Twenty year old Raven woke up to her usual nonchalance. At least that was what she constantly convinced herself. She did it yesterday too. And the day before as well. Come to think of it, that has been her routine ever since Beast Boy…no, Changeling left. Raven smiled as her thoughts fondly focused on the green bean. True to his promise to Starfire those years ago, Changeling had diligently kept regular contact with the Titans except when the Doom Patrol were engaged in missions. From their correspondence, she bore witness to the shape shifter's progress and had grudgingly (initially) been surprised; her teammate had gradually adopted a much more mature approach to life and had exhibited more decisiveness towards achieving what he wanted in life, no doubt a result of Mento's insistence on a more holistic approach in developing his son.
Mento had insisted that Garfield excel not just as a superhero but also as the future heir of the Dayton fortune. As such, his training had been complemented with lessons ranging from combat to strategic thinking and extensive tuition on managing the business empire he would one day inherit, no expense had been spared. So it was that her teammate was never short on conversation topics ranging from his latest transformation techniques to the latest welts on his knuckles courtesy from Questor or Herr Questor as Garfield would jokingly call him, the Dayton's butler and Garfield's head tutor whenever he caught the easily distracted young man dozing off during lessons. There was even one instance when Garfield likened Questor's teaching methods akin to Raven's and suggested that the two would get along fine if they were to meet, much to the team's (especially Raven's) amusement.
Still, it was no bed of roses for the shape-shifter. The deal had been to fully utilize Garfield's capabilities and talents and Mento and the Doom Patrol intended to do just that. Their reputation as one of the grittiest superhero groups out there was well-founded and well-earned. Various times during the Titans' conversations with Changeling did they notice the many bruises, cuts and other injuries which the shape-shifter had sustained from his training or as a result of undertaking missions. There had been voices of concern coming from everyone but Garfield casually brushed them off saying that the wounds were superficial and there really was nothing to worry about.
A turning point on this issue occurred two years ago when Changeling was placed under medical leave after sustaining several injuries from a battle with a particularly nasty foe, some of which were of a more grievous nature. When he appeared on screen, Cyborg and Starfire were in an uproar; their green teammate sported a cast on his left arm, the left side of his face was completely covered with bandages and his voice was reduced from his puberty-gifted baritone to a whispery croak courtesy of a bruised larynx. And that was only his upper body. It was difficult to see him that way but Garfield was unshakeable. Everyone could see the determination in his eye (the left side was covered) and how much this meant to him. Despite their misgivings, the Titans continued to put their trust in their older counterparts in training their friend.
It was during that moment that something shifted within Raven. For the first time in her life, she could not recognize the green boy in the screen. No, that was no boy. Garfield had grown to become a man and his purple-haired teammate could not help but like what she saw. A desire grew within her to discover more about this person which led to her sometimes unknowingly hogging the bulk of the precious talk time between the Titans and Changeling. Whether the rest of the team were aware of the change in their teammate's demeanour was never made known but no one complained.
The conversation went normally enough but it was only hours later when Raven was preparing to go to bed that her communicator alerted her to an incoming private transmission. It was Garfield. At first, the sorceress was bewildered as to why he wanted to speak to her specifically. Cyborg would have been a better choice as a confidant. Still, she was flattered and quietly ignored the teasing jibes that her emotions were screaming about in her head especially Happy and Affection.
Raven's conversations with Gar (as she increasingly began to refer to him as) became a catalyst for a blooming friendship between the two. It was not as if they were never friends to begin with but there was definitely a bond there was not there before. The two talked about anything and everything from day to day ramblings to reflections and thoughts. Even gossip, a topic Raven previously abhorred, became a regular fixture in their hearty discussions. It was fun, Raven found to her amazement, talking to Gar. Distance and maturity had been good to him and she found herself looking forward eagerly to his calls. It had been an agreed arrangement between the Titans and the Doom Patrol that they should minimize calls for the shape-shifter unless it was a matter of due importance; something which the sorceress took serious note of. She viewed her conversations with her friend as strictly pleasurable activity and was quick to remind him of such the few times he asked her to initiate a call.
Raven never considered herself suited for a romantic relationship. She had dismissed it under the notion that no suitor would ever see more than a demon half-breed. She trusted her friends and loved all of them as well as the extended Titans family and it was enough for her.
