Of a Beast and Men
By: Burning Truth
Disclaimer: I do not own the show. Trust me on that one.
Chapter 1: Stupid
The pounding of his paws beat in his ears. His breathing was beginning to get ragged. Stupid cheetahs, can run 60 miles per hour, but they have no freaking stamina. Pushing the burning sensation to the back of his mind he smelled the air.
He was getting close.
Following the scent he made a sharp left, he couldn't help but skid and he cursed the stupid animal again. Running a few more yards, the scent finally got strong. Jumping up he started running on two legs. Not as a cheetah, but as himself. He caught sight of the figure he'd been tracking.
Running, freaking running!
"Robin! Stop!" He called.
But the damn boy wouldn't listen to him. Pushing himself as hard as he could, he started closing the gap between them both. As soon as he got close he leapt at the masked boy and wrapped his body around him. In his tired state he had a little trouble controlling the anaconda's instinct to constrict the boy, but he managed.
"Beast Boy, get off of me!" The boy yelled.
But he couldn't. Even as a snake he could sense it, taste it. The danger that lie ahead. If he let the boy go, he would be gone. Not any type of gone that could be brought back. But gone. Never coming back, just say your last goodbye.
He could feel the boy struggling and just tried to hold on to him. Why did he have to be so stupid. Why did he have to run off on his own, why did he make him chase him down, why did he have to struggle! He wished the other Titans would get here soon. He was drained, and he was sure he wouldn't be able to hold the boy for much longer.
"Beast Boy, he's getting away! What are you doing! Beast Boy!"
The desperation in his voice sent a shiver down his back. Had it been a different situation he would have chuckled (That's a long back to get shivers down! Ha, ha!). But he needed to concentrate. Why did the damn boy have to be so stupid. He was only trying to protect him. If he took one step forward...
"Here they are! Friend Beast Boy, Friend Robin! ...What is going on?" The orange humanoid girl flew over to them. Studying the situation, she held Robin. She wasn't sure what was going on, but she knew that the boy would need to be restrained. She watched the giant snake slip off the boy, and melt into a different shape.
Panting the green boy spoke. "Robin, please, you can't take another step forward."
The boy didn't respond. He just closed his eyes and scowled in concentration. Sensing his self control the girl let go of him turning to speak to the final two members of the team.
"Robin, you have to trust me..." Beast Boy stammered out.
"You let him get away." His tone as hard as stone and cold as ice.
"Robin, I knew what I was doing." He tried to explain.
"You let him get away." He repeated sounding less calm and more hysterical.
"Robin-" Beast Boy didn't get the chance to finish his thought, as a gloved fist connected to his cheek. His body, smaller, and drained, flew straight into the trap he had tried to protect the boy from.
"Robin!" Someone's harsh scold, drowned out by the explosion.
When the dust settled they looked at the ground, scorched and empty. It didn't quite make sense. Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, a short green boy with pointed ears appeared.
"Beast Boy, I'm-" The trembling voice, uncharacteristic of the boy, was cut off.
He didn't speak. He didn't even face them. He just raised a hand, gesturing the other boy to stop speaking. Slowly he opened his hand. A small yellow disk fell to the floor, cracked and worn. In a swift motion he jumped into the air, and a second later a green bird flew off into the night.
"Beast Boy!" He heard the echo of the call, but he just flew on, not looking back.