The Cancellation of Train Control
"O' Beast Boy it's glorious you have a new costume for battle. This will bring us victory" Starfire stated while swarming around Beast Boy to receive a full stare of his costume. Two heads snapped in Beast Boy's direction, but the third head did not bother to look, for Raven was fearful to glance at her burgeoning friend.
"It's not a—"
"What's up with the new gear?" Robin inquired
"Man the digs got to go you look like an eighties gangster with those cut up black leather gloves." Cyborg released a hearty laugh while patting Beast Boy's back. "What's up? You've worn that outfit for two battles now salad face"
Beast Boy peered at Raven's torso 'she won't even look at me. I didn't mean to hurt her—I just…' he thought. "…Well…" Beast Boy began
"I thought the first time you were in a rush?" Robin pressed on
"Yes it was the rushing that made you mix up your costumes of battle" Starfire chimed happily
"…My clothes don't fit no more cause Cyborg didn't help me wash my clothes" Beast Boy whined. His voice squeaked, he tried to clear his throat but he released a voice that was raspy and a slightly deep. "They're uncomfortable even down to my shoes." Beast Boy raised his sweats and exposed his bare feet. He wiggled his toes to prove a point.
Unexpectedly Robin walked to his motorcycle, "O' we're wasting time we have a crime to solve" Robin managed to mouth, despite his exterior, Robin's interior was consumed by the true reason behind his clothes sudden fit
"O'… O'? Dude that's all you can say! Com' on I don't want to look like twenties, seventies—a gangster period"
"Eighties" Robin and Raven mumbled simultaneously
"Don't worry we'll go shopping right after this battle, and get you some hot gear instead of the shit you're wearing now, but the purple and green has to go. This battle should be easy" Cyborg stated while entering his updated car.
For a moment Beast Boy pondered about shifting into a Peregrine Falcon, but to Beast Boy Raven appeared to be vexed, and she saw the marks on his hands. 'She must think I'm a—no she doesn't know' Beast Boy mind began to panic.
"Can I ride with you Cy?" Beast Boy nearly pleaded
"What's the matter you don't want to soar with the wind?" Robin questioned before placing his red helmet on and revving his motorcycle
"… I do, but…" Beast stated while gazing at Raven who was distancing herself from the Titans who remained on land.
"Well, I would offer you a ride, but I don't think you can handle it" Robin held a mischievous smile, although he was concerned about Beast Boy's 'condition' he didn't want to treat him as an enemy, outcast, not again. 'I have to learn how to treat Beast Boy it's the least I can do' he thought before peeling off to the crime scene. "Titans Go!"
Cyborg peered at Robin and then finally Beast Boy and smiled. Beast Boy was sincerely smiling he appeared to be happy. Beast Boy hopped in the T-Car and gave Cyborg a pair of thankful eyes. This will be an easy battle.
Hunts Point Avenue's alleys were all painted black; there were a few people that lingered on the filthy midnight street of Jump City. Although the crowd was small, it was the darkness that blinded the Titans from the criminals' location. The criminals' tracks lead them to a street with three deep alleys and three tall abandoned apartment buildings. Beast Boy's senses were acute, for his eyes sight pierced the darkness, and this frightened him into silence.
"What's wrong B you afraid of the dark?" Cyborg teased
Beast Boy stated in a raspy huff his canine tooth peaking, "No."
In actuality he was afraid, not of the darkness, but his senses' extending his normal limitations. His sense of scent was peculiarly heightened. And with his heightened sense he inhaled the faint odor of the criminals' perspirations and a familiar scent of liquor and cigars caused him to shutter.
"What if these criminals are not in the alleys?" Starfire questioned
"They're in the alleys…" Beast Boy silently murmured in a trance, so no one heard his statement
"Then we continue to search" Raven stated in a even quiet tone
"'Til we kick these criminals' butts" Cyborg completed triumphantly
"Yes! We will be kicking the butt. We are the Tit—"
"No they're in one of the alleys I can—" Beast Boy broke off into silence afraid his powers were getting out of hand.
"I have a feelin' too that they're in these alleys, but—Well, we have three alleys" Robin sighed, "I think it's best if we split up"
The Titans nodded in agreement
"Raven, Cyborg, take the alley closest to the left." Robin commanded as he pointed to the alleys,
"Starfire, the middle, me and Beast Boy will take this alley."
Beast Boy shifted into a Sumatran Tiger to appease his mind.
