"What's up, fam!"
Mento groaned as he read Gar's letter out loud.
"Why he elected me to read this out is beyond me."
The other Doom Patrol members sighed at their leader.
"He definitely did it for humorous effect," Negative Man uttered, "and it worked."
Cyborg nodded in agreement, followed by a look of uncertainty. "You agree that that's funny, right, Larry? It's hard to tell with your mannerisms sometimes."
"Would you like me to read it instead?"
"That'll be helpful, thanks, Rita." Mento handed over the letter to Rita as she was the one now standing up in the middle of the heroes.
She looked at everyone, particularly holding her gaze on Raven a bit longer. "Everyone ready?"
Everyone in the circle gave some form of affirmative. With that, she began.
"My bestest Doom Patrol dudes and Titans dudes, we are gathered here today to honor the deceased - me!"
Rita had to pause to roll her eyes.
Robotman grunted. "A little squirt till the bitter end."
"There was a lot going on leading to my doom - hehe." Although an actual addition by Gar, Rita's laugh was sarcastic. "Not on the surface, but a lot of internalised denial and a hope that never gave up. Because of that, I never got to say my true, deep down, final words. And I have one for each of you."
Rita gulped, as she was now noticing the length of the paper. There was going to be a lot to come. A few others seated also stiffened.
Rita faced Robotman.
"Cliff - My bud. You have so much life to give, for a robot. You never take my advice for anything, but if I have one to give you now, it's to live with more of that metal heart you've shown me. The world will be much better with it, as I've learnt."
Everyone glanced at Robotman. His face remained stoic, yet they could see a shimmer in his bolted eyes, demanding to flood.
"Oh, Squirt..." He looked down at the grass. "I will. For you."
Rita turned to Negative Man.
"Larry - We never really got personally close, which I regret because you are a very interesting man. I hope, if you have any goals, that you set your mind on them. And, if you don't, that you set your heart on getting some! Please know that I've always loved ya, man."
Negative Man nodded, and Rita could've sworn she saw a bit of light as she looked at him for a reaction.
He nodded slowly, wistfully. "I love you too, B.B."
She looked at Mento next, and the nervous air he was radiating was palpable.
"Mento... Steve - You've shaped me into the man I've become. It was rough, but I felt your love. And just as how thankful I am that you've shaped me into the person I've become, I thank you for listening to me when I've grown into my own person with the Titans. And for that, I love you. And yes, I still believe you'd make a great father."
What followed was silence save for Mento's whimpering. He had his hands grip his quivering knees, and his head down, breathing deeply.
Then, another set of whimpering sounded. Everyone else looked up at Rita, who had her eyes - starting to stain with tears - fixated on the next line of Gar's letter.
Mento looked up once he finally heard her being overcome with emotion, and stood up, leaning to grab hold of her hands.
"It's okay, Rita, I got this," he offered. He gently took the letter from her, which she almost held on. She took his seat as he continued down the letter.
"Mama Rita - You're welcome for being the raddest adoptive son you could ever ask for. And thank you for being the best adoptive mother I could ever ask for. You and Steve stepped in as my parents. That means the world to me. I'm with my first parents now. It's come full circle. Thank you. This little Frog Prince will give you kisses for eternity."
Cyborg cocked his head. "Frog Prince?"
Raven smiled to herself, recollecting that story Gar'd told her. A story for the Titans for another time.
"It's a fairytsle," Robotman uttered while comforting a tearful Rita.
Rita smiled softly to herself, calming down. "I'm alright, Cliff, thanks. That's so touching of Garfield. I guess it's the Titans' turn."
Everyone looked eagerly at Mento.
"Robin - My man, my hero, my friend. You know, I always knew that I'd die a hero, or at least die trying. I realised I wasn't wishing specifically enough - that I wanted to die doing some Herculean feat, not from a little beating that made me strain my genes, feeling so limp and broken.
"But, having been contained for recovery - to no avail, sadly - I then came to another realisation. That I never actually wanted to die doing a hero's work. I just wanted to leave life knowing I've made it better for the ones I'm leaving behind. And the more I've sat on my rickety bed, contemplating death as I scribbled these messages, the more than I've confidently concluded that I've achieved that.
