Rule number One
Chapter Two
...
"NO, NO... Shhhh... Shush... Shhhhh!" Garfield's frantic voice filled the room, cutting through the screams as he darted towards Beast Boy. He could only watch helplessly as his younger self's panicked wail crescendoed before abruptly stopping as the teen fainted, collapsing onto the cold floor.
"Okay..." Garfield muttered, exhaling sharply and shaking his head in disbelief. His tone was laced with exasperation as he knelt by his unconscious younger self. "And this is why we don't break rule number one."
Running a hand through his disheveled hair, he stood up and began pacing the room. His thoughts raced as he tried to piece together a solution to the colossal mess he'd just created. "It's okay... He—I... Ugh, Ugh, I hate time travel." Garfield groaned, the words tumbling out in a frantic spiral. His pacing quickened, his breaths coming faster as the weight of the situation bore down on him. "He...I...We'll just convince ourselves it was all a dream or something. Yeah, dream logic. Just tuck it away and hope we never think about it again." His voice wavered between desperation and forced determination as he tried to reassure himself.
Snapping himself out of his spiral, Garfield turned back to the task at hand. Returning to the rows of glass cases, he scanned the labeled boxes with a mixture of urgency and hope. His eyes darted across the labels until he found it, Warp's Time Machine artifact. A relieved smile broke across his face as he approached the case. But as soon as he reached it, the smile vanished. The case was empty.
"Shit..." The word escaped in a hoarse whisper as his chest tightened with panic. He took a shaky breath, trying to steady himself. "It's fine. Everything's fine. Maybe... maybe they moved it temporarily. Or maybe Vic's running tests on it. Or—" his voice cracked as dread seeped into his tone, "—or maybe he's destroying it right now, and I'm going to be stuck in the past forever!" He wept, his voice tinged with anxiety.
His anxious rambling gave way to a soft, defeated groan as he rubbed his temples. Garfield turned his attention back to the motionless form of his younger self on the floor and sighed heavily, shoulders slumping.
Kneeling down, Garfield carefully hoisted the unconscious fourteen-year-old onto his shoulder with ease. Reaching the door, he cracked it open just enough to peer out into the hallway. His sharp eyes darted left and right, scanning every corner for any sign of movement.
Seeing the coast was clear, he slipped into the hallway, his movements deliberate and precise. Every step was calculated, every turn taken with care as he checked his surroundings before darting forward. The labyrinthine hallways of the tower felt infinitely longer than he remembered, the tension making every second drag.
Finally, Garfield was able to reach his old bedroom door. He pushed it open and slipped inside, gently closing it behind him with a quiet click. Leaning against the door, he let out a long, exasperated breath, wiping the sweat from his brow. Relief washed over him, he had made it without being seen. But that relief was short-lived as his gaze swept over the room.
Clothes were strewn haphazardly across the floor, empty snack wrappers peeked out from beneath the bed, and an overwhelming musk of teenage chaos filled the air. Garfield grimaced, his nose crinkling in disgust. "Ugh, I can't believe I used to live like this." He muttered, shaking his head in disapproval.
...
Beast Boy's eyelids fluttered open, his vision blurry as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. Slowly, the room came into focus, the familiar array of movie posters pinned to his wall, and the faint glow of his alarm clock blinking in the dim light. Groggily sitting up, he raked a hand through his unruly hair, a chuckle slipping past his lips. That dream had been weird, even for him. Shaking off the lingering haze, he swung his legs over the edge of the mattress and stood up.
But just as quickly as the amusement bubbled, it drained from his face, leaving only shock in its wake. His breath hitched as his gaze locked onto the hauntingly familiar figure sitting calmly in the desk chair. Beast Boy froze, his muscles tensing as his mind scrambled to process the stranger, seated with a quiet, almost unnerving air of confidence, arms resting casually on his knees.
Before Beast Boy could let out a single sound, Garfield raised a hand in a silencing gesture and spoke in a calm, measured tone. "Please don't scream."
The words froze Beast Boy in place, his mouth hanging open as he stared in shock. Finally, he managed to stammer, "W-Who are you?" His voice cracked slightly, betraying his confusion and growing alarm.