Until now.
Her relationship with Gar was excellent and she thoroughly enjoyed the times shared with him. Gar was a perfect gentleman; a far cry from his more youthful days. That did not mean, however, that he became someone completely unrecognizable to her; he was still the good-natured and goofy boy she had always known him to be as well as the most optimistic person she had ever known. Thinking back, Raven remembered how they were like and she realized that she had been pretty abusive towards him. Either verbally or physically, Gar had been the focus of much of her ire due to her then fragile grasp on her powers and her own youthful immaturity. The jabs, the smacks, the black magic infused flinging into the bay were uncalled for. Yes, he was definitely a handful and many a time, Raven had actually wondered if her green teammate had been the Universe's way of dispensing justice on her unclean blood. Pondering on her past misdemeanors, the sorceress grew ashamed of herself. Gar had never retaliated in kind. Despite everything, he was always by her side. Always supporting her with bad jokes and shielding her during battles. She remembered when Gar broke the news of the Doom Patrol's offer to the team. She guiltily admitted that the thought of him gone would be a welcome relief. Even on the day he left, she could see it in his eyes but she would not even grace him with the smile he desired from her.
It had been a revelation to realise what her feelings meant. To be honest, she should have known better. The signs were all there and it only took almost a year since that fateful private call but Raven still had a nagging thought. Should she act upon her feelings? And would Gar reciprocate? It was an agonizing feeling to fathom the notion of her affections unrequited but it would not be uncalled for. Truly she had never shown any reason as to why she should be entrusted with Gar's heart.
No.
Raven was, if anything, hopeful. In addition, she was also patient. Yes, she had been terrible towards Gar in the past but that was in the past. They have all changed including herself. She can be nicer towards him and in doing so perhaps show him that she is worthy of being his. Her hold on her powers was stronger than ever before and she had taken some cooking lessons from Starfire. On second thought, maybe that latter thought would not really impress Gar that much. Starfire, Azar bless her, is the sister she never had but even Trigon himself would retreat in the face of her culinary 'masterpieces'. Sometimes, one has to call a spade as it is.
With her stable grip on her supernatural abilities, Raven could indulge with her emotions to an unheard of degree as compared to during her youth. Blushing, she imagined herself displaying such affection like Starfire does with Robin. It was not an altogether unpleasant sensation to experience. As she washed and prepared herself to face the day, Raven daydreamed of perhaps going on dates with her green teammate as a couple and doing the things couples usually do. The thoughts created a warm fuzzy feeling within the young woman which elicited a tiny smile on her otherwise blank expression.
Looking into the mirror, Raven examined herself. She had to admit that she was not an unattractive person. Still, her height which really did not change much since her teenage years was the least of her problems. Her ashen skin which looked almost grey and her purplish hair which grew to her waist was clearly unnatural and attracted mainly the wrong sort of boys. Raven wondered if Gar found her attractive.
A familiar spike in her empathic sense followed by an alert chime from her communicator roused the sorceress from her thoughts. It was Robin summoning everyone to the Common Room immediately. Letting out a sigh and pushing the source of the spike to a corner of her mind for later, Raven made her way to the elevator.
As the doors opened, the murmurs of joy exploded into a cacophony of elation that almost overwhelmed her. The sorceress opened her mouth to give a caustic retort when the spike reappeared again. This time, it became profound enough to make Raven hold her tongue. That familiar spike that only one person in the world could produce and there he was fresh a debilitating hug from Starfire stood a smiling Changeling.
All eyes trained upon her and wondering what her reaction would be like. Maybe a curt 'hi' or even a dismissive wave would suffice. Damn that girl can be full of surprises.
Raven flew towards him. All thoughts seem to have left her mind except for the green man standing in front of her with that grin she missed so much. Changeling stepped forward with his arms outstretched which caused a happiness like no other to erupt within her. Enfolding her arms around his neck, Raven practically latched herself onto Gar as she felt his strong arms holding her back just as tightly in their warm embrace.
Gar had returned.
A/N: Hello everyone, I originally intended this to be the final chapter. However I decided I'll leave the ending with enough of a mix between a closure and a cliffhanger so that if I have time, a sequel would be a possibility. I hope all of you enjoy this. Until next time:)
-spartan585