The tiger lead the leader into the darkness. Robin's hand rested on Beast Boy's arched back. Robin did not want to light a torch. He did not want the criminals being capable of seeing the light and therefore fleeing, it was best if he allowed Beast Boy to guide him, so their location could be concealed. After wandering deep into the alley's shadow the two male members came across a gate. Robin sighed in exasperation, yet grateful for no confrontation.
"We should inform the others that this alley is a dead end" Robin explained to Beast Boy.
Beast Boy peered up at his leader. 'But their odors are so heavy in this spot' he thought.
Robin placed the communicator to his mouth, "Raven, Star, Cy, this alley is dead"
Beast Boy shifted into his human form.
"Perhaps, they're in the abandoned buildings?" Raven evenly spoke into her communicator
"Yeah, same here Rob, our alley is dead."Cyborg gritted his teeth
"Yes the alley is not alive. And I have found no signs of the criminals" Starfire stated innocently
"Let's check the—" In mid sentence Robin was startled by the street lights sudden burst in energy. An orange glow illuminated the shadows. Moments passed and there were no signs of movement.
"Rob is everything all right?" Cyborg question in concerns
"Yeah Cy." Robin sighed after a few moments, "Just a fluctuation in electricity. These criminals must be in the abandoned buildings. Titans go" With the universal sign for action Robin ended the transmission.
"Beast Boy," Robin called removing Beast Boy out of his stupor, "we got to go check these ol' buildings"
"All right"
Robin and Beast Boy began to depart from the alley, but they were stopped by a sonorous, sensual voice, "Aa leaving so soon Titans?" A silhouette of a tall male appeared out of the orange glow, "We've been expecting you"
Beast Boy's and Robin's bodies tensed into a defensive posture, "O' yeah well my fists are expecting to meet your face!" Beast Boy chided
"Who are you?" Robin questioned
The tall male stepped further into the light exposing his identity, and two hulking, masked cronies. The tall male had a sea of black dread locks braided down into a knot that touched the middle of his long torso. His left eye was covered by a crimson eye patch, but the scar appeared well beyond the patch. The scar extended inches above his left eyebrow, and down his mahogany colored cheeks. The male's face was well defined, and was outlined by a rugged goatee. Beast Boy studied his features.
"I am but a friend visiting a friend." The male's eye shifted to Beast Boy, "My have you grown." The tall male did an analysis of his own
An Unknown Battle
"Who are—" Beast Boy wasn't capable of finishing his sentences because the cronies heaved their massive bodies unto Robin's pinning him into the gate's corner causing Beast Boy to expeditiously turn to help his leader, but the tall male dashed at Beast Boy and plunged a solid fist into Beast Boy stomach. The air in Beast Boy's lungs exited all too rapidly, paralyzing Beast Boy to his knees. The tall male seized advantage of Beast Boy's defenseless guard. Grasping Beast Boy's by the rim of his tee-shirt and lunging him away from Robin.
Beast Boy's body rolled on the cold ground, the tall male only walked to his victim, "It's been a while Garfield. O' no it's Beast Boy now, if I'm not mistaken." Beast Boy could sense a wicked smile perched on the man's face. Beast Boy coughed in air while using his hands to raise his body. Before Beast Boy could stand the male grasped his thick green hair and delivered a knee to his chin. Beast Boy's faces heated up from the strike. The blow nearly shattered Beast Boy's teeth, but it caused tears to involuntarily enter Beast Boy's eyes. The metallic taste of blood caused Beast Boy to tremble; blood began to seep out of the sides of his mouth. The quavering green Titan spewed crimson at his assailant.
"Such a suitable move for filth." The man stated in disgust while removing the crimson liquid from his face with his sleeve, but then his eyebrows drew together in sorrow, "I'm sorry Garfield."He then delivered a handsome strike to Beast Boy's stomach. "What's wrong sweet Garfield blood doesn't satisfy you anymore?"
The blow caused Beast Boy to collide into two tin dumpsters; Beast Boy was cringing, grasping onto his stomach and moaning in pain. His mind was uncontrollably traveling to the past, his past.
"Mm you turned over a new leaf." the male stated slowly while walking over to the cowering changeling, "Interesting, how long will the façade last, Garfield?" He leaned in close to whisper in his pointed ears. The male grasped Beast Boy's ripped rimmed shirt, so he and Beast Boy could see eye to eye. The man slammed Beast Boy against the cooper colored wall, his long slender hands were wrapped around Beast Boy's throat.