"Robin, my fearless leader, my wish for you is to POP. THAT. QUESTION. You never know when someone might just swoop in and get on their knees first. Sorry to call you out, dude!"
Robin stiffened and Starfire even looked like she had just ingested some Bortha worms. The tension in the circle became quite awkward.
Mento cleared his throat, moving on, sensing the energy without the need to read minds.
To alleviate the tension, he commented, "He even writes 'dude' so much that it's starting to not look and sound like a real word."
He turned to Starfire, still recovering from the awkwardness.
"Starfire - My big, alien sister, always whipping me into shape. Keep radiating that positive energy, girl. I can always count on you. And now look, you got your own team of youngins counting on you, too! I'm so proud of how far you've come, even though from the moment I laid my eyes on you, I knew you were destined for greatness. I just didn't figure out then that your greatness will come hand-in-hand with our friendship.
"You know what you gotta do, Star."
Starfire nodded. "I do, Gar. You can trust me to fulfil that."
"I think Gar was making a statement more so than a command," Raven uttered. Starfire gave her a cheeky smile.
Raven smiled in return. She loved seeing everyone react to Gar's messages. In a funny way, it validated the emotional ride she had gone through when she read his letters to her. While watching her friends get emotional, she was reminded of different instances she'd reacted to Gar's messages.
She looked at Mento, and at Gar beside him. While Mento had been reading out loud, she'd been listening to Gar recite the same. If only the others could see and hear what she was experiencing.
Finally, Mento faced Cyborg. Out of everyone, he appeared the most nervous yet curious, the entire time holding a half-sitting half-standing position.
"Cycy - The Cyborg the metal man with a heart of gold. I saved the best for you, bud. Cyborg... Vic, you are so special to me. Pretty sure you didn't feel my gratefulness that you tried everything in your power to find a cure for me, what with you never giving up on me. That is some type of love.
"Stop beating yourself up. You always carry other people's weight on your shoulders. It's admirable and it's your best quality, but whenever things fall off your shoulders, don't let that weigh you down for long, dude."
Robin knelt down to comfort Cyborg, who was now streaming out so much tears, Robin was concerned he'd actually short-circuit. Even Rita reopened the floodgates.
"Why'd you have to go?" Cyborg sobbed. "I just want even just one more hangout. Just one..."
"You were worried for a long time that you let him down," Robin said quietly. "But you always knew in your heart that that's not the case. This is proof, from his own words."
Cyborg hiccoughed. "Yeah... well... he could've delivered this letter earlier. That rascal... I love him..."
Raven eyed Gar. He winked at her.
"Told ya I can pull heartstrings," he joked. His eyes drifted to Cyborg, kindness and grace glistening in his emeralds.
Starfire got up and flew to Cyborg, comforting him. She and Robin were shelving whatever tension they currently had with each other for Cyborg.
"There, there, friend. We all wish he were here, even if for just one brief moment."
Raven inhaled, closing her eyes.
"Azar have mercy!" Arella gasped, pointing at the spot behind Mento.
Other gasps followed.
Robin was like a deer in headlights, staring in awe at the same spot.
"No way..." uttered Negative Man, in a cadence seldom heard by him.
Mento scratched his head.
"What's so surprising?"
Mento turned around, and could not believe his eyes. He fell backwards on to the ground.
There he stood. Gar. In good shape, with his big smile, glistening. Almost glowing. One-by-one, he looked at each person.
For those brief seconds, no one said a word.
Rita's eyes wandered past Gar, to Raven directly opposite her. The Azarathian appeared at ease, her eyes closed. Rita wondered if she was asleep.
With her Elasti-Girl abilities, she stretched her arm, and gave Raven a poke and a gentle nudge.
Raven opened her eyes, seeing Rita's arms compressing back to regular form.
"Are you seeing this?" Starfire asked.
Raven raised an eyebrow. She looked at a shocked Mento on the ground, scooting away from the center. She also saw Gar.
"What's wrong with Steve?" she asked.
She then noticed everyone adorning shocked faces, and traced where all their eyes were fixated on. Her eyes widened.
"You can see him?" She sprung up. "All of you can see Gar?"
