008

— what lies beyond the lights —

HAZEL DIDN'T WASTE A SECOND IN RUNNING INTO GAR'S ARM. He was already ready to catch her, his arms winding around her and pulling her as close to him as he could. Hazel held on to him, her arms wrapped tightly around his shoulders. "You're here," Hazel said in relief, her arms squeezing him tighter. "You're actually here."

Hazel stepped back to look at Gar, but he kept his arm secured around her, a part of him afraid she might slip away. Hazel rested her hands on his shoulders, but she quickly moved them to hold his face when he smiled. "You'd think I'd leave you?" Gar scoffed, his voice teasing.

Hazel laughed softly, mostly it was a breath of relief, but she did laugh.

She was ready to go and continue to babble on about how much she missed Gar, when she finally took notice of the bright green lights flashing around them. "Oh my god," Hazel marvel, looking around, her eyes darting around, following the trails of light that ran all over the sky. "Are you doing this?"

Hazel tried to step away, but Gar quickly tightened his arm and brought Hazel back to him. "We have so much to talk about," Gar said with a giddy grin. They both jumped when an orange and yellow lightning zapped past them, like someone had run past them. "Hazel," Gar spun Hazel toward him and held onto her tightly. "Whatever happens, do not let go of me."

Hazel's eyebrows creed in confusion, worry taking over her. She squeezed his arms and nodded softly, "Okay." The golden lightning zapped around them again and opened a portal, a window into another universe. A tall brunette boy dressed in a Flash costume ran by, exactly like the Flash. Then with a bang the lightning crashed into them both and set them flying through a different opened window.

As they fell through the portal, the feeling of Hazel's knees hitting the hard concrete, while painful, saved her from the awful feeling of nausea. Hazel was quick to stop herself from rolling again, kicking herself off the concrete to stand. Gar had stood as well, but he was groaning as he rolled his shoulder in pain.

"Christ, Gar," Hazel called, rushing to him and grabbing his arm, stopping him from moving it. "Are you okay?" Gar nodded quickly, assuring Hazel he was okay, but they both looked away when a voice called out to them.

"Hello?"

Gar jumped, nearly shouting in surprise when a girl with golden curled hair, and some sort of blue and white super suit. Hazel raised her hands in defence, watching the golden staff in the woman's hands. Hazel looked at the girl and raised an eyebrow, "Hi?"

The girl looked between them both, just as confused as Hazel. "Are you alright?" She asked, taking a small step closer.

Gar looked at Hazel before he too stepped forward, "Where are we?"

The girl looked between them, her confusion growing even more but she answered him honestly, "You're in Blue Valley. Nebraska."

"Nebraska?" Hazel repeated stepping forward.

"Oh! North America," Gar shouted, clicking his fingers as he spun in a circle.

"Yeah, you came from nowhere. Just a light in the sky," The girl explained quickly. "I saw it."

"Sorry, who are you?" Hazel asked.

"I'm Stargirl," she said with a smile, keeping her tone upbeat. Gar smiled at her and Stargirl continued, raising her staff in their direction. "This is—" Her staff hummed and the bright light inside vibrated and moved quickly up and down the staff, the staff making an almost ringing noise. "Cosmo!" She cursed, telling the light off. She turned back to Hazel and Gar, giving them an apologetic smile. "Sorry. And you are?"

"I'm Videl, this is Beast Boy," Hazel introduced, ignoring the look of confusion from Gar.

"Do you need help?" Stargirl asked, making Gar turn to her. He stared at her for a moment longer before Gar began to cackle.

Both Hazel and Stargirl stared at Gar while he laughed but Hazel was quick to turn to the girl with a smile. "Sorry, he does that when he's tired," Hazel explained away with a joke, but it made Gar nudge her softly in annoyance. Hazel slapped his hand away but kept her eyes on Stargirl. "We need to get back to our family."

Stargirl smiled softly and nodded, "Well, I know how important family is."

"I get the sense that you do," Gar said smiling with her. "We need to get to them."

Stargirl nodded again. "Where are they?"

