Cold-Blooded: A DC Universe Fanfiction (#Wattys2015)

Chapter 32: Gar: A Fly On The Wall

Because Gar saw her from a distance, it wasn't so much the new clothes or the changes to her hair and makeup that made him look twice before he realized that really was Rose. Her body language was altogether different—she stood up straighter and moved lightly instead of trudging. She was even smiling as her thumbs danced over her phone.

"That's her," he pointed her out to Kitaro, whose mouth had dropped open.

"You have to introduce me to her," the Japanese youth said.

"What? Umm—I don't think that's such a good idea. I mean, from a distance she might look good, but—."

"I could never work up the courage to talk to a girl like that on my own," Kitaro pleaded, "and even if I tried, what reason would she have to think I'm not just another jerk? I have to meet her. Please!"

"It's not that hard to talk to girls you don't know. I do it all the time," Gar said.

"And how many of them do you actually become friends with?" Kitaro shot back at him.

"Friends? You think that's the point of talking to girls?"

"I think it's a good place to start—and how many do you become more than friends with, then?" Kitaro asked.

"Plenty!" Gar insisted.

"Really?" Kitaro raised an eyebrow.

"Yes! Anyhow, the point is—hey, she's walking away! Quick, do you see a big, tall, one-eyed man anywhere?"

Kitaro quickly looked up and down the street. "No."

"Good. Rose! Hey, Rose!" Gar jumped up and down as he yelled, waving his arms.

Rose stopped, looked around. "Gar?" she called back.

"Yeah!" It took a moment for her to cross the street and join them.

"What are you doing here? Are the Titans—?" she asked.

"What did you do to your hair?" Gar blurted out. He had thought she was wearing a blue scarf or something when he saw her from across the street.

"Oh, I just felt like changing it," she shrugged. "Anyway, what are the Titans here to deal with? Or—?" Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Oh, no. Am I the girl you had to follow? I am, aren't I? You little sh—sneak!"

"You look very nice today!" Gar gabbled, to deflect her fury, or at least try to. Besides, it was true, blue hair and all, and she smelled like lemon-vanilla frosting. "and—uh—this is Kitaro Yamada. Or Yamada Kitaro, I forget which way it's supposed to go. He saved my life."

"He didn't do me any favor, doing that." Rose glanced at the russet haired youth. Then she did a double take. "Wait, I know you from somewhere. You were at Yushima Tenmangu last week!"

"Uh, yes." The youth ducked his head. "I was there to ask for help on my exams. I remember you, too, and your friends."

"Do you make a habit of photobombing other people's group selfies?" she asked him.

"So far, only those with blonde American girls who speak Japanese like they were born here," he said, with a quick, shy smile. "and so far I've only come across one of those. I never thought I'd see you again, much less get to meet you."

"Well, thank you for taking good care of my idiot teammate, anyway," she said, and her hand stole up to play with the ends of her hair.

"Ah…" Gar interposed himself between them. "Rose is visiting Tokyo with her very large, very violent father and his lady friend, and they might appear any moment."