Wordless ways to say “I love you” no. 7 with Garfield and any/all of the titans :chinhands: please and thank you -smek-
also on AO3 :fingerguns:
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Returning home after fights is always a little messy. Whether they’re bouncing in excitement for a cool move or roiling in melancholy over a loss, someone always needs to be patched up. Showers are a must even if they weren’t fighting slime monsters. And ever since things changed in the relationships of the various members, there’s been a noticeable increase in cuddle sessions, especially after hard missions.
Gar’s taken full advantage of this, shifting into a cat so he could get some perfectly-lap-sized, purr-box cuddles (the best kind, if you ask him). He’s learned the hard way that if two or three of his teammates—partners, when they’re at home—go off alone, he should steer clear. But that’s okay, usually a few of them stick around in the living room with him.
He’s the last out of the showers, having to take the time to brush the slime out of his fur. Sometimes it really blows being extra pettable. Feeling fresh and thankfully without too many tangles, he steps out of his cubicle and shifts into a dog to shake off the water. When he leaves the communal room, he’s still a little damp, but it’s the best he can do.
He rolls his shoulders as he walks down the hall, stretching out the aches. Definitely nap time. If another alien invasion happens, they’ll just have to go on without him. And whoever he’s sleeping on when the bells ring—he amuses himself with the thought all the way up until he steps into the living room.
It’s the biggest area on this floor, made to hold ten more heroes than have ever been on the team at one time. Batman’s money was enough to shell out for one of those ridiculously large sectional couches that can be moved into different shapes. Most of the time, it’s set up so that every seat has a good view of the television, but just as he comes in, Vic and Joey get done moving the last piece of it. Into a square. A very comfortable looking square.
Gar is drawn to it, even more so when Kory and Roy start pulling out their stash of blankets—with so many people around, they have a surplus.
They’re all there. He gets it, okay, he knows sometimes they feel better not-sleeping off the adrenaline together, but that’s never been his thing. Not even after he realized, oh duh, he wasn’t the odd one out while they all dated each other, he’s part of it too. He doesn’t begrudge them that.
But it’s rare that they all stay together, after—actually, he’s not sure it’s ever happened. Not with the whole group, just most of it.
“Come on,” Dick says, suddenly beside him. He’s not wearing his domino, and the sunlight from the windows makes him look soft and smiley. Gar thinks he might even see a hint of teeth. He must be really relaxed, then. “That was a rough one, and we thought some time all together would be good.”
“Are you surprised?” Raven asks, stepping up on his other side. Whereas Dick is pressing their shoulders together, all she does is lay a hand on his arm. His fur springs and sways under her touch. Around them, the others are climbing into the almost bed-like space.
Beaming, he nods. “Really surprised.”
“Good,” Dick says. He and Raven share a look over Gar’s shoulders, mischief crinkling the corners of Dick’s eyes. His hand rests on Gar’s back and pushes him forward, with just enough force that Gar bumps into the side of the couch. He flails a little at the sudden movement, tipping face first into the mess of blankets and cracking his knee against the wood. Donna shifts her legs so he’s not mashing his nose into them.
“Dick!” Several voices call out.
“Sorry, sorry.” Dick winces, his hands hovering as Gar rights himself.
He waves a hand, unbothered. Falling into the couch cushion is way better than getting thrown into brick walls like he was earlier today… more than once. “S’all good,” he laughs, patting Dick on the shoulder to show he’s really not mad. He twists to flop onto his back in the middle of the couch-bed-thing, uncaring that he also lands on the others’ legs and laps.
His knee aches but he barely pays it any mind, not when he’s got them all around him, happy and winding down from a hard fight. Or, he doesn’t until he suddenly feels a hand gently maneuver his leg. He looks down, surprised to see Dick sitting next to Donna now. He’s the one touching Gar, his fingers as light as his feet can be. A bruise is starting to bloom where he hit his knee, light purple now, not unlike the other bruises littering his body from earlier in the day.
Gar’s breath catches in his throat as Dick leans down to kiss the spot.
Donna leans forward, Dick leaning back to make room for her, and then—she does it too. Just two little pecks. Fully within his comfort zone and not an inch too far.
They both glance up at him, meeting his eyes, smiling at him like he’s… something precious. Gar has never fully understood the whole Wonder Twins thing, just because they have dark hair and blue eyes doesn’t mean much, but. He thinks he gets it now. Their earnest looks, the obvious affection in their eyes, the way they’re sinking into each others’ sides so comfortably. It’s a lot.
Having their attention on him is enough to make his heart race.
“Sorry again, Gar,” Dick says.
He stutters, “T-thanks. Wait, I mean, it’s okay. No big.”
“Hey,” Roy calls from across the sectional. “Can you three stop flirting for a minute and help us pick out a movie?”
Dick winks at him before he starts crawling over. Donna lays her hand on his ankle, and he gulps, not in discomfort but in the sudden realization that… well, that he really loves all of them. He’s screwed.