"Uh. . . good question," Gar said in a low voice, his eyes zoning out as he focussed harder. He quickly grabbed Hazel's hand and pulled them a few steps back. He nodded before taking a deep breath and shouting, "Take me to my family."

Both Hazel and Stargirl stared at Gar as nothing happened. "Who is he talking to?" Stargirl finally asked, keeping her voice to a whisper as she leaned closer to Hazel.

"I have a vague idea, but, uh," Hazel shrugged softly, "I'm not too sure."

Gar looked up at Hazel and pulled her closer. She watched his eyes turn bright red before he turned his head away again, shouting again, "Take me!" Sparks of red exploded from Gar's body, spreading around him and Hazel. Then they were flung back once again, flying and bouncing around the portals. They were thrown out into a void, pink and purple lights pulsing around them as Gar and Hazel floated freely without any gravity.

Gar reached out for Hazel, grabbing onto her and pulling her down towards him. He barely had time to pull her into his arms before they were zipping through the lights again. Only a few moments later they were thrown into the sands. Gar landed on his feet and held onto Hazel as she got her footing.

Once she did, she held onto Gar's arms, gripping onto him in case she did slip away. The sounds around them grew, different lights of every colour flashing around them, some of the lights snapping making them jump. A purple light snapped by them and Gar quickly pulled her away as a window opened revealing a dark, mossy human-like creature with red beady eyes staring back at them.

Hazel waved cautiously and the creature made a sound of approval. The window closed the lights bursting out and spreading around them. Red and golden lights were quick to race by as the window chased after a man in a red suit zooming past skyscrapers. The window flashed by as more and more windows into dimensions raced by; a man in a Blue Beetle suit, a man in a shiny silver helmet fighting butterflies?

One portal was moving slower than the others, letting the pair see a bald man in a freshly pressed tuxedo walking through an old money library. He seemed to notice the window and looked at them, a small smile growing on his face. "I can see," he said with glee. "Do you see me?"

Gar waved softly, smiling at the man as Hazel called out to him, "Hello." The lights flashed and the man disappeared, but their attention quickly moved to the sound of a TV turning on. They spun around and watched what looked to be a cartoon version of the pair calling themselves by BB and Vi. There were little differences; BB's suit was purple and black, his skin was permanently green, Vi's hair was long and straight. But it was them.

Hazel turned to Gar and grinned, "See? You're my favourite in every universe." Gar smiled and shook his head at her.

More lights flashed by, opening more windows and showing them more glimpses into these superheroes' lives, but the number of voices had grown too much and began to pour into Gar's brain, burning at his skull. Gar whined, the pain tearing at him, forcing him to press his hands to his head in an attempt to relieve the pressure. "Gar?" Hazel called out with worry. Her hand moved to squeeze his arms as she dropped to her knees to try and see his face.

He looked up at her, low , threatening growls tearing from the back of his throat, his eyes burning bright red. "Gar, you can do this," Hazel said, her words stern and not up for discussion. "Just breathe."

Gar took a deep breath, the growls setting to a single growl and his eyes returned to their soft honey toffee. He stood upright, Hazel hands still holding onto him as they stood. Their moment of peace was cut when a thrumming sound, like the low bass echo of a guitar thrum reverberated around them. Rays of rainbow light, twisting and bouncing off each other and creating colours Hazel didn't know existed.

The wind started to pick up and then they both noticed all the light surging and running in one direction, creating one large central portal. The wind started to grow stronger and picked up Hazel's legs. Gar called out to her, grabbing onto her and holding her tight as they were thrown out into the lights one final time.

They zipped through the lights, the thrumming growing louder alongside Gar's earlier orders to take me to my family. The portal grew closer, and Gar wrapped Hazel tight in his arms, twisting them to ensure he fell through the window first and slammed into the hard floor. They both groaned out in pain as they were finally on solid ground, with a much less than graceful landing.

