thanks." He said, following her.
Raven started to boil the water and get the mugs out while he sat at the counter and watched. They were silent for a while, nothing but Raven boiling kettle and the pitter-patter of rain on the window sill to be heard. The peaceful quiet was broken by Gar. "Um... Rae?" He piped up, seeming apprehensive.
"Yeah?" She responded, turning to face him.
He fidgeted with the sleeve of his sweater. "Um...well...I was wondering..." He began nervously. "Why- why did you do that to that guy at the game shop? I'm not saying I'm mad about it, but..." he added.
"You mean the standing up to him or throwing him out the door?" She asked.
"The throwing him part. I mean...well...why? I just...I didn't think you'd..." He stammered.
"What are you trying to say, Gar?" She asked gently.
"Well... I just didn't think you'd, y'know, go right up to him like that. I mean I'm grateful and all, but..." He trailed off. She gave him a look that told him to go on. "I don't know if I deserve to be stood up for..." He explained.
Raven furrowed her brow. "What do you mean you don't deserve it?" She asked, walking over to him.
"I mean, I dunno. I guess I just...thought it was true at the time." He said shamefully. He heard Raven pulling up a chair next to his. "Whenever I hear someone call me that all I can think of is her, Rae. And not in a good way." He gulped. "Only the pain and betrayal." He whispered, forcing back his tears, thinking of the memory.
Raven's warm hand rested on his shoulder. "I know how much Terra's words affected you, and had someone who meant that much to me done the same, I wouldn't be able to forget it either. But I'll say it again, she doesn't know what she's talking about, because my Garfield is anything but an animal." She said, giving him a soft smile.
Finally, a small smile crept on his face. "Your Garfield?" He asked.
"If you want to be." She replied.
"Heck yes." He replied, his smile growing wider.
The next thing that happened all played out in a number of seconds. First, Raven took note of how close they were. Second, she realized her heart rate had increased. Oddly enough she didn't mind. Third, she found herself getting closer to him on instinct. He seemed to be doing the same thing. Fourth, before she knew it she was kissing him.
Gar didn't respond at first, too shocked to think, much less react. Of course once he felt her soft lips moving perfectly against his something inside him woke up and he did the same. It only lasted a few moments, but it was a pretty good few moments for both of them.
"Definitely yes." Raven whispered. They both smiled at each other with flushed faces for a few moments, sort of taking in all that happened. Raven saw Garfield's smile fade away and he looked away from her, an almost hurt look on his face.
"Are you okay, Gar?" Raven asked, placing a finger under his chin so he could look up at her. He looks embarrassed when he does.
"Rae..." He said weakly, his eyes not meeting hers. "Have...have you been practicing on other guys?" He asked, part fearful of the answer, part cautious to hear it.
Raven's eyes widen. Practicing? She thought. A spark of anger went through her. What kind of person did he think she is? Some easy fangirl? "What?" She asked, her shock evident.
He finally met her gaze. "I mean...there's no way you could kiss like that and not have some experience, Rae. There's just no way I was your first kiss like you said*." He reasoned, looking like she had just betrayed him.
Now Raven's anger showed. "You think I would lie to you about something like that? What kind of person do you think I am?! And practicing? Are you serious!?" She exclaimed, standing up. Her anger was more than obvious, but that wasn't the only emotion she revealed. She was hurt. Hurt that Gar would think she had lied to him and that he referred to kissing someone else as practicing. It made her sound and feel dirty, like some sort of prostitute that charged less. Or worse, like a lustful demon.
Gar realized his mistake then. She hadn't judged him once since the start and here he was, treating her like some sort of scandal because she could kiss good. He felt awful for letting his own insecurity get in the way and making him act like a jerk. Only with her for two days and you've already made her feel like trash. Said that annoying voice in the back of his mind.
"It's not that I think you're- I mean I don't- I just thought-" he stammered, his hurt expression replaced with fear- fear of losing her. He was now standing too. "I-I'm really sorry, Rae! I am!" He begged, his voice cracking now. He couldn't lose her like this. Not so soon.
Raven's face no longer expressed her hurt. It didn't show her anger. It showed nothing when she stared back at Gar. "I am too." She deadpanned. Gar gasped, some hope in his eyes. "Sorry my kissing let you down." She said coldly. Without another glance, she turned around and left towards the door.
"Wait. Rae, it didn't, I'm sorry!" He called to her, running after her. But once he caught up to her in the hallway, she was gone.
Gar stood still in the long dark hallway, not a sign of life to be seen; no sign of what could have been his Raven. He felt the rock in his throat expand and a familiar ache in his chest appeared.
"You go, Logan." He whispered.
*Raven revealed in a truth or dare game with him she hadn't kissed anyone before. Figured you'd wanna know.