"What do you think?" Garfield retorted, his words tinged with both irritation and weariness. "I'm you, genius."
Beast Boy's disbelief deepened, his eyes scanning Garfield as though searching for some flaw in the illusion. "No, no way!" He exclaimed, his astonishment overriding his initial resistance before collapsing back onto the bed, unable to stand under the weight of his own bewilderment. "This has to be some kind of joke!" He exclaimed. "Wait! How do I know you're really me?" His skepticism was palpable as he squinted at the older version of himself.
Garfield let out a long, exasperated sigh at his younger self's skepticism. "Fine." He said, his tone dripping with annoyance. "Your name is Garfield Logan, son of Mark and Marie Logan. You watched our parents die in a boating accident, and you still carry the guilt of not being able to save them." His voice softened briefly before regaining its edge. "You act like the class clown because you know people are going to stare at you anyway. And you laugh and tell jokes to hide how much it hurts to feel like you'll never measure up to the team, your friends, and especially yourself."
The words hit Beast Boy like a punch to the gut. He sat there, wide-eyed, as the truth of Garfield's words resonated within him. His mouth opened and closed a few times, struggling to find a response. "Wow... okay." He finally mumbled, blinking rapidly as if to clear his spinning thoughts. After a moment of silence, he tilted his head and gave Garfield an almost sheepish once-over. "You know." He said, his voice lighter. "I thought I'd be taller."
Garfield stared at him, utterly unimpressed. "Sorry to disappoint." He deadpanned.
"Uh, yeah, sorry. Never mind." Beast Boy scratched the back of his neck awkwardly before shaking off the fleeting distraction. He leaned forward, curiosity replacing his earlier shock. "So, uh... how—no, why are you here? Is this, like, about Starfire going to the future? Did you come back to the past to get past Starfire and bring her back to the future?"
Garfield blinked, clearly thrown by the odd assumption. "What? No, this has nothing to do with Starfire." He said, rubbing his temple. "I'm here because I need Warp's time travel device. But it's not in the evidence room where it's supposed to be."
"It's not?" Beast Boy questioned, a glimmer of surprise crossing his face.
"Nope." Garfield responded flatly. "And the return to my time hinges on retrieving it."
"Well, did you ask the others?" Beast Boy suggested, his brow furrowing as he tried to think of solutions.
Garfield shook his head. "Nope. I'm not even supposed to be talking to you right now." He let out a heavy sigh at what he has been resorted to. "Honestly, if Vic finds out about this, he's going to blow a gasket."
He leaned back in the chair, his eyes narrowing in thought. The quiet tension in the room thickened as Garfield mulled over the consequences of his presence here. If word got out, it could unravel everything—there was too much at stake, and he couldn't afford to fail now. Not when the stakes were this high.
Beast Boy tilted his head. "Vic? Who's Vic?"
Garfield waved him off. "Not important. The point is, I'm already breaking the most important rule by talking to you. I need you to figure out where the device is, ask the others if you have to. Just don't tell them I'm here, got it?"
Beast Boy nodded in understanding, rising to his feet. He rushed towards the door, his hand poised to open it when he glanced back into his room, his eyes landing on the neatly arranged space. The once-messy chaos was now remarkably tidy, as if someone had carefully cleaned every corner.
"Dude, did you clean my room?" His voice held a note of both surprise and curiosity, genuinely taken aback by the sudden transformation.
Garfield leaned back in the desk chair with an exaggerated sigh, his posture relaxed but his expression laced with impatience. "Yeah. You might want to start doing that if you ever want a girlfriend."
Beast Boy's eyes lit up, clearly intrigued by the comment. "And when exactly does that happen?" He asked, an unintentional smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Garfield shot him a glare, irritation flickering across his face. "The artifact." He snapped, pointing firmly at the door as if the reminder alone should send Beast Boy into action.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm going!" Beast Boy muttered, rolling his eyes before exiting the room. The door clicked shut behind him, and Garfield sighed in exasperation. Alone now, he let his head fall back against the chair, rubbing his temples as if trying to erase the mounting stress that had already begun to boil over.
