Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.
It was moments after a crime fighting a snail-like monster who called himself Snailworth, and Beast Boy was running through the city in dog form taking up the free time he had before he headed back to the T-tower. It was after dark as the crime took a bit longer than usual - they kept getting stuck in the goo left behind on the pavement; Starfire shot star bolts from her hands which broke the goo freeing them from its confinement. Beast Boy sniffed himself into a dark alley finding a sweet aroma of a ripe banana carelessly thrown in the trash cans which lined up the alley when he suddenly heard soft cries. Beast Boy raised an ear, completely forgetting about the fruit, and headed to where he heard the noise. It was a little girl. Beast Boy, still as a dog, walked being a trash can and found a medium sized cardboard box and the girl cowering inside, her legs bent with arms wrapped around her legs... her head was down helping her tears leave her eyes falling before her. BB whimpered upon seeing her and she retaliated with the same sound. It was so dark now that the girl only saw a fuzzy dog. She couldn't make out his true color. Beast Boy slowly walked up to her and lay down beside her allowing her to cry into his fur. They were both now inside the box next to each other. Just then rain started to fall and it quickly picked up speed. 'sigh Guess I'm staying here for the night', BB thought. 'No way am I getting my fur wet. Anyway, this girl looks sad. She needs me here. I'll just bring her back to her family in the morning - she's probably lost - and then go back home in time for breakfast.'
The sun was just starting to rise and the box was soaking through with some water dripping onto the two sleepers. One landed on BB's nose. He instantly woke up, disturbed, but then remembered the girl and looked over at her. She was still sleeping. BB gently moved out of the box so her head resting on his fur wouldn't thump to the ground. Once outside the box BB shook his fur. He accidently woke up the girl who made a soft whimper. Beast Boy turned around and looked at her wondering what he should do. But before he could make a decision she spoke.
"Hi doggy." Her voice was young, but she looked to be about 8 or 9. She seemed frightened, but her words came out kindly. "Are you mistreated too?" BB just stayed there. The girl rubbed her eyes to wake herself up. She yawned and opened her eyes. "Why... why are you green?"
BB walked back a few steps and morphed back into his typical form. He had a serious, but saddened face as he looked at the girl.
"You're not a dog." Her lip quivered. "You tricked me! Everyone always tricks me!" She starts crying and lies down on the ground, head in her arms.
"I'm... I'm sorry." Beast Boy told her. He paused and pointed to himself. "I'm Beast Boy. I'm a member of Teen Titans. We're heroes."
"Heroes?" She sniffed. She looks up at him. "You're the ones... always flying around and hitting bad guys, right?"
"Something like that." BB gave a small smile.
"You save the day. You help people." She stated.
"That's right. So you know about us?" He inquired.
"Yeah huh. I'm not allowed outside, but have seen your team on the tv. You're all really brave. I wish I was brave like that." She said dejectedly.
Beast Boy put a finger to his chin, thinking. "Listen, we should get out of here. Your box got ruined from the rain. We could go back to my place and talk a bit before I find your family. How's that sound?" He smiled at her, but she responded with a frightened look.
"No. Please don't make me go home." Her eyes grew bigger and sadder.
"Okay... we'll talk, okay? Come on. Follow me!" He morphed back into dog form and put a paw on her knee. She stood up and tugged onto his neck letting him lead her back to the T-tower. She clung tightly to him, walking so closely she almost tripped on him, the whole way there.
It was still quite early so the whole team was still asleep in their individual rooms. Beast Boy walked into the T-tower as quietly as he could. His creeping signaling the little girl to be quiet herself until they got to where he was headed. Finally they got to his room and they walked inside, BB closed his door behind him. The little girl stood where she was, she was very still, afraid to go past or let go of Beast Boy. She still clung onto his neck. BB sighed internally. He couldn't morph back now. She seemed comforted with him as a dog, and if he morphed back now she'd have to let go. What ever was the matter with her, it made her really dependent right now on him. He couldn't upset her more. BB gave a soft woof towards his bed and crept over there, the girl going with him. He pointed his head to it and she got the message, letting go, reluctantly, and stood next to the bed, her hands clasped together tightly. BB morphed back into his usual form and got onto his bed, indian style. "Are you okay?" She didn't respond. "Sooo... what's your name?" She pursed her lips together just staring at him with her wide, scared eyes. "Please. I want to help. You're safe now. We're in my room. It's practically sound proof. See?" He pounded on the wall behind him three times. "No one can hear us. We're completely safe in here." He smiled at her confidently, hoping for an answer. She's gotta open up. BB just showed her that the room's fine. Oh please just have her say something.
The girl gave a small sigh. "I'm... um... my name's Brenda. Brenda Hall."
"Brenda." He paused wondering what next to say. He glanced over at his clock. It read 5:53. "You look tired. Still want to sleep? You can take my bed. I can sleep on the floor."
"As a doggy? Like before?"
"Yeah!" He grinned. "Just like before. When you wake up I'll have breakfast ready for you, 'k?"
She thought it over for a few seconds. "Okay."
Beast Boy got off the bed and folded the blanket half off allowing her to get on. She timidly climbed into the bed and went under the blanket which he put over her up to her chin. "You'll be safe here. Trust me. I'm a hero." He winked at her and she smiled back a little, closing her eyes.
