Chapter 7

A few days had passed by since the event in the library. Hellboy had long forgiven Abe for not telling him of who the voice is despite him only knowing about it for a few hours. Today was going to be a bit of a different day for Blue since all she had done is talked with her new teammates, looked through the library at the different books, and simply made new friends with some of the suits. It didn't matter that Blue was a freak of nature; she had an out-going personality that few liked except for Manning who still considered her a troublemaker.

Blue stood in front of the mirror in her room looking at herself, dressed up in her black-one piece suit she had found. She turned around and looked at her body. She nodded her head as she agreed with herself that it fit well.

"I look good don't I?" She thought to herself.

"Oh dear, I'm in the mind of a teenage girl…," Broom replied to her rhetorical question.

Blue giggled. "Would you rather be in my mind or Hellboy's? Who knows what goes through that mind of his."

"Oh… perhaps you're right," Broom mused.

Blue giggled again as s knock resounded on the door. Blue turned and opened the door to reveal Myers.

"Hello, Myers," Blue said.

"Hi, Blue. You ready to go?" Myers said.

Blue nodded and shut the door behind her. Myers led the way through the hallway.

"Where are we going?" Blue asked.

"We're going to a specialized gym where you can practice your abilities," Myers responded.

"How do I practice being a shape-shifter? I change into animals; I don't light myself on fire like Liz can," Blue said.

"You'd be surprised at what you can do," Myers said.

Blue nodded with a sigh. They reached the door to the gym and Myers opened it. Blue followed Myers in and her eyes widened at the sight. She walked and turned in a circle as she looked around. Off in one area, there was a large machine-like thing that you can run on as it moves. In the other area, there is a large space for those to practice fighting skills and such.

"Wow…," Blue whispered. "How can you guys afford this?"

Myers shrugged his shoulders. "We're the government… we're probably richer than the President."

Blue laughed. As she turned back to the entrance, Hellboy, Abe, and Liz came walking in together.

Blue clapped her hands together and asked, "So what am I doing here?"

"You," Abe said, "are going to practice your shape-shifting and get your control back."

"That's what Myers said," Blue sighed. "And how do you even practice shape-shifting?"

"Well, how did you learn to control it when you were younger?" Liz asked.

"I just thought of the animal that I wanted to be and 'poof' I was it," Blue said.

Abe stood beside her, "and that is exactly what you did with the bear."

"Alright, then what about the emotions? How do I control that?"

"It's hard to control your emotions, but you learn to use it and guide it towards what you want to be. I know, I've been in that position before," Liz said.

Abe looked at Liz then back to Blue, walking around her. "What were you feeling when you turned into the lion?"

"Well I was angry and annoyed," Blue said as Hellboy snickered.

"Good. Use that feeling to guide you to whatever animal you want to be. Use fear, happiness, anger, and whatever emotion you have to fuel your ability. Now go over there to that mat and try it," Abe said pointing to the empty space.

Blue looked over to where he was pointing and walked over to the center. "Okay, now what?" She asked.

Abe sighed, "Hellboy go and stand over there please."

Hellboy joined Blue on the mat. He was smoking his cigar as he blew out a small ring of smoke. Blue coughed.

"You know those things will kill you, right?" Blue said as she waved her hand in front of her face.

"So?" Hellboy said.

"Whatever, see if I care when you fall down dead right now."

"Ha, nothing can kill me," Hellboy said.

"Oh… well except me right?" Blue said with a smirk.

Hellboy looked at her and simply blew the smoke in her face to which Blue responded by sticking her tongue out.

"My god, you two act like children when you're around each other," Liz noted.

Hellboy and Blue looked at each other and shrugged as Myers sniggered.

"Alright, Hellboy I want you to take a few steps back and Blue, I want you to look at him and think back to before you turned into a lion. Focus on the feeling you get from him," Abe advised.

Hellboy stepped back and Blue turned to look at him. She watched him smoke as she thought back to the day in the library. She squeezed her fists as she closed her eyes and remembered the anger and the urge of attacking him. As they watched, her black hair turned into a golden mane and whiskers sprouted. Her hands and feet became paws as her spine arched and she landed on all fours. She opened her eyes and bared her teeth at Hellboy.

"Whoa Kitty, I haven't done anything," Hellboy said.

She bent her body down into the position where she was ready to strike. Abe quickly stood in front of Hellboy and pointed a finger at her.

"Blue… come back to us. You're not a lion, you're a girl," Abe said.

Blue stood up on her four paws and walked towards Abe. She sniffed his body and sat back.

"Abe?"

"Blue?"

"Ha ha! I did it!" Blue cried as she shook her body.

"Amazing," Abe said as he moved to the side.

"What is?" Liz asked as she watched Blue chase her tail.

"She had no control. She aimed for Hellboy; she thought of herself as a lion and had no clue she was human. Until I reminded her of whom she was," Abe explained.

They watched as Blue chased her tail more and then stop. She walked over to the trio and lifted herself to a standing position by putting her front paws on Hellboy's shoulders.

"What are you doing?" Hellboy asked.

