Notes: Unfinished

Summary: In a world where superhumans are ostracized for their "unnatural advantage against society" and thus must wear Inhibitor Jewelry to restrain their powers, Beast Boy works in disguise as a wildlife photographer. He was safe…until a poacher finds out and threatens to reveal his secret.

Unnaturally Natural

The sun beat scorched his exposed skin as he lay sprawled on the dirt in a savanna with a camera pressed against his eye and his satchel at his side. The strap of the camera rubbed irritatingly against his neck. The white make-up on his arms and face felt like it just might melt off if it weren't for the fact he had used the waterproof kind. He was decked in brownish yellow button down and trousers to blend among the dry grass. Though he was alone, he couldn't risk any chance of someone seeing he had green skin.

He adjusted the lens on his camera so the image of the lion and his pride sharpened. He was a human with superpowers in a world that scorned superheroes due to their unnatural abilities. If anyone knew he had the ability to shape-shift or that he had green skin, then he'd not only lose his job…he might very well be killed. It was bad enough he was forced to wear anklets to restrain his powers, but to lose his life? No thanks.

The young man clicked a button and the camera clacked as it took a photo. The Wildlife Photographers company didn't know his secret and neither did his co-workers. He made sure to always wear thick layers of make-up and a newsboy cap with ear flaps to hide his ears. It was almost like a winter time beanie except with a bill like a baseball cap.

Static crackled in his ear as his earbud flared to life. "Garfield," a husky voice grated his ears. "There's been a sighting of poachers attacking endangered elephants near the watering hole. Think you can snap some pictures?"

Beast Boy, as he preferred to call himself in memory of his hero days, scowled. "Are you crazy, Malchior? They'll shoot me! Call the cops and let them handle it."

"Aw," the man purred in response. "Don't you wanna be a hero?"

He snorted, half tempted to reach into his bag and grab his phone to end the call. "I wanna keep my life more."

He hadn't realized he had spoken too loud until a low growl caught his attention. "Gotta go!" He squeaked and looked up.

Prowling close with ears flat against her skull, a lioness neared. She couldn't see him between the tall grass just yet, so he had a second or two. Darting his gaze around himself, he found a rock and hurriedly grasped it and chucked it to his right. The earbud popped out of his ear as he did so. The lioness growled and turned her neck, following the sound.

Slowly, he righted himself and backed away. He retreated until he was a safe distance away…and right by the watering hole. He swept his gaze across the area, adjusting his grip on his camera, but didn't see any elephants or poachers. Had Malchior been lying? His coworker tended to do that just to rile him, but…

Still, he decided to roam around the small lake, careful to stay away from the shore in case if alligators or crocodiles occupied the water. Other than a zebra or two, there was nothing around. He swiped a hand across his forehead and panted. His makeup needed to be reapplied. A hand tapped his thigh and he froze. His satchel! He had left his satchel back–

A gunshot pierced the air and an elephant screamed followed by an angry bellow. That sounded like a baby elephant scream and an upset mother one too. He rushed towards the sound and curved around several spread out trees until he skidded to a halt.

Amidst a patch of short brown grass, a large group of men and women pinned a mother elephant beneath a net while the baby was trapped beneath a similar net. He gasped. Three of them held saws in their hands, near her tusks and were–

"Hey!" He shouted, anger boiling as he rushed towards them. "You're hurting them!"

A tall white man with slim but muscled build turned. Blond bangs framed a handsome but sharp face and he cast an unimpressed glance Beast Boy's way before returning to directing the poachers.

Beast Boy gritted his teeth. He couldn't stand by and watch! But he couldn't use his powers–the anklets needed a key to unlock them and he had left it in his bag. And he couldn't use his phone cause that was in his bag too. He cursed. But he couldn't just leave! What could he–his camera!

Bringing the device to his eye, he snapped several photos. The clicks went unnoticed until he stormed to the apparent leader. Though he stayed a distance away, the mother's agonized shrieks made his heart ache and he shouted to be heard.

"I've got proof right here." His heart hammered, hands tight on the camera. "I'll call the police. Call them off and I won't."

The leader turned fully and he swallowed. Hadn't noticed the pistol on his hip before. The man sauntered to loom over him but he stood his ground, sweating bullets, and held the camera until his fingers lost feeling.

"You're in no position to command me…superhuman."

He froze, one hand prying itself from his camera to touch his face. His breath hitched when the stranger stepped into his bubble and swiped the camera.