"… Please…" Beast Boy choked on the lack of air
"I want you back Garfield"
The male shushed the quivering Titan in his clutches kissing his Beast Boy's mouth tranquilly, "Garfield, the façade ends here" his grip tightened. The male's sensual voice faded. A darkness swept over Beast Boy's body as a heat filled with wrath streamed through his veins.
Beast Boy's slashes were graceful, agile, and vigorous; he removed himself from the man's clutches by clawing at the man's face. The man stumbled releasing his grip, laughing he charged at Beast Boy, but the changeling swiftly dodged the brutal plunge. Beast Boy grabbed the male's dreaded hair causing the man to stagger backwards as Beast Boy pulled. Beast Boy's clawing hand carved into the man's neck. The man slid onto the floor, he touched the blood dripping from the gashes, and placed his crimson covered finger tips in his sight and smiled dementedly, "Yes Garfield. Yes!"
Beast Boy pounced, but was stopped by a boot entering his mid section. The fierce assault did not stop Beast Boy, in a matter of second the changeling presented the eccentric man with an elbow to his face. The man had no time to wipe the blood that was dripping down onto his lips or cradle his broken nose, Beast Boy pounced again this time landing on the man. The man covered his face as the animal before him continuously carved at his dark skin. The changeling saw that his swipes were failing, so he grabbed the man by the side of his face, sinking his elongating nails into the man's skin and slammed the man's head against the cement floor.
When Beast Boy awoke he found himself towering over the man his final thought was to kill. He fell backwards terrified. He searched for a sign that did not hold him responsible for the man's status. The scent and taste of blood left him wincing in self indignation; he was frightened to see a steady minute stream of blood flowing on the pavement. While holding his breath, he crawled to see if the man was alive. He placed a pointed ear to the man's chest and checked for a pulse. He heard shallow breaths rumbling in his lungs and felt a lingering pulse. A tear fell, the man was unconscious, and in relief he slid on the floor stopping at the man's feet. He buried his face in his hands; when he sensed the warm liquid he averted his attention to his hands, peering at the crimson liquid in bewilderment.
He released tense breaths, panting. His thoughts ricocheted off the walls of his mind all leading to inadequate responses, dead ends.
The click of the familiar footsteps calmed Beast Boy. Through the darkness he could envision Robin's structure limping feebly for justice. Beast Boy could smell the faint scent of blood oozing from various cuts.
In an uneven voice Robin called, piercing the silence, "Beast Boy!" There was a hint of worry hidden in Robin's words and Beast Boy knew that his human eyes were perplexed.
"I'm here" Beast Boy choked out
Robin staggered quickly to his fallen ally, "Beast Boy are you all right?" Robin sat next to his companion
"I'm fine. Looks like you had a good tussel with dumb and dumber" He chuckled to ease his anxiety
"Tussle," Robin correct, "yea" He peered at Beast boy's afflictions on the criminal. "And it looks like you unleashed your wrath on the felon," He gazed at Beast Boy reading his expression,
"Surprising" Robin whispered he didn't expect Beast Boy to hear.
Beast Boy narrowed his eyes. "Surprising? Dude you don't have no faith in me?" Beast Boy didn't allow Robin to answer, "…It is surprising." He concluded melancholic.
Robin didn't console or reply to his woes. He crawled over to the man and checked his pulse and his breathing, finally after checking the stranger's stats he released the breath he didn't even know he was holding. Evading Beast Boy was easier he thought to himself.
"Is he all right?" Beast Boy questioned
"… He's- Not fine, but he's alive. You gave him a good tusseling" Robin smiled and chuckled smally
"Never was good with words." Beast Boy peered at his hands
"Don't worry I've noticed" He handed Beast Boy a gauze so he could rid his hands of the stranger's blood; Robin disregarded his own pain. "Beast Boy, do you know this man?" Robin eyed him evenly
"No I don't know who he is" Beast Boy remarked without hesitation as he played with the gauze,
"Guess some people hate me an' here I thought I was the ultimate dudester"
Robin didn't know how to reply to Beast Boy's unhappy-go-bad lucky attitude because it didn't suit his character. In Robin's mind Beast Boy was a silly-constantly joyful-idiotic-pest that kept the team in high spirits if that's even imaginable. So what could he possibly say to cheer up Beast Boy when he was the one use to being perked up?
