Exercise

Adonis. The most pathetic excuse for a fighter he'd ever had the misfortune to meet, however, the kind of fight he offered was simply exhilarating. Simple powerhouse format: the one who could bring the most force won, Adonis had to rely on artificial muscles to fight, he didn't have a problem with that, come on what did Cy use? Artificial muscle wasn't what made Adonis pathetic, it wasthe villain's habit to seek out a battle and then mock the opponent when they showed a slight inability to keep up with thesuitthe fool wore. However, when stripped of that precious piece of armour Adonis would cower and beg.

That was the definition of pathetic. A good fighter, a warrior, would never seek battle they would wait for it. A warrior would never mock or underestimate their opponent, either from their own ego or past knowledge of their opponent, they would judge how their opponent on how they fought in the moment. And a warrior would never beg for mercy when robbed of their common method of victory, they would find a new method and continue to try and, sometimes, beat their opponent.

However, he always enjoyed fighting the greasy nerd's battle suit; it always offered a simple rush to his animal instincts to try and overpower the red revving muscle simulators. Tonight was no exception; Adonis had decided to team up with the remaining H.I.V.E 5, which now ironically actually contained five members, to rob the main Jump City bank.

He was now fighting the Adonis, who now stood at seven and a half feet in his suit, on the road outside the financial building, since Adonis seemed to have been given the ever so important job of 'check the coast is clear'. The other four main Titans along side Flash and Jinx had gone inside to deal with the H.I.V.E 5. Leaving him with the outcome of his task to divert Adonis' attention and that was just fine. He was currently a grisly and delivering swipe after with his claws to the front of Adonis' suit, leaving only scratches in the paint work. Adonis was less than quiet whilein a state ofconfidence.

"Is that all you got small fry," Adonis promptly sent him flying into an adjacent building with a right hook to his torso, "I've re-buffed my muscles since last time. No one beats Adonis when he's buffed!" He was on his back for less than a second, immediately shifting to a gorilla he charged back at Adonis before the dust settled. This caught the nerd in preparation for another snide remark and thus he was able to spear the said nerd before a single syllable left his mouth. Adonis was sent flying several yards before the back of the muscle suit made contact with the tarmac.

This pattern continued for several minutes, never with the same ingredients but always the same basic method. Adonis would charge, taunt and attack. He would then either: block and counter, dodge and counter, take the hit and counter or… just counter. Either way there was a lot of countering on his part in the fight. This lasted much longer than it should have, Adonis never realising what little a test the work out was proving to be to him, all Adonis did was become cockier and cockier with each exchange. He couldn't help but half growl, and half grin, at the situation.

He wasn't angry or frustrated he was simply enjoying the exercise, but he wouldn't even call this a fight. He even half wished Mammoth had been the one he had to fight; Mammoth presented a challenge and an understanding of primal battles. All Adonis offered was a test dummy, during and before the discovery of the Beast Adonis had been a problem, he would give credit where credit was due. Now, though, Adonis was one of the few who hadn't kept up with the other opponents he faced and no longer posed any threat at all. However, despite his basic enjoyment of this exercise he felt it unfair to taunt his opponent in this way, namely letting them believe they were stronger than they really were.

So, now he thought to himself about what would be the best way to make Adonis realise this, as he did this he reverted back to his human form and stood their in deep thought. He could show Adonis a number of new tricks he had been learning: his new forms maybe, or his… He was cut off mid-thought and his decision made for him. His hand had moved above his head out of instinct to block the single giant red fist aiming to crush him underneath it, while he was still in mid-thought.

The ground beneath him cracked into the shape of a crater and dust surrounded his entire body. Then came the predictable mocking laugh of Adonis. This continued until the red suited geek realised that the robotic hand hadn't yet met the tarmac of the road. He gave one very long breath in annoyance as the dust cleared and the scene showed itself to the villain. He hated the fact he hadn't made the choice of what to display. He hated not being in control.

He watched Adonis' eyes as they widened, the red hand had been cleanly removed from the corresponding arm of the suit, and it was now gripped loosely by its side in his right hand. He now stood in a near perfectly circular crater his feet being the centre, permanent indentions left in the concrete under each foot. The force of the blow had been considerable, made evident by the effect it had on the concrete beneath and around him after it had been transferred via his feet. However, he had hardly felt the impact on his arm, or the rest of his body, he was completely unaffected, simple powerhouse rules: the weak lose and the strong win. He could not and would not lose when he didn't even consider the villain to be worthy competition.

He wasn't surprised by the fear and shock in Adonis' eyes, but he was surprised by his own happiness at the display of strength he had just given and the reaction of fear it received. His annoyance now completely vanished he gave an extremely wide grin to the villain in front of him; it must have been unnerving as said villain remained completely still.

