It was a beautiful day. The birds chirped and the bees flitted from flower to flower. The tranquility was disturbed by four teens playing a game of catch. "Come on Robin is that all you've got?" teased Cyborg as he threw the baseball hard towards Robin. The spikey haired kid caught the ball easily.
"I think we should take a break. The clouds are getting darker." everyone besides Raven who was reading a book looked up. Robin was right, the clouds were coming together.
"To think we took came to L.A. to get away from the storms." Beast Boy whined petulantly.
"Do not be sad my friend, we could go to the places of shopping. Or go see the sights." Starfire said thoughtfully.
"That's a good idea, but where should we go first?" Robin inquired.
"A book store," Raven said absently.
"The mall," Starfire squealed.
"Chinatown," Beast Boy exclaimed. Even Raven and the rest gaze him a quizzical look. "I heard they have a great vegetarian joint." Beast Boy said with a grin on his face.
"They have vegetarian food at the mall." Cyborg pointed out. "And some bookstores, so I vote with Starfire."
"Me too; I need to find some new gadgets for my belt." Robin said.
"What's the point of going to the mall when we have one at home? Last time I checked there's no Chinatown there." Beast Boy argued.
Raven rose and placed her book under her arm. "As surprising as it is he does have a valid point. But he is outvoted; I'd like to go to the mall too." Her cape swished as she left. Starfire hovered above the ground and was going on and on about what she could buy. On the way to the mall the group passed the entrance to Chinatown. Beast Boy stealthily went through the archway. The other three were so engrossed in their conversation that only Raven noticed the disappearance of her green friend. A sigh that clearly stated why-must-he-be-such-a-nuisance-and-an-insufferable-pinhead, escaped her mouth. She walked under the archway and followed her annoying friend.
Beast Boy was lost in the crowd and was looking at all the specialty food places. His mouth watered and he didn't notice the tall Asian man with short black hair coming right at him. They bumped into each other and the man's packages fell. Beast Boy jumped up and helped the man with the packages. "I'm sorry sir; I should've looked where I was going." The youth grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck.
"The fault is all mine. Though I hope my cakes and vegetarian sushi are okay." the man smiled and looked at the boy. His eyes widened and his mouth formed a small 'O'.
Beast Boy hardly noticed and sniffed the packages. 'That definitely smells like vegetarian.' "I better be-"
"Would you like to share some tea and sushi at my shop? I purchased the sushi just a block away from Chinatown, why a Japanese place is so close is beyond me." the man rolled his eyes. "Where are my manners, I am Count D, what is your name?"
Beast Boy was about to say his superhero name but instead what came out was, "Garfield Mark 'Gar' Logan." he shook his head and quickly said, "But my friends call me Beast Boy."
"I see, well, let me show you to my pet shop."
With that Beast Boy followed the man down the street, down some stairs, and into a small Chinese shop. Beast Boy gaped at all the animals roaming freely. Birds flitted from post to post, dogs and cats lounged on the furniture, and snakes slithered from place to place. "Whoa, this is like animal paradise."
Count D smiled, "You would know how restraining a cage can be."
"How'd you-"
"Excuse me while I make some tea. I won't be but a moment." Count D left to the back.
A mixed breed puppy came up to the green youth and sniffed at his black-silver shoes. Beast Boy kneeled down and scratched the pup behind his black ears. The puppy wagged its tail. When Beast Boy removed his hand the puppy crouched in a playful position. Beast Boy morphed into a wolf-dog pup. The two play fought and yipped at each other. The two didn't hear the footsteps and the knock at the door. The man opened it anyway and walked in. An unlit cigarette was held loosely between his lips. His longish blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail. "Count where's Chris? The case I'm working on is… what the hell is a green mutt doing here?"
The Count came back with a tea set in his hands. "Ah, my dear detective, always on time for tea I see."
A vein on Leon's forehead twitched. "I told you to stop calling me that D."
"Yes now where has my… oh, I knew you could change into animals, but I was hoping you could change color too." Count D looked at the green wolf-dog pup with a hint of disappointment.
Beast Boy changed back into himself. Leon's eyes almost popped out of his head, "Is that another one of your da-"
"Control your language." Count D chastised.
"Freaky pets?" Leon finished.
"I am nobody's pet." Beast boy growled.
"How many different animals can you change into?" the Count inquired.
"As many as I have seen on paper or in real life." Beast Boy shrugged.
"So you could change into a unicorn or a centaur if you have seen a picture of them?" Leon asked skeptically.
Beast Boy morphed into a phoenix, his green feathers almost seemed aflame. "Splendid Garfield!" the Count clapped his hands.
"Are you named after the cartoon cat?" the detective asked cheekily.
"What cartoon cat?"
"Never mind, so Count, where's Chris?"
"In the back, I'll send T-Chan to go get him."
"If that messed up goat lays a claw on him… let's just say s-"
"What did I say about your choice of words? Besides he is only a teenager." Count D smiled at Beast Boy.
Chris came from the back and thought 'Big Bro!' "Chris!" Leon exclaimed and gave him a big hug.
Chris turned to Beast Boy and the green teen smiled warmly and waved. 'Who is that?' Chris thought.
"I'm Beast Boy, a member of the Teen Titans." he explained.
