Rule Number One

Chapter Three

...

Garfield glanced at the cat-shaped clock on the wall, its wide, cartoonish eyes swinging side to side in sync with the rhythmic ticking. Each second seemed to stretch out endlessly, the sound growing louder in the stillness of the room. It mocked him, an ever-present reminder of how out of sync he felt in this timeline.

His gaze drifted to the bunk bed, where his younger self lay sprawled out in blissful slumber, snoring softly. The carefree way his younger counterpart faced the situation was maddening. It wasn't just the naïveté, it was the complete lack of awareness of how much was at stake. Garfield felt a pang of envy for that youthful oblivion, quickly replaced by irritation. How could he have ever been so... nonchalant?

Unable to bear the waiting or the bitterness brewing in his chest, Garfield approached the bunk bed. He stared down at his younger self for a moment, taking in the details he hadn't thought about in years, the messy hair sticking up in every direction, the peaceful, untroubled expression. It was almost hard to believe they were the same person.

Reaching over, Garfield gave his younger self a firm but gentle shake. "Garfield." He said, his voice low but insistent. "Garfield, wake up."

The boy stirred, mumbling something incoherent as his face scrunched up. "Mommy?" He murmured groggily, his voice muffled by his pillow. His eyes snapped open a second later, wide and startled as they darted toward Garfield. For a brief moment, confusion clouded his features, but it quickly melted away as the events of the previous day came flooding back.

"Don't worry." Garfield spoke, his tone softer now as he stepped back to give him space. "You'll get used to hearing your name again once the others find out."

Beast Boy blinked, rubbing his eyes as he sat up. "Wait... they find out?" He asked, his voice still thick with sleep but tinged with curiosity.

"Yep." Garfield replied, crossing his arms casually. "Our secret identity was the first to get exposed. Not that it mattered much in the end. Honestly, looking back, it feels kind of pointless."

Beast Boy's eyes lit up with excitement, the prospect of future revelations sparking his curiosity. "Wait, does that mean you know who the others are?"

Garfield smirked, his expression a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Yep. And before you even ask—no, I'm not telling you. Don't waste your breath."

"Aw, come on!" Beast Boy groaned, throwing his hands up in exaggerated frustration. "Just a hint? Please?"

"Sorry." Garfield said flatly, the unapologetic tone in his voice making it clear there was no room for negotiation. "We don't need you mocking Robin's name before he gets the chance to reveal it himself."

Beast Boy's face lit up with a mischievous grin. "Oh it's that bad, huh?"

Garfield shook his head, a small smirk playing on his lips. "You'll find out soon enough." He replied, his tone carrying a touch of knowing amusement. But as quickly as the playful moment had come, his expression turned serious again. "For now, go see if there's any news."

Beast Boy stifled a yawn, stretching his arms above his head. "Fine, fine." He said, hopping down from the top bunk with practiced ease. His bare feet hit the cold floor with a soft thud before shuffling toward the door.

As the door clicked shut behind his younger self, Garfield let out a long, weary sigh. His gaze returned to the clock, its tail wagging back and forth like a metronome. Each tick felt heavier now, a constant reminder that time was running out.

The hallway was unnervingly quiet as Beast Boy made his way toward the common area. Though the closer he got the more muffled voices began to bleed through the silence. The sharp edges of raised tones piqued his curiosity, and he slowed his pace, padding softly across the floor until he reached the door.