Until, "How the hell did a weak, little shrimp like you, do that to me, Adonis!? The strongest of the strong!" it had been said in shocked disbelieve, not frustrated insult, but the words made his happiness evaporate. What replaced it was…

Rage.

He dropped the robotic remains in his hand. His eyes became dark and hidden behind shadows with no visible source; he stepped forward slowly and walked out of the crater towards the now retreating Adonis, "I am not weak." His voice quiet but deadly, "I usually let taunts from opponents slide, even ones like that. You, however, are no longer an opponent to me and you haven't been since we became the Beasts," He leaped forward, still in human form, and sliced the villain's suit with his gloved claws. He landed directly behind Adonis; the cover keeping suit and its master together began to fall apart within seconds, the suit began limp backwards while Adonis fell forwards and out of it onto the road. "All you and your suit are is exercise."

He turned and walked back to the now cowering 22 year old; he picked up the trembling disgrace by the throat and revealed his eyes to it. The villain's reaction to the glare was a silent, fearful whimper that sounded like, "Yellow?"

"If you ever dare call me weak again, without becoming strong yourself. I will do to you what I did to your suit tonight!" At this he threw Adonis towards the bank steps. At the sound of impact he heard a definite crack come from Adonis' spine, as well as from the marble staircase. After the dust cleared all he heard were Adonis' laboured breaths accompanying the peaceful sounds of the city at night. Now he could calm down.

He had been careless; he had let his grip on his anger be lost. Damn it. His communicator then interrupted his thought train before it even began. He flipped it open to see Nightwing with an exhausted expression while taking cover behind a crate of gold. "Beast Boy! Can you read me!?"

"Loud and clear, Robin." He wanted to add 'a little too loud'; the leader's teenage alias would have to do, since Nightwing had visibly flinched at it. "Sorry, dude, what's the problem? Do you need my help?" He did enjoy teasing his brother like leader; the grin he wore was evidence enough.

"Not the time, Beast Boy," the urgency in Nightwing's voice wiped away his grin, "We have a serious problem. Raven's lost control of her emotions, and even wit-" he switched the communicator to its radar function, cutting off Nightwing's explanation. He had heard enough. He had already entered the bank before he had even recorded the location of the others in his mind. He crushed the communicator so he wouldn't have to put it back in his pocket, and then worry about it later, and ran with everything he had after shifting into a cheetah.

Damn it! How could she have lost control? The only emotion that had ever threatened her mind was her Rage, and she had even explained that after the defeat of her father Rage had not even come close to be strong enough to take control. Why now!? Was it…? 'Not now!' he said in his mind to cut of his train of thought. He didn't need to know now. He would ask her once she was safe.

After around 20 seconds he reached his destination, the ground floor office directly above where the other Titan's, where Raven, had been on the radar; the stair system had looked too complex to be quicker than his intended root. He shifted into the Beast without hesitation, he needed power now! He crouched, jumped, flipped and gripped the ceiling with his claws, and then shot himself downward using the Beast's immense leg strength. He broke through the floor as a rolled up armadillo in the same manner as a cannon ball, however, he didn't lose any speed from the impact and continued to break through the three remaining floors between him, and Raven, and the others with one attempt. When he reached the vault entrance area he shifted back to the Beast, and then he saw what he had been dreading.

All the other's, including the H.IV.E 5, were working together to provide themselves with a chance of survival against the mass of aura that was being hurled at them by… no, that was not Raven. The only quality it shared with Rae was the cloak and that wasn't even the right colour. He flipped to land on his legs and absorbed the considerable impact, once again thankful to the form's leg strength, and grimaced at the thing that was now in control of the body of someone he loved, and was even trying to kill the others that he loved.

This was going to be harder than just exercise.

He didn't care he had to save her. He was not weak anymore! He could and would protect the ones he loved, no matter the burden on any part of him.

If he couldn't do that then why was he even still alive!?

His body, his mind, his soul! He would sacrifice all of it, to protect the ones he loved!

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A/N: The first chapter of the update, as promised by the poll, next will be Tuesday, I hope. Okay, now would be when I apologise if it was bad, but I was told not to, and far be it from me to have the guts to defy the orders of a female.(obviously no offence is meant by this to anyone) However, don't let me off if it is bad anyway. I mean seriously it was a nightmare thinking of pronouns for Adonis other than he,him,his so don't be surprised if you got confused. I did, 5 times.Please review.

A/apol.: Now I have to apologise for the reposting of thethis chapter, I re-read it and realised I missed out the beginning from my elimination of the he,him,his references to Adonis. Sorry for false alarm. Again: update is on Tuesday.