beast or boy?

Bart was into all kinds of games, and he could truly go on about this for a while. “I’ve been really into Zelda lately. I don’t know why! I think those adventure type games are crash. I’d play anything though, long as there’s a controller in my hand I’m completely invested.” The boy admits as he places a hand on his hip. “Collecting video games is the best thing to do. Oh! Puzzle games are fun, like Portal? Wish there was more like those!” The speedster admits as he tried to think about what his absolute favorite would be.

“Well, you have to tell me your favorite, so you better be picking one out quick, Speedy!” Garfield noted, trying to recall any sort of puzzle games that still existed. For someone with as many games as he did own, one would assume he would have gathered a favorite genre. Realistically though, his collecting was more so for his happiness and those around him, not so much to a point of being able to select one genre from others as the ultimate preference. “The company makes a difference, too. If you have someone who doesn’t vibe with your game type, or worse, doesn’t vibe with gaming in general... that’s trouble, man.” Fortunately for Garfield, having a decent follower count on his YouTube channel that was created specifically for gaming ruled out others being able to dismiss that as not being common knowledge about him. “I guess I would just have to win them over with my comics from there, or hope for the best.” 

The boy’s eyes light up at the mention of video games, not even thinking about going on patrol anymore now that this was brought up. If this is what living in the tower will be like then the speedster is excited! “Nice! I moved a few things into mine as well. What games do you have? I’d love to play with you sometime!” He says with a bright smile, the two of them going to get along more than he thought originally.

“A super SICK collection of them!” Garfield replied, nodding to himself. The Titan had collected plenty of games over the years, but his favorite were always the Pokemon games. But, he kept those stashed away for his own alone time to play. “What games are you into? Honestly I’ve probably got it, if I don’t though, I’m sure I have something close to it!” His favorite part about adventuring around the world through the years, was picking up a sweet little digital gift for himself to bring back home. “I like to get a game every time I go somewhere new... some people collect keychains, I collect video games!”

“WHY does everyone threaten to scream at the top of their lungs, like that’s the most annoying thing you can do to me?” Garfield questioned, pounding the buttons on his controller. He was competitive, and having too much time on his hands as well as too many untouched video games from the trip, it was becoming his sole mission to beat every Titan in at least one video game. However, Garfield was quick to always choose another competitive companion, often leading into empty threats or smaller threats that were entirely fulfilled. “You think I can’t beat your ass in this game while you scream? Go for it, Fishy.”

“A screenshot of someone thirsting over you in the comments.” Pulling the image to view again on his laptop, Garfield pointed at the specific comment mentioned — recording new videos while being in the Tower, it wasn’t exactly easy to not have some background extras passing through. “I’m just trying to hook you up! Maybe you’ll fall in love.... or whatever, you fall into. I could be your wingman!”

“Sure, Dick, a... blessing,” Garfield retorted, rolling his eyes, a small smile daring to paint his lips. Realistically, he did see Dick as a blessing in his life, but openly admitting that would only inflate his ego to proportions no one was prepared to handle in the Tower.

“JOHNNY,” Garfield started, quickly flipping the lights on, “I’m not letting you sit in here, all depressed and whatever.” Although he was in touch with his own feelings enough to sit in a room full of depressing music, it still wasn’t exactly something he ever planned for, and would prevent it when possible. “Let’s go play a video game.”

“CHRIS, you are three,” Garfield chuckled, snatching the card back from him, “Also... you freakin’ cried when I beat you in Mario Kart the other day and wouldn't stop until I agreed to a rematch, then let you win!”

                  She was thankful for short walk going to the Tower. Usually, there was a hint of dread in her bones, afraid she will be not be welcomed, something she couldn’t help but feel every time she enters the premises. A way for her not to be attached really. Despite those feelings and every single walls she build around her, it used to be her him and the Titans is her family.

                  Rose was reading between his words that possibly wasn’t there. The stunt she did, some people would call it stupidity. Maybe, it was, not like Rose would admit that. Ignoring the chairs, Rose sat on the counter and at his statement, a laughed started bubbling down her throat until it echoed within the room.     “ Yeah, for pissing Slade off. Not even. He only gives a shit when he wants to. Don’t be so hard on your self because they won’t. “       She scoffed and shrugged before placing her attention back to the wound. She is feeling less pain on the wound which was not exactly a good thing especially when it was not really drying up. Rose might have possibly underestimated her wound.      “ It might need some elastic bandage to shut it up. It’s sobbing now.  “              

Garfield placed his hands on his hips for a moment, debating on the best contents to use for bandaging the wound. There were plenty of instances where the Titans would be bandaging each other, sometimes even at the same time. For him, there was comfort in someone else wrapping the bandages, a sense of care and protection with the delicacy used. Balling two pieces of gauze into a fist, Garfield carefully dabbed at the liquid, attempting to clean as much as possible before wrapping any material around. The mention of Slade always caught him off guard, no matter who it was from. “Dunno why you always try to act like we don’t like you.” Being the first to always embrace newcomers, it was almost disheartening for him to hear her speak that way.

Throwing the gauze away, his eyes glanced back at the counter as he debated. It seemed like the gauze was helping to dry the wound, at least a bit, but there was the risk of infection. “Okay, this is going to sting, so take a deep breath... then scream or something. By something, I mean... not hitting me instead. Or, do, but like, not hard.” Pouring peroxide over the wound, Garfield dabbed the surface with gauze again to be sure it was continuing to dry.

Bart doesn’t really know how to cope with his own trauma, but usually covers it up with doing something else. He doesn’t think talking about it would do anything to fix it, but that doesn’t stop him from opening up sometimes. This is how the speedster starts making jokes because maybe that will help the situation. “Yeah, I’m going to be there. It was that or move back in with Jay back in Keystone.” Which was too far away from all his friends that he cares about here. “Are you as well? It’s going be to be so much fun! I like when we’re all together.”

“Well, I think that’s a good decision. You should stay close.” Garfield enjoyed the opportunities that would come around for them all to be together again. Regardless of specific team pairs, he had an appreciation for all Titans. There were always members he would be closer to, yet it didn’t diminish the respect he had for them. “I’ve got my room all set up again already!” His face beamed. “I’ve got lots of comics and video games. So, if you ever get bored off of patrol...”

“Um... not saving my parents, because, y’know... I probably could have. And they were my parents.”

The music was blaring, costumed partiers all around them as they entered the Halloween party. Garfield was definitely a party-goer when invited, but even more so when the invite came from his best friend. Being a shapeshifter, the costume wasn’t necessary. That didn't stop him from purchasing a skeleton-themed blazer and painting his face, though, to get into the true spirit of Halloween. This was the only time of the year that he felt normal, despite others only being costumed for one night instead of their whole lives. Moving his hips to the music, his arms followed shortly after, heading straight into the air. “You can’t compete with these dance moves, Vic! I am the master.”

“I’ve had no choice but to spend countless hours with Dick... but, Roy is hot. Tough decision.”

“Tommy boy, you’ve got my number.”