Fan Fiction ❯ Homecoming ❯ Chapter Five ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans, etc, etc, it all belongs to the many geniuses at DC, etc. You know the deal.

 

Pre-read by KrabKakes

 

Homecoming

 

Chapter Five

 

Terra had been back with the Titans for two weeks now. Time passed slowly for Gar Logan but eventually he became accustomed to seeing Tara around again. It still pained him to see her. It probably always would. It just wasn't as bad as before. The two even shared conversations now and again, although they where a little tense and uncomfortable.

 

Raven had done her best to avoid the earth-moving girl and so far was doing extremely well - probably because Tara was avoiding her as well.

 

Dick, as was expected, kept his eyes on Tara. He watched her as much as possible. He insisted she not be left alone in the tower, and that she participate in training sessions with him each day, where he bombarded her with questions and judged her. So far he seemed to be satisfied that she wasn't a psychopathic maniac.

 

Kory was the one to spend most of the time watching Tara. She always was very trusting. Although Gar had a feeling the reason she was spending so much time with her was one Dick Grayson.

 

Vic had returned from Keystone City after spending only a few days there, watching Bart Allen and seeing whether he would make a good addition to the team. Seems he thinks so, as the scarlet speedster would be arriving next week to join the Titans. As for Vic's actions around Tara, the cybernetic teen had been spending most of his time working on the T Car, probably a little uncomfortable around her. He did spend time with her sometimes though, when Kory was too busy to do so.

 

Currently, Gar was sitting at his desk, absorbed in playing his Gamestation X. His green hands flew over the controller with great speed, rapidly pressing buttons in a way that would surely give him blisters. This was his escape. This was how he got away from the tower and away from Tara. It was his salvation.

 

Unfortunately it was about to be shattered.

 

A knock at the door caused him to lose concentration and his virtual car to go flying of the road, doing a tail spin, flipping into the air and coming to rest on its head, a smoking pile of metal. The words `Game Over' flashed on screen, silently mocking him. Gar cursed under his breath.

 

“Gar?” a familiar voice called through his door. Oh great, he though sarcastically. It was Terra.

 

He got up and approached the door. He momentarily considered pretending he wasn't in, but figuring she heard the noise of his gaming, resigned himself to the inevitable and opened the door.

 

“Hey,” She greeted him with a wide smile. “Sorry for interrupting. I was kinda…erm…wondering if you wanted to go out someplace?”

 

“I don't think so.” He turned to go back into his room when her hand shot out and grasped his arm.

 

“Gar please,” she pleaded. “Wait a second. It's not what you think. I don't mean a date. It's just two friends spending time together. Perfectly innocent. Please Gar.”

 

He turned to look at her, seeing the pleading look in her eyes and the droop in her shoulders. He sighed.

 

“I don't know.” Gar said. “I said…”

 

“I know.” Tara cut in. “Time right. I know. But it's just this once. Please. I won't ask again. I promise.”

 

“Well…” Gar looked at his watch, for lack of anything better to look at, and then looked back at her. “What did you have in mind?”

 

“Anything you want.” Tara said, her eyes shining with hope. “Anything. We could go to the arcade. Go for a walk in the park. Go on the swings. Maybe, if you wanted, go see a movie. Anything, really.”

 

“Okay.” Gar agreed. “I guess so. Just let me get my jacket.”

 

“Sure.” Tara beamed.

 

Gar got his jacket and then followed after Tara as she led the way out of the Tower. He didn't really want to go, but with the look on her face, he just couldn't say no. She looked so sad. He couldn't turn her down. Yup, this was going to be a long night.

 

(----)

 

“Did you see that?” Tara squealed after she got yet another strike, turning to smile happily at Gar. Gar smiled slightly.

 

“Yeah,” He raised his eyebrows. “You sure you're not cheating?”

 

“Scouts honour!” Tara claimed.

 

“You weren't in the scouts.” Gar shot back.

 

“That's what you think.” Tara took her seat next to Gar as he got up, ready to take his turn.

 

Gar had to admit that he was actually having fun. He didn't think he would, but he was. It wasn't like when he saw her around the tower. Something was different. He didn't know what, but he wasn't going to complain. He turned to look at her and saw that she was still smiling. He turned back around and smiled a little to himself. She was so happy. Shaking his head, he focused himself on the task at hand.

 

He picked up a green bowling ball and approached the line, his eyes focused on the diamond shaped pins at the end of the isle. He needed a strike or he would lose the game. This was his last chance to stay in the game. Everything rode on this one shot.

 

Come on BB, he thought. You're the man.

 

Taking a quick step forward he took his shot, rolling the ball out of his hand and into the isle, straight down the middle.

 

Come on...

 

The ball was on track, heading dead center.

 

Come on…wait…no, don't do that!

 

The ball was curving to the side and if this kept up it was going to fall into the gutter.

 

Come on. Move. Move!

 

He felt the ground shake under his feet and his ball began to curve, getting back on track. He turned to look at Tara, who smiled sweetly at him. He shook his head and turned back just in time to see the ball smash into the pins and take them all down. Strike for Beast boy!

