Things were never the same again ever since Beast Boy's confession. The Tower which had once been a place full of life and laughter had deteriorated into a shell of its former self. Robin had even considered retiring the Titans and allowing other heroes to take their place as protectors of Jump City so as to allow more time for them to take care of their ailing friend. It was only due to Beast Boy's outright refusal that the idea was eventually abandoned.
Beast Boy became a dynamo of activity. He viewed the current situation as a problem he had caused and was determined not to let the Titans fail.
"Gar…? Why are you still awake?" asked Rachel sleepily as she looked up from her bed to see her boyfriend on the floor, busy with crunches. The two had become a couple after Rachel's unintended confession and despite initial reluctance to embark on a relationship, Garfield finally relented; it was not as if the feeling was unrequited after all.
The changeling let out a distracted snort as a reply as he continued his workout. Sweat covered every inch of exposed skin.
Sighing, the violet-haired girl got off from the bed and approached him, putting a hand on his shoulder as he raised his body off the ground making him stop.
"Gar, please...I don't ever want to see you get hurt," pleaded Rachel as she kneeled down beside him.
"I may be sick Rae; but I ain't weak. The disease only affects my ability to morph that's all. Other than that I'm perfectly fine," protested the young man.
"You don't know that Garfield. By Azar, you collapsed in front of me just yesterday after a 30 minute jog on the treadmill! Do you know how much that scared me, Garfield? Do you?"
By now the empath was sobbing quietly as Beast Boy held her in his arms.
"Its bad enough that you're…sick, Gar. I won't ever rest until the doctors or Cyborg manage to find a cure. Any cure. I'm not giving you up without a fight, you hear me?"
The changeling sighed as he leaned back against the bed post, still holding his girlfriend.
"Alright Rae, I'll stop. Besides, a desk job doesn't really need that much physical work right?" whispered Garfield as he tried to lighten the mood.
Rachel smiled back at her man and placed her hand on his cheek.
"You're still important to the team, Gar. And to me, you are the world. Don't you ever forget that…"
"I won't Rachel. Even if I wanted to. Which I definitely don't," replied the changeling as he kissed her on her forehead.
"You always know how to ruin a moment don't you?" muttered the empath as she rolled her eyes and lightly smacked Garfield on his arm.
"Of course, Rae. I always try to remain the Garfield we all know and love," whispered the young man as he began to close his eyes and held Rachel just a little bit tighter.
And may you never change Garfield, my love. Thought Raven as she snuggled herself closer to him; Closing her own eyes as she did so.
Very soon, the room became silent save for the sound of faint snoring emanating from the couple as they slept on the carpeted floor, pure bliss in their peaceful features as they lay in each other's arms.
Sunlight seeped through the window and shone directly onto Rachel's closed eyes; rousing her from her slumber. Grunting a little in annoyance, she felt around for her boyfriend, struggling to open her wearied eyes as she did so.
"Gar…?" whispered Rachel as she groped about.
Opening her eyes, she winced as the bright morning light dazzled her for a moment. Rubbing them gently, Rachel looked around her; she was on her bed instead of the floor.
Gar must have awakened in the middle of the night. The empath thought fondly as she smiled to herself.
It was then that she heard the unmistakable sound of the shower running in the bathroom. Feeling a bit naughty, Rachel gave an evil smirk as she glided towards the bathroom. Placing her hand onto the door knob, she gave it a twist. The door opened. Garfield must have thought her still asleep.
His mistake. My prize.
Creeping in, Rachel's smirk grew wider into a grin as she approached the shower curtain. She was just about to pull it open when a strange odour wafted through her nose. Frowning, she tried to discern the smell. It was very familiar but she could not put her finger on it; the smell had a metallic tinge to it and was pungent at the same time. It smelled almost like…
Blood…
Oh, Azar...
"Garfield!" yelled Rachel as she practically tore the shower curtain from the railings.
Looking down in horror, the empath beheld her beloved lying belly down sprawled on the bathroom floor. His eyes were closed. His green hair was matted to his scalp, wet from the torrent of water coming from the unattended shower.
And blood trickled from his mouth, forming a cloudy red path towards the gully trap.
"No…," whimpered Rachel, tears in her eyes as she knelt down, cradling Garfield's head in her arms. Grief wrecked through her entire being as she rocked back and forth holding her love in her arms. His body was cold despite the warm shower water.
So cold.
"Wake up, Garfield…wake up…I-I'll do anything…anything if you'd just wake up, Gar…please...please…just wake up...please..."
Rachel begged. She pleaded. When that did not seem to work, she cursed and threatened even though none of the words used really came from the heart. But none of it could ever bring her Garfield back.
Filled with nothing but despair, the brokenhearted girl lost all sense of time and reason as she rocked back and forth cradling her love in her arms.
"Wake up, Gar…wake up……
"Rae! Wake up, Rae."
Rachel scarcely heard the sound of Garfield's voice as she was roused from her nightmare. Opening her tear-rimmed eyes slowly, the blurred image of her love gradually came into focus; very much alive.
"G-Gar…?"
The empath's hesitation was evident in her voice as if she was scared that the man before her was but an illusion fragile enough to be blown away by words alone.
"I'm right here Rachel. Everything's alright…," whispered the changeling as he kissed her forehead.
"Gar…?"
"You had a nightmare. But it's over now. I hope," soothed Garfield as he stroked his girlfriend's soft, violet hair.
"It was horrible, Gar. I saw you…you were…you were…"
Words failed her as she began sobbing again in his arms. Garfield sighed; it was always the same. Her nightmares always ended with him dying or dead.
And consoling was a bit challenging considering that the truth of the matter was not too far off.
"Rachel, look at me," said the young man gently.
The empath sniffed a bit as she shook her head.
"Rachel. Please."
Relenting, Rachel raised her head to look at Garfield; her amethyst eyes glittering in the moonlight with unshed tears.
"I may not…be around for long but I promise you this; I am never going to give up on life. On you."
"Oh, Gar…"
"…and whatever happens, Rae, remember that I love you. I love you with all my heart. Always have. Always will."
The violet-haired girl ceased her sobbing for a moment. Giving a sad smile, she placed a quivering hand onto his cheek and caressed it lovingly.
"I'm sorry…," whispered Rachel as a tear streaked down her cheek.
"For what?"
"For being such a burden. You don't need this right now. I-…"
Her words were cut off as Garfield planted a kiss on her lips. Breaking apart after a few seconds, the changeling smiled as he placed his forehead onto hers.
"You have nothing to feel sorry about, Rae. Being with you was the smartest thing I ever did in my entire life. It still is."
Rachel smirked in spite of herself.
"You're a smooth talker, you know that?"
Grinning back, the changeling answered, "Of course, Rae. You did fall for me after all."
Giggling softly, the empath wrapped her arms around her boyfriend's neck and pulled herself such that their noses were touching.
"That I did, Gar. Now shut up and kiss me again," whispered Rachel.
"Yes ma'am," whispered Garfield back as he slowly kissed her again.
Chapter 3! Wow, i miss u guys and i miss writing fanfics. sure beats all those essays they make me do every week. i have a recess week now so what better way than to catch up with old friends:)
I hope this piece isn't too shabby. i apologize if its too much fluff or too little. im experimenting really on how to make scenes like these more emotional and sincere and i hope that this is a good attempt in capturing the overall mood of the story. any suggestions and helpful tips is warmly welcomed and appreciated.
all in all, thank you all for reading this. until the next update!!
-spartan585