"It's you, isn't?" guessed Cyborg. "You conjured him?"
Robin gulped. "From your mind... or from the dead?"
"Surely not," Rita assured, though doubtful.
Gar raised an arm and waggled his fingers. "Sup, fam."
"What is the meaning of this?" asked Arella.
Raven calmed herself down before answering.
"I've been seeing him - visualising him - like this, for a while now. He was small and in his Beast Boy age at first, but then he became... that."
Gar scoffed. "That?! I'm no 'that'!"
"Why have you never told us?" asked Cyborg.
"I-I know it's just my projection. It seemed worthless to mention since it goes hand-in-hand with my issues. Just a side effect of the numbing spell."
Robin looked dubious. "But if that numbing spell took away your powers... why were you able to project him?"
Raven hesitated, thinking about it.
"Okay, dudes, dudettes," Gar interrupted. "I'd like to finish the rest of that letter! For Cy."
Cyborg blinked. They'd nearly forgotten about the letter.
Gar gestured to Mento, beckoning Raven. Raven approached the center, and Mento gingerly passed the letter to her as Robotman escorted him to the seat.
Raven glanced at Gar, who gave a gleeful and insistent smile. Raven turned to Cyborg, letter at the ready. And as she read, everyone heard his voice.
"Just do what I believe is your biggest strength - Build yourself back up. I love you, bro. Out of all the Titans, you were the first one that gave me new life, by being my broski. Considering half of you is prosthetic, that is astonishing.
"Just... please... eat less meat."
The heroes chuckled at that remark. Cyborg smirked, lamenting with amusement.
Slowly, Raven waltzed in a small circle, so that she had seen everyone at least once. She - and Gar - continued.
"Everyone, please take care of Raven for me. I'm not there anymore to go full-on beast whenever she's in dire straits. She's a beautiful badass, but I can tell she might need help moving forward.
"Most of all - Keep making wonderful memories with each other. I thought being a hero, I wanted to be remembered for that by those we protect. And that's still sweet. But I realised what I desire most is and always has been having memorable moments with my friends and family. I know since childhood how fleeting those moments can be in hindsight. But with everything we've been through, you'll always be a part of me. And I'm a part of you indefinitely..."
Raven stifled a chuckle at the reference he'd snuck in.
"Keep heroing, and keep loving and living.
"Fangs for the memories... Gar."
Having reached the end, Raven looked up at Gar. With a smile at everyone, his fang reflecting sunlight, he gradually dissipated, even to Raven.
Arella had her hands clasped together.
"That was beautiful."
Raven sighed, feeling weight lift off her shoulders.
"That's Gar for ya," Cyborg uttered. He got up and stretched, rejuvenated. He looked at everyone still sitting. "Well, what are we waiting for y'all? He said to keep living, and all this heartwarmth has made me hungry!"
A couple of them laughed as they all got up, following Cyborg to the firepit.
"Remember: Less meat," Negative Man reminded Cyborg.
Raven and Arella faced each other on the way.
"I wish I had met him," Arella admitted. She held Raven's hand. This time, Raven did not reject. "But, seeing you, I can tell how he's changed you. And interacting with you and his friends, it is as if I am vicariously meeting him too.
"I apologise for confronting you the way I did. When you traveled to Earth, it was for survival and with Azarath's protection in mind. But today, I see that you've managed to make friends... family... and home here. Perhaps it is for the best I do not insert myself back into your life after all that had been done..."
Raven held on.
"I don't want to return to Azarath... The Titans made me stronger. You thought I'm alone. I'm not. But I still want to move forward with you in my life, mother. Just, step-by-step."
The two Azarathians exchanged kind looks.
They reached the barbecue site. Rita and Mento stood at the outskirts.
"We were waiting for you," Mento told them, handing each a barbecue fork.
Rita slid to Arella's side, and whispered, "My instincts tell me you've sorted things out a bit."
Arella shyly nodded, grateful for her new acquaintance's support.
"Why don't you sit with Steve and I?" Rita offered.
Arella caught a glimpse of Raven, who was now with her fellow Titans. She looked content. Confident. She had nothing to worry about when it came to her daughter.
She acknowledged Rita and Mento's kindness.
"I'd love that."