Hazel hissed out in pain and let herself roll off of Gar's body and into the grassy ground. Grassy ground? Hazel let her hands rake through the green grass, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion as her eyes wandered further up the walls and roof, looking at the vines and thick shrub bushes. Both Hazel and Gar used their arms to push themselves up; Hazel managed to push herself to somewhat sit but Gar could only whimper in pain, his body collapsing in exhaustion.

"Gar? Hey, hey," Hazel kneeled beside him, one hand moving to his face, the other staying on his chest to watch his heart. Hazel whispered his name again and through his tired eyes he looked up at her. "You can only go to sleep if you swear to wake up," Hazel compromised, bargaining with Gar as he started to drift off.

Gar opened his eyes just enough to look up at her and his hand reached out trying to find her. He grabbed onto her leg, squeezing her thigh softly. "Of course, sunshine," He promised, his voice fading out in exhaustion as his head rolled to the side, his eyes shut tight. But Hazel kept her hand to his chest, feeling his heartbeat.

"Shit."

Hazel's head snapped up and she stared at a boy with dark skin and bio mechanical parts that covered nearly his whole body. He stood by the fireplace, his jaw open and eyes wide in surprise as he stared at the two before him. "You're. . . He's. . ."

"Just call me Hazel," Hazel called out, keeping her voice steady. "What's your name?"

"Uh, Vic," he said, his eyes still stuck on Gar's unconscious body.

"Vic, where am I?" Hazel urged, trying to make Vic's brain get through the shock.

"Um. . . my house?" Vic said, unsure of his own words as his eyes wandered to vines, and other foliage that had taken over the living room. "Oh my god," he mumbled. "Cliff! Guys!" He called out before finally walking over to Gar and Hazel. "I think we got a problem. A big green one."

Vic's voice echoed down the halls, and it met with heavy, thumping footsteps. They sounded oddly familiar, and then the name Cliff seemed just as familiar. "Cliff Steele?" Hazel asked, her head snapping to stare at Vic.

Then, just as she thought, the bronze Robotman himself, Cliff actually-a-cyborg Steele came barrelling into the living room, this time supporting a Gun n Roses t-shirt. He froze as he stared at the kid, now a well-known Titan, unconscious on the living room floor and then all he could say was "What the fuck?" Then he shifted at the waist, his metal body making a strange sound as he turned his attention to Hazel. "What the fuck?!"

"Hey man," Hazel said with a grin. "Can you give me a hand before what little is left of your brain explodes?" Cliff paused, before dramatically laughing at Hazel.

"We'll I see you haven't changed at all," Cliff huffed. He motioned for the others to back away as he stepped forward, and Vic and Hazel were quick to shuffle back, making room for Cliff to pull Gar's limp body into his arms.

He quickly hauled Gar into his arms and started to make his way down the hall, Cliff's heavy footsteps alerting a red haired, black horned fairy girl. Just as Hazel jumped to her feet to chase Cliff, the fairy slipped through the doorway. Hazel apologised as she rushed past her, but didn't stop to greet her instead she continued after Cliff.

As they got to the third floor and at the very end hall, which Cliff protested against insisting they go to a couch, but Hazel argued on getting him to a bed, there were even more footsteps. Hazel spun, smiling as she looked at the bandage wearing cook; he instead froze.

"What the fuck?" Larry cursed, staring at Hazel.

"Open the door," Cliff ordered, turning to Hazel, showing off the unconscious Gar in his arms.

"What the fuck?" Larry cursed, again.

Hazel laughed to herself as she turned to the door and opened it letting Cliff through. He lazily threw Gar on the bed, his body bouncing softly. "Dude," Hazel huffed, slapping Cliff's arm softly, a small metallic ding echoing through the room. She shook her head and walked over to Gar, trying to fix the way he was sprawled out on the bed.

Larry walked up to Cliff, and even if Hazel couldn't see him or his eyes through the bandages, she knew his eyes were wide open in shock. Larry placed a hand on Cliff's shoulder, "Uh. . . we can talk in the morning." Larry quickly urged Cliff out of the room, and they quickly closed the door, leaving Hazel alone in the silence with an unconscious Gar.