In the common room, Beast Boy entered with a mix of caution and confusion. His mind was still reeling from the strange encounter with his future self. His gaze flicked to the familiar scene of Robin, bent over the computer, absorbed in the task of logging details from their most recent battle with Control Freak. The intensity in Robin's posture was unmistakable, but Beast Boy couldn't help feeling that his own anxiety was outweighing everything else in the room.
Suppressing his rising unease, Beast Boy approached the desk, attempting to act natural despite the heavy weight of his thoughts. As he opened his mouth to speak, Robin's sharp voice cut through the quiet before Beast Boy could even get the words out.
"Beast Boy, did you get Control Freak's remote put away securely?" Robin's gaze barely flickered up from his screen, but his tone was unmistakably focused, with a hint of command behind it.
"Um... Yep." Beast Boy quickly responded, his voice too casual, betraying the storm of uncertainty swirling within him. He paused, glancing at the desk, feeling the need to shift the subject. "But I couldn't help but notice that Warp's time travel device was missing." He let the words slip out before he could second-guess them, though his gut twisted with every syllable.
At his words, Robin immediately froze. The intensity in the room shifted, and his fingers stilled above the keyboard as his head snapped up, though he didn't turn to look at Beast Boy. "What do you mean, missing?" Robin's voice was sharper now, a serious edge replacing his earlier focus.
"Like, not there." Beast Boy clarified, his tone hesitant, borderline sheepish at the admission.
Without a moment's hesitation, Robin shot up from his seat, his chair spinning wildly behind him as it collided with the desk. His movements were sharp, purposeful, as if every second mattered. There was no time for hesitation or second-guessing. With a grim expression, Robin turned on his heel and dashed toward the door, his footsteps almost a blur as they echoed through the otherwise quiet common room.
Beast Boy, startled by the sudden shift in urgency, scrambled to follow, his heart already pounding against his ribs with the sudden surge of adrenaline. "Oh, that can't be good." He muttered under his breath, but he didn't slow down.
They hurtled down the corridor together, their feet pounding against the floor in rapid succession as they headed towards the elevator. Robin didn't hesitate even for a moment, his fingers flying over the control panel, hitting the button to send them down to the level housing the evidence room. The elevator doors slid open with a quiet chime, and Robin was already stepping in, moving with a sense of determination that left no room for uncertainty.
The elevator descended smoothly, but the air inside felt thick. Beast Boy couldn't help but steal a glance at Robin, whose eyes were narrowed, jaw tight, and a frown etched deep into his face. The intensity of his leader's expression was more than enough to send a cold sweat down his neck. He tried to shake off the mounting unease gnawing at him, secretly hoping that his older self was mistaken, and that once they arrive, they will find the artifact safely secure in place. He much rather get reprimanded by Robin for some poor attempt at a practical joke than the crashing reality of what was to follow.
When the elevator doors finally opened, they didn't hesitate. Robin was already out and moving with urgency, his boots clicking sharply against the floor as he rushed into the evidence room. Beast Boy caught a glimpse of Robin's face. His expression was a storm of frustration, confusion, and anger all wrapped up in a single moment. His brows were furrowed deeply, eyes scanning every inch of the room as if willing the device to appear. But it was no use. The moment they crossed the threshold it was painfully clear, the artifact was gone.
Without wasting another second, Robin snatched up his communicator, his hands moving with quick precision. His voice was tight, his frustration barely contained. "Titans, Warp's time artifact is gone!" He barked into the device. The weight of what he was saying hung heavy in the room, and Beast Boy could feel the anxiety radiating off of his leader, his words ominous and full of dread.
...
Garfield sat tensely in the dimly lit room, his posture hunched as he anxiously awaited the return of his younger self. The minutes dragged on, each one feeling like an eternity, the uncertainty of the situation pressing on him from every side. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands clasped together tightly. His leg bounced with nervous energy, a physical manifestation of the storm brewing inside him. When the door finally swung open and he snapped his head up, his heart racing in anticipation.
