The Tea Sorcerer
Friendship

Garfield stared at Raven from across the small room, honestly trying to listen to Richard as he talked about something boring and menial. He couldn't remember the topic, and frankly, he didn't really want to. No, he was far too interested in watching Raven as she tried to navigate conversation with Richard's rather excitable wife, Kori. She looked somewhat panicked at the idea that she had to have honest conversations with someone other than Garfield, and it frightened her. Her eyes were wide and she tried to keep up with whatever Kori was saying with understanding nods and questions. It all looked quite awkward from Garfield's position.

If no one was listening to his thoughts, he had to admit that she was rather… adorable. Although he highly doubted that Raven would appreciate the sentiment as much as he did. Holding back a chuckle, he tried to pull his mind back into focus with Raver's conversation, but Richard had already noticed that his friend had mentally removed himself from their time together. His own eyes followed Garfield's and he smiled.

"Ah." He chuckled, his voice low enough that neither one of their companions heard what he was saying. "I see that there is something serious to this then… tell me, Garfield. Where on earthdid you find someone who would put up with you?"

He blushed and fidgeted a little, choosing to move more toward privacy out the back door of their house and into the small garden they kept. Richard's homestead was in a much more affluent part of town and it certainly showed. The garden behind his house was one of flowers, and no necessary crops (as he usually sent servants to buy from the farmers themselves). He had been blessed as the ward of one of the lords who lived in the manors farther up the trail and his life (while still fairly simple in comparison to Lord Wayne) was easier than most.

"I don't think this…" Garfield paused, trying to think of the right word for whatever existed between Raven and himself. "… relationship is what you believe it to be, Richard. She helped me out when I needed and I am just returning the favor. That's it."

"Uh-huh." Richard bent down and picked at a daisy that was growing close to the stone house, a playful smirk on his lips. "And does 'returning the favor' include heavy kissing while you're half naked? I find it hard to believe that is not some kind of relationship. Or, at least, an indication of the beginnings of a relationship."

"She started it." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Garfield realized how childish that sounded. Perhaps Raven had started their most recent bout of kissing, but he could have stopped it at any time, and he chose not to. No, instead he chose to indulge in the feeling of having her admire him. And he certainly chose to indulge in her tea-flavored kisses. He blushed and kicked at the stone path under his feet. "I mean… It's complicated."

"I don't see how." Richard shrugged, looking at him from across the path. "I think you're trying to read more into this than you realize. From what you've told me, Raven could have gone to a closer town - a bigger town actually, but she didn't. No, she chose to come here. Whether to see you purpose or not, she chose this town above a bigger town with more commerce to simply get a bowl. Don't you think that means something?"

Garfield rolled his eyes and sat down on a bench, his friend joining him. "Now you're reading too much into it. Besides, how did she know where I lived? I never told her."

"Maybe you didn't have to. Maybe it's fate." Richard grinned into his friend's face.

Garfield rolled his eyes and gently punched his friend's shoulder in camaraderie. "Clearly Kori is getting the best of you, Richard. You're already starting to sound so star-crossed over our… non-relationship."

He just laughed and leaned back. "You deserve to have a real relationship after all this time, Garfield. You've been hiding yourself from the world for so long that it seems almost impossible that you would ever truly let anyone in. Seeing the way you two interact… it's interesting." He paused and seemed to think for a second. "And it's nice. You look actually happy with her, and she clearly has no qualms over this." Richard tugged at his friend's cheeks and Garfield yelped in surprise.

"Hey, stop that." He pushed his hand off and glared. Richard always teased him about his skin in jest, but there was never any sort of judgment in his eyes, and Garfield appreciated that. It was nice to know that his friends still loved him in spite of his obvious deformity.

"You should ask her to move closer."

Garfield jerked at that statement and felt his eyes grow wide with shock. He stared at Richard, waiting in silence for him to explain himself, and a few seconds ticked by before he continued.

"It's obvious she won't move into your house, as it's likely that she needs the separation from people and towns, but there is such a long journey between here and where she lives… I can't imagine that would be easy."

Garfield sighed. "Again, Richard. You're making this sound as if we have a relationship."

"When I walked in, you were practically halfway to going to bed with her, Garfield!" He laughed and stared at his friend with a smile. "It's obvious that there's something between you two. Whether you choose to admit it or not."

Garfield scowled, but knew that he had a point. He certainly did have feelings for Raven and he was getting all the signals that she had feelings for him… perhaps this was a relationship in its infancy. Perhaps this was much more than just a chance meeting between two acquaintances. That idea made his heart beat faster and his head start to spin.

"Garfield? Raven says it is getting late!" Kori waved to them from the back door, her eyes bright and knowing in the thin light of late evening. "She wishes to return to your homestead."

"Alright." He stood up and moved to head back inside, but Richard grabbed his wrist before he moved too far.

"Just consider what I said, Gar." His eyes darted to where Raven was standing, patiently waiting for her escort to return to her. "There is something there."

Garfield felt his face darken from a blush, and he pulled the scarf around his face tighter out of habit before muttering a rushed 'goodbye' and racing to Raven's side. There were a few more minutes of pleasantries between friends, and then they walked out into the night, leaving the comfort of friendship behind them.

A few moments ticked by in silence as they walked back to Garfield's small home.

"They're very nice." Raven's voice was soft, barely audible even in the stillness of the night. She fidgeted under Garfield's curious stare, letting her words sit between them for a moment. "I… I don't remember ever knowing someone as nice as your friends, Garfield. Victor, Kori, Richard… they are all drawn to your brightness, and there is something endearing about that."

He stopped walking for a moment and stared down at her, confused. "Drawn to my brightness? What do you mean by that?"

Raven blushed and raised her hand above his heart, looking up into his face. "You are so warm and open with everyone. There is an honesty in you that I rarely see in anyone, and in my profession of helping people, I have seen both the best of the world and worst of it. People are drawn to you because you are bright, Garfield. This is why you have so many friends who care about you. In spite of everything that has transpired in your life, you still glow with happiness."

He felt his heart fall into his stomach as he stared at her, trying to catch his breath. His hand covered her own over his heard, never breaking eye-contact. "And you, Raven? Are you drawn to my brightness?"

She blinked, her eyes wide with surprise at his question. A few seconds ticked by and when Garfield began to believe that he would never get a straight answer out of her, she nodded. "Yes. I am. I am drawn to your brightness, Garfield."

He couldn't help himself from kissing her. His arms wrapped around her body and he pulled her so tightly against him, that it must have seemed like he was squeezing the air from her lungs. His lips moved over her own, stealing kisses from her in a way that made sure she would always remember them. He never wanted to forget this moment - this moment of honesty between them. The scent of tea filled him until he felt like he was drowning in her essence, and he was happy to be pulled under the waves.

He tilted his head to the side, slipping his tongue between her lips and tasting her even more. She was hesitant to return his ministrations, but eventually her tongue moved against his, tasting him in the same way he tasted her. She made that damnable, infuriating mewl in the back of her throat again, and he almost caved under the pressure of lust right there. But, Raven seemed to grasp onto a moment of reason, and she pulled herself back from his lips. She reached up and pulled the scarf off entirely, offering him a small smile.

"Take me home, Garfield." She traced his lips with her fingertips, eyes dark and pleading with him. "Take me home."

He stared down at her, only too happy to oblige her request.