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It is a slow night for the Titans. A bank robbery stopped in the West, and a messy evacuation was executed in a building on fire in the East. It’s something, but it is still uncharacteristically silent for San Francisco.
As expected, Robin is annoyed by the lack of crime. "It’s the PD’s fault," he says. "They’re blocking reports because they know we’re better than them at doing their job." Exasperated, he throws his hands in the air, and his baton almost slips from his grasp. His usual calm demeanour is lost, but not his perseverance. "They won’t get rid of us. We can find crime on our own."
Hank and Dawn say some nonsense that, indeed, Garth does not listen to. If Robin wants to stay, then they will.
"Maybe it’s for the best, Rob," Donna says, fixing her hair, merely to distract them from her yawning. "A good night of sleep will do us good." Wrapping her lasso with a tight knot, she glances at Garth, expecting him to support her. And he should since he has been worried for Dick’s health. His beloved barely makes time to take care of himself.
Yet, as Aqualad, he gets where Robin is coming from. Even if they stay outside for nothing, overseeing empty streets, Robin has sworn to protect this city. A promise he won’t ignore just to get a few hours of extra sleep. And neither Aqualad will. "I’ll stay with him." He says to Donna, glimpsing at Robin, nodding to reassure him that he’ll have his back. "You guys can go back to the Tower."
Behind him, Hank snorts. "Pussywhiped, aren’t you, Fishboy? Can’t imagine Aquaman will be pleased with a spineless heir."
Not even Dawn laughs.
Dick says, "Garth, no!" But Donna and Dawn do nothing to stop him, so he can’t be that wrong for using a water rope around Hank’s throat, tightly suffocating him.
"Garth, don’t!" Robin quickly rushes to his side. "Hank is an idiot, but he’s our idiot. A teammate, remember?"
If that’s the best excuse Dick can come up with to preserve Hank’s physical integrity... "For Neptune! It’s absurd he’s in the team!" Garth could swallow his pride and ask Roy to come back. He would even persuade Kaldur to join them just to get a real teammate.
"Remember what we talked?," Dick whispers close to his ear. And yes, Garth remembers. Dick made a good case, explaining how having more humans in the Titans was a good idea to appear more approachable than the Justice League.
"With Superman and Wonder Woman, people feel like they are talking to Gods. But with us? They see humans," he said.
Garth wouldn’t say Dick isn’t right. However, he can’t say that Hank and Dawn are the best choices among the human heroes either. Though Garth wouldn’t call it a flaw, his beloved gives his trust to others too fast. And he can’t even blame Dick for loneliness causing such damage to the gentlest hearts. All his beloved ever wanted was a family, and it shows by some poor choices he has made.
(But it’s okay. Garth won’t judge him. He knows. He understands. Dick is the result of carrying the weight of Gotham on his shoulders, aiming too high to protect others, and yet falling short of the high expectations of his mentor.)
"Please, let him go," Dick says, unwavering in his decision. Yet, he speaks with the kindness he reserves for him. Only for him.
(Dick has low standards when it comes to teammates, friends and family. Some parts of him have been shattered to the point of no return. But it’s okay because Garth is here with him, and he will be damned if he lets anything bad happen to Dick.)
"As you wish," he drops Hank, and turns to Dick, "happy now?" Garth hopes Dick sees through him. He hopes Dick can hear the silent 'I’m always on your side' behind his actions.
"Thanks," Dick says, holding Garth’s hip with one hand and brushing off the hair of his own face to kiss Garth.
There is noise in the background, Donna containing Hank and Dawn complaining about Hank’s attitude. But Garth couldn’t care less, and neither Dick does since he is deepening the kiss, unbothered by who might be watching them.
And yes, the team has their eyes on them.
(Dick expressing his affection in public is what Garth calls progress. It’s proof that he is the right one to navigate the storms tormenting Dick’s heart.)
Dick breaks the kiss and turns back to see the mess Garth caused. Concealing his proud smirk, he beholds the chaos: Hank and Dawn fighting, and Donna did with both of them, tired of playing the mediator.
The things Garth does for him. "I think we should leave."
"Are you guys for real?" The frowning marks on Donna’s forehead give her away. She is far from pleased to be left alone with Hank and Dawn.
"You said you wanted to sleep. Go back to the Tower. No one’s stopping you." Yes, Garth is selfish. He can’t wait for them to leave.
Dick, though, shares his desires—and it makes Garth’s heart bloom—He rushes him to leave, barely wasting some words to say goodbye because even if Dick pretends to be neutral, and diplomatic as a leader, they both know that Dick is biased over him.
(Dick wants him. That’s for sure. His touch doesn’t lie. His sloppy hungry kisses can’t pretend indifference. His hands constantly seeking his, holding onto him, speak louder than the words that Dick can’t bring himself to say.)
"Ah," Dick sighs, exhausted, losing his balance slightly as he lands on a rooftop, next to Garth. "It’s like the night is just beginning."
"If you say so…" It truly is not. Dick is tired, and so is Garth, but Dick won’t stop pretending he is fine when he is not.
"Sure," Dick says, and his smile is both bright and dark. And sometimes, Garth can’t understand how Dick wears such contradictions on his face. But Garth isn’t afraid of his moonlight smile that fades in the clarity that is born in the dawn, threatening to uncover all the monsters Dick keeps hidden in the closet.
No. Garth isn’t afraid of the sorrows that have conquered Dick’s heart. Because Dick has been broken by human hands, but he hasn’t met the power of the ocean, the type of destruction and redemption that Neptune’s kind knows well.
"So, ready to find trouble?" Dick smirks smugly, confident that Garth won’t deny him.
And Garth won’t. He won’t push him. "You have no idea." It all comes in waves. Dick will burn his pain the only way he knows how—the only way it works—but he will come back to his arms, and Garth will carry him home.