"That's cool, but we better be going Chris. Later Count!" the two brothers left the shop.
"Let's talk some more over lunch." Count D said and led Beast Boy to a table. "Could you tell me about all the animals you've turned into?"
As Beast Boy recounted all the animals he's ever seen the Count's smile got thinner and thinner. 'He has never seen a Zhen? Or a Nine-Tailed Fox? How disappointing.'
When Beast Boy was finished the Count sighed. "You have but only scratched the surface of all the animals you could see. I can also tell you're hiding something. No, matter. Come to the back with me and you can see all the wonderful animals you have missed."
When Beast Boy and the Count went into the back Raven walked through the door. The mutt puppy looked up at her with big eyes. Raven pulled back her blue hood and knelt and picked up the puppy. The black pup licked her cheek and Raven giggled. "It seems you've found a friend." the Count said softly as he walked through the back door.
"I'm more of a cat person." at that the pup whined and Raven stroked its head.
"A connection to an animal like that is a match made by a higher power."
"We, as in the Titans, already have Beast Boy. We can't possibly care for another animal. Where is my pointy eared friend?"
"Looking at animals that only few have seen."
"I see…."
Count D smirked. Raven didn't like that smug look. It was like he knew something only she should. "You have such a dark past and an even darker future ahead. You have friends who barely understand you and yet you think you can prevail on your own."
"You don't know anything about me or my friends." Raven said in a dangerously low tone.
The Count didn't bat an eyelash. "Mixed breeds are better than purebreds. Do you know why?" Raven just stared at the Asian man. The Count went on, "They are much tougher and quick-minded. They endure. You my dear have endured so much and will have to do so again. Who you are out weights what you were born to do."
Beast Boy entered the room and gaped at his friend. "I thought you went to the mall to get those nerdy books!"
"Well at least I know how to read without pictures." Raven quipped.
Beast Boy looked at the dog in her arms. "That wolf-dog is cute isn't he? He suits you." Beast Boy said.
Raven looked into the clear blue eyes of the puppy. His tail thumped the Goth girl's hip and Raven couldn't bite back a smile. She shook her head, "But we already have Silkie."
"The dog won't be much trouble. I can train it for you, seeing as I can speak his language."
"You'd do that?" Raven's eyebrow rose.
"If that's what you want I would."
"Is it settled? You want the mix?" Count D asked.
Raven looked into the clear hopeful eyes and sighed dejectedly. "How much?"
"Wait Count I also would like to purchase-"
"We are not getting another pet!" Raven interrupted.
"I don't want a pet. I'd like some of that nice smelling incense. I think it'll make the tower more peaceful." Beast Boy explained.
Raven nodded but smacked the green boy upside the head. "What was that for?"
"Being your annoying self."
"You know I'm hilarious."
"Right so here's the contract and the incense and an incense burner." Count D handed Beast Boy a small purple and gold Chinese burner. Beast Boy inclined his head and marveled at the gold wolf handles and other Chinese symbols.
"Do you have a name picked out for the young pup?" Count D asked curiously as Raven read over the contract and signed it.
"I was thinking Corwin." Raven said thoughtfully.
"Might as well name him Claude, at least people will know that's a lame name." Beast Boy said brazenly.
"Corwin means 'hearts-friend' an excellent name for a partner. I would like to suggest that you don't burn the incense until the puppy is full grown so I'll give you this lavender incense free of charge." Count D placed the incense and the burner into a canvas sack. "I will also add some puppy food and a leash and collar."
"Thank you, Count D." Raven said and smiled softly.
Beast Boy took that canvas sack with everything in it and Raven paid the Count. As they left he called, "Please come again."
Detective Orcot and Chris with an ice cream cone entered. "What did you sell Goth girl and green freak?"
"Just a dog." the Count said innocently.
"I don't like that smile, it means something bad could happen."
"It could or couldn't my dear detective."
"There you guys are, we were worried there for a second." Robin said at the entrance to Chinatown.
"Please, I knew BB was in Chinatown even without my tracking device." Cyborg said looking down at Beast Boy.
Starfire looked at Raven and squealed, "Oh what a cute little… how you say, puppy?"
"His name is Corwin." Raven said.
Corwin looked at the other three and barked a greeting. "What beautiful markings." Starfire looked at the white circles above his eyes, white tear streaks down his eyes, and a white hind paw. His tail and ears were also tipped with white.
"There was a pet shop in Chinatown?" Cyborg asked.
"No, we found the bag and the pup in the alley." Raven retorted.
"We better get back to the tower. He'll need to get settled in his new surroundings." Robin said.
Back at the tower Raven opened the door to her room and set Corwin down. The puppy started sniffing the ground and walked over to her bed. He jumped up and lay his head on her pillow. Beast Boy watched from the door way. "If he sleeps for too long he'll be up all night."
Raven was about to reply when a siren went off. She hesitated and Beast Boy looked at her quizzically. "I don't want to leave him and come back to a mess." she explained.
Beast Boy morphed into his wolf form and yipped and growled at the pup. Corwin's bark seemed to be a petulant child's "All right, father."
Beast Boy changed back to his original form and said, "He understands now. Let's go kick some butt."
I always wondered what would happen if BB had met up with the Count. I couldn't get the idea out of my head obviously… let me know what you think and if I should continue. Please R/R!
