The Commencing

Chapter Four

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Chapter Four.

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The car hummed along the interstate, the miles stretching endlessly before them in a monotonous journey through Gotham City. The gentle hum of the engine served as a backdrop to their conversation as the highway stretched out before them.

"So, any animal?" Richard inquired, his curiosity adding a spark to the otherwise mundane drive. He cast a sidelong glance at the rearview mirror, his eyes capturing Garfield's expression.

Garfield, having grown comfortable in the back seat, responded with pride, leaning back and resting his head on his hands. "Any animal that has walked on the face of the earth."

"But they are all green... and vegetarian?" Richard continued, lifting his brow at the inquiry.

Garfield sat up abruptly, a hint of defensiveness in his voice. "Oh, I'm sorry. A green tiger is still a tiger."

"But a lot less intimidating." Richard clarified.

Garfield crossed his arms and slouched back in his seat, feigning offense. "That's greenist."

"And this all happened because you got the flu?" Richard asked, his skepticism very apparent.

"It was a deadly disease." Garfield defended bitterly. "No human has survived it."

"Okay." Richard said, accepting this information and, without much fanfare, broached a new subject. "So, let's see it."

Garfield stared at him, momentarily surprised by the request. "Like, right now?" He asked, a hint of hesitation apparent in his voice.

Richard maintained a serious expression. "Yeah, why not? Just don't ruin the upholstery."

Garfield stammered awkwardly in response. "Well, see... the thing is... I didn't exactly bring a change of clothes..."

Richard curiously raised an eyebrow. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Have you ever seen a tiger wear a pair of jeans?" Raven asked, shifting her gaze off her book to glance at Richard.

It didn't take long for Richard to process the information. "Wait? So, you just strip out of your clothes every time you change?" He asked, steering his gaze back at the person in the backseat.

"Unfortunately." Garfield replied simply as if discussing a mundane detail. "Or I just rip through them." He said, shrugging nonchalantly.

"Have you thought about not going big?" Raven suggested, adding her two cents to the conversation.

Garfield, intrigued by the suggestion, tilted his head in contemplation. He had always preferred transforming into larger animals to showcase his powers, so the idea of turning into a smaller creature was a new perspective he hadn't considered before. But it was definitely worth a try.

The sound that followed was a peculiar one, and Richard couldn't help but glance in the rear-view mirror, his curiosity piqued at the bizarre, bone-cracking noise. The sound ceased, and Richard's expression shifted from bemusement to intrigued as he focused on the small green chimp wearing his oversized clothing.

"Interesting." Richard commented with an amused smirk, his eyes locking onto the tiny primate who met his gaze with a toothy green grin.

The peculiar sound returned, this time in reverse, as Garfield smoothly transitioned back into his human form. It was a seamless transformation that left Richard still amused and slightly bewildered.

"I know, right?" Garfield responded with a sense of accomplishment, his tone holding a hint of playful arrogance as if he had just demonstrated a unique and extraordinary party trick.