Oceans

Looking at the ocean ahead always seemed to put Ravens' mind at ease. The steady soft rhythm of the ocean soothed and washed away her conflicted thoughts. Her soft breathing slowly synchronised with the waves making her and the ocean waves as one. Her bold amythst eyes stared at awe at the small beautiful birds that danced above the vibrant blue sky. How carelessly they roamed around without a single care in the world. Free from all troubles and fears that they would never counter in life. The stillness and quietness of the surrounding atmosphere was almost palpable. Peace and quiet was all she needed, and right now she wanted to forget everything that was going on in her life and sink into oblivion where no one can disrupt her. Just for a moment all she wanted was to escape reality, even for a little while until the time was right for her confront him, before he confronts her.

Raven glanced behind her shoulder to see the rest of her counterparts partying at the beach. It was Dicks Graysons' birthday and Koriand'r kept bombarding the rest of the team to go out and celebrate. Not just for him but for the rest of the team too. It has been a while since they all did something fun together. Even superheroes need a day off. Raven had watched them all physically grow up into their late teens behind closed doors and witnessed that they still held the key to their old characteristics. It was something they would never trade even for the world or galaxy. In all truthfulness Raven tried her best to be cheerful in her situation. But the sight of seeing Koriand'r and Dick in a jovial state flooded her body with guilt. It kept reminding her of Garfield. No matter how hard she tried to flush away the images and thought of him, it won't go away until she told him the truth. She knew what she done wrong and the fact she kept reminding herself of her mistake haunts her subconscious day and night.

"Cold?"

Ravens mind cringed, she knew who that voice belonged to. She didn't have to think twice. It was the voice she had wanted to avoid for this entire outing. This wasn't a good time for her to encounter him, not yet. She had previously thought of small scenarios in her mind that she could easily tell him but she didn't know how. The petite figure shivered. Unaware of his presence and the chilly biting cold that sent goosebumps up her body. She turned around over her right shoulder to meet a certain curious changeling. His piercing emerald eyes looked ahead into the ocean.

Good job of wanting to be alone Raven.

The silence atmosphere gained control and without a warning the green changeling placed his jacket over her bare shoulders providing her warmth to which she gladly accepted. She inhaled the unique and foreign scent of his jacket, wishing she could have this forever.

"Thanks but aren't you going to get cold too?" She asked

"No I'm already warm don't worry about me Rae" he said while splitting a soft smile.

"Shouldn't you not be with the others?"

"Nah, Dick and Kori wanted to go talk privately and Victor is lost in his own world with some old friend and that leaves me with you"

The changeling kept throwing small glances at her hoping she would break the invisible barrier between them.

"Raven" pause. "I know you aren't an idiot and you probably know why I'm here. I don't get why you've been distancing yourself away from me when nothing happened between us"

A small gentle sigh escaped her thin pink lips. This wasn't the right time... but when was the right time to tell someone the truth knowing it might hurt them?

"Beast B-"

"Garfield" he quickly corrected.

"I'm sorry Garfield I'll try my best to explain it" softly spoke Raven. She squeezed her amethyst eyes as her mind wandered into her thoughts. Trying to pull together her thoughts at once. Where can she begin without sounding cruel?

"Garfield you don't really love me" the words rushed out from her mouth without thinking twice. Raven saw his big emerald eyes narrowed in bewilderment. He couldn't comprehend to what she was saying. what did she mean he didn't love her when he clearly does?

"What do you mean I don't love you? I always did! We-"

"Listen Garfield let me finish" pause. "You are aware I am an empath… and empathetically forcing you to love me I – I know it was a terrible mistake I shouldn't"

"Raven I-"

"No, please allow me to explain. I have just freed myself from Azarath's control and I must learn more about myself before pledging myself to anyone… even you Garfield…. I hope…" She paused and then continued "Do you understand me?"

"I think so" he admitted. He could tell she wanted to say more but didn't want to confuse him even more.

"Garfield" she paused and continued once she collected her thoughts "You see my mind is like an ocean, there's so many things in the ocean that has to be discovered -"

"Raven, if you're asking for me to give you time. I will give you all the time in the world but I have a question" interupted Garfield.

"Go on"

"You said you forced me to love you?"

"Yes I did say that why?" She began to become more curious to what Garfield would say next. She could feel her heart beating against her chest wanting to break free.

"I was just wanted to know if I could've resisted you - you controlling my emotions"

"Well yes technically if-" but was soon disrupted by Garfield. 'Yes' was all he wanted to hear.

"Well Raven I didn't resist you and in fact I felt something for you a long time ago. You just enforced my emotions for you" he said while cracking a smile.

"And Raven, just like an ocean my love for you is limitless"