"Did you find it?" Garfield's voice cracked with urgency as Beast Boy entered the room with cautious hesitation.
"So... it's kind of... gone." Beast Boy replied, his tone awkward, the words tumbling out with an uncomfortable weight. Garfield's stomach dropped at the confirmation, the dread sinking deep within him. "But the others are looking for it." Beast Boy quickly added, as if trying to redeem the situation, offering a tiny shred of hope in the midst of the looming disaster.
A frustrated groan escaped Garfield as he sank back into his seat, burying his face in his hands. "I am going to be stuck in the past forever..."
"Come on, dude, think positive." Beast Boy replied, his voice light, attempting to put a positive spin on the chaos. He flashed Garfield a grin, though it seemed more out of hope than certainty. "Robin will figure out who took it, we'll go get it back, and you can go back to your time, doing whatever people in their forties do."
Garfield blinked in surprise, his mouth opening slightly in disbelief. "You think I'm forty?" His voice was incredulous, the words leaving him almost before he could process them. The idea was so far off the mark, he couldn't help but be thrown off balance.
Beast Boy, clearly puzzled by the reaction, looked at him with genuine confusion. "Are you not?" His tone was casual, like it was the most natural thing to assume.
"I'm twenty-seven." Garfield replied sharply, the annoyance creeping into his voice.
"Well, you act like someone in their forties." Beast Boy muttered, his words unintentionally a little too candid. He leaned back slightly, crossing his arms, as if the matter was already settled.
Garfield shot him a sharp, pointed look, his eyes narrowing. "And you act like you're ten." He retorted, his voice biting. "Just because puberty hasn't kicked in yet doesn't mean you need to act like a child."
Beast Boy's face froze, and he blinked as if he hadn't quite processed the insult at first. Then his expression morphed into one of exaggerated shock. "Ouch... When do I become such an... ass?"
Garfield let out a deep sigh, rubbing his temples as the weight of the situation bore down on him. "I'm sorry." He muttered, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "I didn't mean that. I'm just a little stressed at the situation."
Beast Boy stood there for a moment, silently absorbing the apology. He shifted his gaze to the floor, stuffing his hands into his pockets, and lightly kicked at the ground. "So..." He began hesitantly, his tone quieter, almost sheepish now. "When does puberty kick in?" His voice held a hint of hesitation along with his curiosity.
Garfield's eyes flickered to his younger self, his expression hardening a bit. "Late." He said curtly, shaking his head slightly, his brow furrowing in mild frustration. "But you're not supposed to know that. Stop asking questions!" He snapped, a bit harsher than he intended.
Beast Boy let out an exaggerated sigh. "Fine." He muttered, clearly defeated.
A heavy silence settled between them, the weight of unspoken thoughts hanging in the air. Beast Boy's eyes flickered over to Garfield, silently studying him, taking note of every detail, from the way his posture had matured, to the sharper angles of his jawline. His eyes lingered on the way he now carried himself—his uniform, his stature. It was all so different.
"Ummm..." Beast Boy broke the silence with a hesitant voice. "I know I'm not supposed to asked..." He began, clearly trying to tread carefully.
"But you're gonna ask anyway." Garfield interrupted, the annoyance still lingering in his tone.
"Do we just give up on bulking out?" Beast Boy continued. "I mean, I kind of expected that by my 20s, I would be... bigger."
Garfield let out a long, exasperated sigh, his body slumping slightly as he ran a hand over his face. "You don't give up." He said with a firm tone. "You just learn that to achieve bigger muscle tone, you need to get your source of protein from meat." His voice was direct, but there was a layer of resignation behind it.
Beast Boy's face dropped, his disappointment palpable. "Oh..." He murmured, clearly let down by the answer.
"Don't worry." Garfield added, attempting to lighten the mood. "All that low self-doubt and insecurity changes after you get a girlfriend." Beast Boy's eyes lit up with excitement and curiosity, but Garfield was quick to cut him off, raising his hand. "Don't even ask. I can't tell you who, and I can't tell you when."