She didn't really give it a second thought when she crawled into the king-sized bed and collapsed next to Gar. She laid face down in the bed for a few moments, the promise of sleep unbelievably inviting but she shook it off and looked up at Gar's peaceful sleeping face. She could see the exhaustion in the bags under his eyes, she didn't know from what all she knew he needed sleep, so she stayed still and kept her hands tucked under her head and the pillow.

But as much as she wanted him to rest, a part of her wanted to be selfish and wake him up and just talk. Most of the time Gar did nearly all of the talking but Hazel had deemed his voice the best sound in the world. It was a loosely pulled together defence for falling asleep when she would fall asleep as he played video games. But secretly she did mean it, and right now she wanted to hear his voice.

"It would be really cool if you woke up," Hazel whispered, her voice kept to a soft whisper. Cautiously she reached her hand out and placed it on the side of his face, his skin still as warm and soft as it had always been. God, she had missed him.

She took her hand back and curled herself deeper into the soft mattress and warm quilt. She stared at the ceiling, her eyes raking along the walls and the vine taking over the ceiling and covering the ceiling light, flowers sprouting wherever they could. Hazel closed her eyes and remembered the way the Veman flower would glow and light up the world. She opened her eyes, her irises burning red and when her gaze locked onto the flowers it was almost like she could feel the flowers shifting and adapting to accommodate the light, and when she blinked the flowers were glowing just as she remembered. 

When sleep did eventually find her, she dreamed but it was not like she expected.

She knew where she was, exactly where she was, the sweet blue river at the end of the lavender field but this wasn't her lavender field. It was the twisted, mutated, the horrific version Micheal had made for her. There was no crystal water, just boiling red blood that splashed against her skin as the current swept past her. She had tried to reach the riverbank but every step she took towards it just seemed to stretch it further away.

Hazel had begun to panic, her breathing picking as she sloshed through the water at her hips. The hot water burned her skin, but she had to push it aside and find why the land was soon. She took a step further down the river and the sand slipped from under her, as if it had been waiting for her. Her body dropped deeper, the water rising to her waist, burning more of her skin.

But what caught her attention were the charred lavender flowers flowing through the water. She scooped some from the water, the purple flowers stained red and dripping blood. She let the flowers fall back to the water, flowing along the top of the water and out of her sight.

The wind howled, the trees letting out deep groans as the branches rubbed together. The blood water started the run faster, the wind blowing along the top to create waves that seemed to try and pull her under. Then, so faint she thought she had imagined it, a voice called over the wind. Hazel froze and looked around. It was different from the woman who spoke to her in a distorted way, somehow this voice felt familiar.

A few seconds later it was there again, a little louder, a little more familiar. Then a shout cut through the silence, "Hazel!"

It was Terran.

Hazel picked her feet up and raced through the water, trying not to get swept off in the current, while also fighting to move her legs through the water. But then the sand fell out from her feet again, sending her flying down the water. The water had seemed to speed up, throwing Hazel deeper underwater and sending her somewhere she had never been.

She washed up on a shore of tiny black pebbles, her clothes stained red with bloody water dripping from her hair. She coughed, forcing the water she had swallowed from deep in her lungs. She pushed herself onto her knees and then she noticed the girl lying next to her back towards Hazel.

A flash of worry tore through Hazel making her nauseous, but she still reached out and rolled the girl —Terran— onto her back. She was covered in deep, viscous stab wounds with thick red blood, distinctly different from the river; it wasn't something Hazel imagined, this was hers. This was Terran's blood.

Hazel sobbed, her hand moving to cover her mouth. "No, no, no," Hazel pleaded. Terran's face, her sweet face, was frozen in fear and pain, her teary eyes screaming for help. "This can't be real. This can't—" Hazel's head dropped, and she pulled Terran's body into her arms. "No. . ."

This was not a dream, Terran was dead.

Hazel held on to Terran as tight as she could, crying into the quiet air, her agony pouring out of her soul and onto the stoney ground. But not once did Hazel's body move in her sleep, trapped in her own mind with her grief and mourning.

— legacies —