 

He smiled once again before turning to give Tara a scathing look.

 

“You didn't have to do that you know.” It wasn't a question.

 

“Do what?” Tara was still smiling at him. He was struggling to hold back his own smile.

 

“You know what.” He shot back.

 

“I didn't do anything.”

 

“Sure.” Finally the smile broke through, and in response Tara just smiled wider, grinning. The two just looked at each other, grinning from ear to ear. Coming to his senses, Gar shook his head again and wiped the smile of his face.

 

“I'm bored of this,” he said. “Let's get out of here.”

 

“Okay.”

 

(----)

 

Inside the movie theatre Gar found himself watching Tara intently. She was unaware of his gaze, as far as he could tell, as she kept her eyes locked on the large screen playing a boring old B Movie. Gar wasn't interested in the movie. He was too busy contemplating everything that was Terra.

 

Ever since she came back he wanted nothing to do with her. She made him feel all the hurt and pain of Terra's betrayal, cold and sharp, like it had never gone away. But today, spending time with her, he hasn't felt that. He saw how hard she was trying to get him to forgive her - to forgive Terra. He couldn't forgive Terra. But she wasn't Terra. She was different.

 

She really did like him. He could tell with the way she smiled at him and grinned recklessly when he smiled back at her. The way her eyes shined with unshed tears of happiness when he talked to her or spent time with her. She was a wonderful girl. Nothing at all like the back stabbing traitor she was created from. Gar guessed it must have been something about the way the original was raised, or not raised, that drove her over the edge. Whereas this Tara was raised by, what he felt must have been, a king and loving family.

 

That was it. He couldn't help it. No matter how hard he tried to tell himself he couldn't and wouldn't forgive her, he was lying. He already had. Granted, he'd always be a little wary around her, but that didn't change the fact. He was willing to give her another chance. This decided, he smiled to himself and looked back at the bright movie screen.

 

This Movie sucks, he decided after only a few moments of watching. It seemed to be about some sort of genetically created monster falling in love with a mermaid. I mean, come on, what the hell? He took a glance over at Tara to find her looking at him, still smiling. He leant in close.

 

“This movie sucks,” he whispered, trying to not to disturb anyone else. “Let's go.”

 

Tara nodded and the two left the theatre behind them. Across the street from them was a park that was cut of from the city's bright lights and busy streets by a high brick wall and several large trees. The gate, iron and sturdy looking, was open just across the street from them. Gar motioned over to the park and the two walked across the street and entered through the gateway.

 

“You weren't enjoying the movie?” Tara asked, as they stuck to the path of the park and walked over to a set of swings at the other side. She held her arms closely to her side, as they were walking quite close and she didn't want to scare him by accidentally touching his bare arms.

 

“No,” Gar said, kicking at a random stone as they walked. “It sucked. You?”

 

“I liked it.” She said, smiling.

 

“You liked it?” Gar gawked at her.

 

“Yeah,” Tara continued. “Or I liked the company. Just sitting there with you was nice.” She stopped short of her next step and looked down at her feet. “Sorry”

 

Gar stopped as well and looked back at her. “Hey, it's okay.” She looked up at him, her eyes tearing up. “Hey, don't cry.” He took a step closer and wiped her tears away. “I'm not mad or anything.”

 

“I know.” Tara hiccupped, turning her head to the side and wiping at her eyes. “But I jus didn't want you to…I didn't want to ruin the day. I've had such a good time. I know it isn't a date or anything, but being with you is nice. You were her best friend. I just want you to be my best friend.”

 

“Hey.” Gar turned her face to face his own and grinned at her. It was a grin he had never shown her before. It was a grin, but it was also his smile, for Garfield Logan always grinned, he never just smiled. And he was grinning at her. “I've had a good time too. Normally, being around you, it hurts, but not today. Today was great. You're a good friend.”

 

“Friend?” Tara asked, hope shining once again in her eyes.

 

“Friend.” Gar repeated.

 

“Does that mean…?” Tara paused. “You forgive me?”

 

“Yeah,” Gar nodded. “At least I'm willing to give you a chance.”

 

Tara beamed at him. “Oh Gar, Thank you!” And she pounced into his arms, hugging him tightly. Gar held her back, grinning at how happy he had made her. As he held her part of the pain she had, or the original, had caused him seemed to just vanish. He knew she wouldn't ever betray him in that instant. She was going to be a loyal friend to him. He could tell.

 

When she eventually pulled back tears of happiness stained her cheeks, she was grinning like an idiot and her eyes glowed with happiness. Gar looked over to the swings and Tara followed his gaze. They looked back at each other, and with a look that said `Race Ya!' both bounced of towards swings, Gar morphing into a cheetah.

 

It no longer mattered that the original Terra had betrayed him. Gar no longer felt that painful clenching of his heart when she was around. He no longer felt the anger and confusion having her around bestowed upon him.

 

He only felt the happiness inside himself when he saw her smile. The happiness he gave her.

 

That was enough.

 

She would always be the first girl he fell in love with.

 

She would always be his friend.

 

(----)

 

Hope you all liked. I really don't have anything to say so until next time…

 

-- Piccolo999