Beast Boy groaned, rolling his eyes dramatically. "Oh, come on!" He whined, slumping over dramatically. "Can you at least tell me her name?"
"Ha." Garfield scoffed, a mocking edge to his voice as he shook his head. "That is the last thing you get to know. If I told you who she is, you'd go after her, and trust me, that would just piss her off."
Beast Boy let out an exasperated huff, crossing his arms with a dramatic flair. "Fine." He muttered before his gaze drifted over Garfield's uniform. "But can we at least talk about the outfit?" He asked, his tone tinged with curiosity.
Garfield groaned, clearly worn out. "Fine." He relented, his voice flat.
Beast Boy's eyes flicked over the red suit, taking in the details. "I mean, it's a nice upgrade." He began, his voice thoughtful. "But the color...
Garfield narrowed his eyes and shot him a sharp look. "Red is the opposite of green on the color wheel. And the others thought it looked better than purple, okay?" He shot back defensively.
Beast Boy looked like he was processing this for a moment before giving a half-hearted shrug. "Yeah, but it kinda looks... Christmasy." He offered, a note of dissatisfaction lingering in his voice.
Garfield's lips twitched into a smirk, amusement flickering in his eyes. "That's not what your girlfriend said."
Beast Boy's eyes widened in a mix of shock and amusement. The words hit him with the force of a punch, and before he could stop himself, laughter bubbled up from within him. "At least I didn't lose my sense of humor."
"No, you just learn not to tell every bad joke you read from the back of a cereal box," Garfield teased.
"Okay, harsh. They aren't that bad." Beast Boy retorted with a playful defense.
Garfield leveled him with a serious stare. "Yes, they are. And the sooner you accept that, the better."
Beast Boy sighed dramatically, throwing himself back onto the bed. "Whatever." He grumbled, clearly done with the conversation but still smiling beneath the facade.
Garfield's gaze drifted toward the cat clock on the wall, the tick-tock of time reminding him of how long he'd been here, how much still had to be done. "It's getting late." He murmured, the weariness in his voice finally becoming apparent. "I traveled from Washington. I'm pretty tired."
Beast Boy raised an eyebrow. "Wait, why were you in Washington?"
"Time travel mishap." Garfield answered breezily, waving it off as though it were nothing.
"Right..." Beast Boy nodded, clearly not buying it but deciding not to press further. "Okay, well... I call top bunk!" He exclaimed with childlike glee, jumping toward the upper bed with primate-like agility.
Garfield raised an eyebrow, watching the younger changeling bounce around with enthusiasm. "Okay, calm down. This isn't a sleepover." He replied, his voice curt from exhaustion and exasperation.
Beast Boy gave him a knowing grin. "Actually, it is."
Garfield sighed heavily, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle deeper into his bones. "Fine. But tone down the enthusiasm." He muttered as he kicked off his shoes and pulled his shirt over his head, letting out a tired groan. His muscles protested the movement, the strain from hours of flying still lingering in his arms and shoulders. He stretched carefully, wincing slightly as his body reminded him of the physical toll it had taken.
When he turned back to face Beast Boy, he noticed the younger changeling staring at him with wide eyes, a look of admiration clear on his face. Garfield raised an eyebrow, an amused smirk curving his lips. "I thought you said I wasn't bulky enough."
Beast Boy tilted his head, his eyes tracing Garfield's physique. "You look way better without the shirt." he stated simply, his voice carrying a hint of admiration.
"Thanks?" Garfield said awkwardly, unsure how to react to the compliment. He turned away for a moment, but then, as if on instinct, he spun back around and locked eyes with his younger self, a playful glint in his eyes.
They both pointed at each other in sync, their faces lighting up with a shared sense of amusement. "That's what your girlfriend said!" They both declared, their voices perfectly in unison, the words hanging in the air like a perfect punchline.
As the synchronicity of their retort settled in, a wave of lightheartedness washed over them, momentarily lifting the weight of their time-travel mission. Laughter and mirth filled the shared space, weaving a tapestry of camaraderie and shared humor. In that moment, they found solace and unity, embracing the unique bond that only they could understand.
...