"In fact, you should be obeying me if you don't want your secret out."

Another round of shrieks snapped him back to reality. He lunged for the camera with a snarl. "Fine! But let them go!"

The man dodged his bids for the device, even going so far as to slip the strap over his head and wear the camera as he moved. Beast Boy's chest heaved as he slowed, the heat unbearable. The man smirked and grasped his wrist, tugging him into a broad chest.

"Lemme go," his lungs burned and he struggled in the hold.

"I'm sure a superhuman would fetch a pretty price on the market…but green's my favorite color. I might just keep you instead."

Hands gathered his wrists behind his back. "What?"

"Fowler!" The man shouted, attention diverted. "Get me some rope."

"No!" Beast Boy protested.

Too soon, a woman approached with hemp and his wrists were bound. He was hauled away from the group and stuffed into the back of one jeep out of three. His protests went ignored and the leader turned on the car and air conditioning only to leave him in the car alone.

He watched the man curve behind a tree and immediately set to squeezing between the seats. He halted as he neared the door, eying the wheel. A moped was the only vehicle he knew how to drive, but…

His ear twitched and he checked the window. Shoot. The group was returning. Deciding to take his chances, he clambered into the driver's seat. Instinctively, he pressed down his right foot but nothing happened. Left foot returned the same result. He cursed. What was he missing?

Beast Boy looked to his right. The gear shift! It was in park, so if he just managed to–

"Hey!" A voice shouted.

He panicked and twisted so his elbow pressed against the button on the back of the shift and sent it all the way up into drive. He sucked in air and pressed a foot down, succeeding in flooring the gas and scaring him half to death as the jeep shot forwards.

Shoot, the wheel!

The car tilted towards the path of a tree and his heart stopped. Frantically, he bit the wheel and yanked to the left. The car turned with the movement and he continued struggling to steer his way through the maze of trees.

He didn't dare look back. He just had to get away for now and…and then what? He didn't know. He just had to get away. He'd be no help to anyone if he was caught.

Time passed. He didn't know how much, but it passed and he finally let his foot off the pedal and released his aching jaw. He inhaled and leaned back in his seat.

Now how to get the ropes off his wrists?

He checked the surroundings. Only giraffe were passing by. He maneuvered himself till he managed to open the door. He kicked it wider and slipped his bound hands beneath his legs and back in front of him. As he set to gnawing the knot with his teeth, he stepped out of the jeep and looked around. Where exactly was he?

He glanced at the sun. If west was that way, then he wanted to head east towards the campsite. If he could find his way to home-base, then he could orient himself and go back to the lions to retrieve his satchel.

Though he wouldn't be able to recover his camera, he might be able to find the elephants and call some veterinarians. Hopefully the poachers didn't plan to kill them.

The rope fell away and he walked east. Better to travel on foot in case the poachers decided to track down their van.

~oOo~

After finding the campsite followed by failing to find the elephants or his things, Beast Boy had returned to work. Though he didn't like the sick feeling in his stomach that he had failed the animals. The fact he couldn't find his satchel left a niggling thought of worry in his mind. Without his satchel, he lost the key to the anklets…and thus his powers.

Hopefully he could find a locksmith or someone who could craft a key in secret so he'd have something. But as of now, his powers were out of reach for who knew how long.

Still, he had gone about his day. This time, he reapplied a thicker amount of makeup and tried to explain how he 'lost' his camera to his manager. The day ended rather uneventfully as he wandered the wilderness, searching for the best photo spots…until he arrived at the campsite.

Tents lined a fire pit next to a well. But what caught his attention was the very familiar man speaking with his manager. He swallowed back a growl and approached only to widen his eyes.

"My satchel!" He blurted.

Two pairs of eyes turned onto him and he stiffened.

"That's my satchel." He gritted his teeth. "How'd you find it?"

The manager braced hands on her hips. "He found your camera, you should be thankful!"

He balked. "What? But he–"

The man stepped forwards. "Garfield, why don't we catch up over dinner? It's late and I'm hungry."

He swallowed back a retort when his manager shooed them away. Instead, the moment they were out of sight and heading towards a jeep, he growled.

"What do you want?"

The man hummed. "Your secret's on the line. Obey and I'll keep it safe."

He simmered but quieted.

~oOo~

Notes:

Unfinished, but I lost steam and ideas on how to continue the idea.

Lymaria: Well, we've already spoke together but I'll just repeat–thank youuuuus! Also...WRITE FRIEND WRIIIIIIITE