'Shit' Robin's mind tumbled in aggravation. He crawled to Beast Boy's side, "Listen—" Robin trailed off when he heard the whimpers cascading in Beast Boy's throat; the whimpers were dangerously altering into sobs, and finally Robin watched clear drops fall onto the cement. Beast Boy couldn't fathom why he was weeping, he just felt so suddenly pressured with emotions…. He felt something within him was breaking and the sensation was mind numbing and painful.
"B…Beast Boy?" Robin wrapped his arm around Beast Boy's shoulder and cradled his alley in hopes to cure him. 'Cure him?' Robin thought as his free arm cradled Beast Boy's shoulder; he didn't know how to cure Beast Boy he was emotionally, mentally, and physically unstable.
"Robin I don't know-" Beast Boy began. His warm breath was filled with tears and it bathed Robin exposed neck, "I don't know… I don't know" Beast Boy head began to move rapidly as he quivered in Robin's embrace.
"Shhh…" Robin gently whispered, "it's all right" He tried to ease Beast Boy mind as well as his own. Robin hands caressed Beast Boy back soothingly, "It's all right to cry… You don't have to hide your face…"
Beast Boy pulled away and stood up fast wiping his tears.
Beast Boy folded his arms around himself and an even voice rooted its seeds in Beast Boy's tongue; formality and reserve was etched in Robin's demeanor, so similar treatment was illustrated in Beast Boy. "We should turn him over to the feds…"
"…did I offend—" But with Beast Boy's sharp turn to the man Robin ended his inquisition and settled for a subtle "sure."
"Good news team" Robin breathed into his communicator, "the assailants were captured and the police have been contacted"
"Joyous!"
"Hmm" Cyborg agreed
"H-how is Beast Boy?" Raven silently questioned. She sensed a strong disturbance within him, but its appearance vanished quickly.
Robin peered over at Beast Boy, who was locking the handcuffs around the man's wrist, "He's fine. Let's reassemble" With the remark Robin concluded the transmission.
The Titan's quietly awaited for the police's arrival; Cyborg polished his car, while he listened to soft tunes, Raven sat within Cyborg's car reading a novel on witchery, and wizardry all the while barricading Starfire's "girl talk," Robin documented the crime scene, and Beast Boy was lost analyzing the man's face with a conviction of unfamiliarity.
There was a healthy flash of red and blue lights, which removed the Titan's of their routines. The officers halted, but the light cloaked the figures.
The officers exited the safe haven and ostracized the Titan, "Woo-hoo-hoo Teens… Fifth criminal this week"
"He's banged up badly." Cyborg stated without eyes the ignorant officers.
"O' is he?" One of the officers stated while getting closer
"What he dos to ticks yous off?" The second officer laughed
Beast Boy replied while grasping the man, "Just… you know do what you have to do." It was too sudden for Beast Boy to respond appropriately, but the assailant managed to remove the handcuffs from his wrists and viciously cornered Beast Boy.
His hold on Beast Boy's shirt was deathly. "I-I-I'm sorry my Garfield I-I didn't mean to hurt you, but his treatment will be far worse than what I've done to you…"
"Unhand him!" Starfire ripped herself from the car
"You should have never left, but- but I understand he was so very—very nasty to you"
"Who are you talking about?" Beast Boy stammered clawing into his attacker's skin
The criminal closed in on Beast Boy's ear and licked. The criminal's voice became jaded "… 'You will change, murder, and feed my child'"
In that moment Beast Boy's nightmare arose; he did not respond appropriately to his assailant, forgetting that his teammates and the officers were on his side.
Beast Boy maneuvered the criminal so that his hands were enveloping the criminal's neck, and the criminal's back was against the wall, "How do you know me?" Beast Boy shouted
"Getchour freak under control" One of the police officers stated while raising his gun
As he gasped for air the criminal smiled, "…we… are… one… and the…same"
"Beast Boy don't resort to his level" Raven stated alarmed
"Chill out B. You don't want to do anything drastic here"
Robin grasped his gas grenades, "Beast Boy let go of him"
"We are not one and the same! Who the hell are you?" Beast Boy claws burrowed into his skin
"We're giving you till three kid let go of him"
"Answer me!"
"…1"
"Please, friend Beast Boy you must let go"
"…2"
"Relax BB… It's all right"
"Answer me!" Garfield stated baring his elongating fangs
"…3"
"No!"
"Don't!"
"...Stop..."
The sound of the police officer's fired gun was all that was heard…
More answers to come!