Blue licked her tongue out and licked the side of his face.

"Oh gross!" Hellboy cried as he turned his head away. The others laughed.

"Stop smoking Hellboy! It doesn't matter if it can't kill you; it's still bad for you,' Blue chided.

Hellboy turned his head back to Blue with his eyes wide.

"Holy shi…," Hellboy said, amazed. "Did you hear that? She just talked to me!"

Blue cocked her head and pushed herself off of Hellboy. She turned around in a circle and sat back on her haunches. They watched as she changed back into Blue the human.

"You heard me?" Blue asked.

"Hell yea! You just told me to stop smoking," Hellboy said.

Blue looked to Abe for an explanation.

"Strange… I've never heard of a shape-shifter being able to talk to us in animal form," Abe said. "Perhaps you have some form of latent telepathic ability."

"Whatever it is, it is a great way to communicate in the field," Myers commented.

"It definitely is. Alright let's continue," Abe said.

"Actually, I think I've got it down now… just tell me what animal you want ad let's see if I can do it," Blue said.

Off of Abe's look, Blue continued. "Oh please? Can we just try it?"

"Fine," Abe said, relenting.

"Yes! Okay Liz…favorite animal?" Blue asked.

"Monkey," both Liz and Hellboy said at the same time.

Blue looked at them amused. She closed her eyes and thought of a monkey. Almost instantly, she shrank and her arms elongated. She turned into a monkey right before their very eyes.

"It worked!" Blue said.

She changed back to a normal person.

"Myers! Your turn," Blue said.

"Tiger," he responded.

Blue nodded and without even closing her eyes, she transformed into a large tiger with a long tail that swished back and forth. She changed back with a huge smile on her face.

She turned to Abe, "Oh I would ask you Abe, but I bet its some kind of fish…. Am I right?"

Abe nodded with a smile.

"Just a pity there's no water here and I can't swim," Blue said.

"Can't swim?" Hellboy echoed.

"Never been out of the house before remember?" Blue said. "Now Hellboy, what animal do you like? Oh wait… it's a cat isn't it?"

Hellboy nodded and Blue changed into an exact likeness of Star. Then she switched back.

"I did it! Ha! I got control now!" Blue exclaimed.

"Just because you have control now, doesn't mean your emotions can't take it back," Liz said.

Blue nodded, "Now what?"

"Well, since it looks like you got your ability under control, let's try a little bit of combat," Abe said.

"Combat? You mean fighting?" Blue asked.

"Exactly, but I want to see you use your ability as well," Abe said.

"But I don't know how to fight."

"That's okay. That is what we are here for. Now Hellboy if you please," Abe said towards Hellboy.

Blue looked over to Hellboy to see him smile. He threw his cigar to the side and ran towards her.

"Oh heh, wait!" Blue cried as she ducked.

Blue shrank into a mouse and Hellboy ran over her. She changed back as Hellboy skidded to a stop.

"Miss me," Blue said with a smile.

Hellboy growled and ran at her. She turned and ran towards the wall. With a quick idea, she put a foot on the wall and flipped herself over Hellboy. While in mid-air she transformed into the lion again and Hellboy hit the wall. He turned and she ran at him. He moved out of the way and Blue transformed into an eagle before she slammed into the wall.

She flew up into the air and around the room. She laughed as she felt the air brush by her. Everybody was amazed as they watched her. Blue stopped and looked down towards Hellboy. And then she pressed her wings against her body and flew straight at him.

Hellboy smiled and grabbed her body as she got closer to him. She screeched and wriggled her body.

"I win," Hellboy said.

"I don't think so," Blue said.

She shrank until she was small as a bug. Hellboy looked between his hands in confusion as she disappeared. Blue skittered between his legs and stopped behind him. She grew into a large bear once again and stood behind Hellboy. He looked at the shadow as it grew. He turned around and took a step back.

"A bear? Again? Really?" Hellboy asked.

Blue nodded and put her front paws on the floor.

"Ready to quit?" Blue asked.

"Oh, Hell no!" Hellboy cried as he rushed at her.

She stood up and he crashed into her. They landed on the floor and Blue twisted so Hellboy's back was facing the ground. He tucked his legs under her and pushed. Blue flew across the air, hit the wall, and landed on the floor.

A shriek rang out through the room. All except Blue turned to look in the doorway. Blue transformed back to normal and stood up against the wall.

"Manning, you're a man, can you at least try not to scream like a girl?" Blue said next to Manning from where she stood.

Hellboy laughed as Manning's face grew red. Blue leaned against the wall as Manning stepped further into the gym. An unknown man followed him in. Hellboy and the others went to Blue.

"You alright?" Hellboy asked and Blue nodded.

She pushed herself off the wall and stood next to him. Hellboy looked at Manning.

"Who's this? Another agent?"

"Yes. This is Chet, and he's just joining us today," Manning answered Hellboy.

Hellboy scoffed, "I don't need another agent."

"It's not for you, it's for Blue," Manning smiled.

"For me? No thanks, I'd much rather have Myers," Blue said.

"Myers has Hellboy assigned to him, and Chet here is assigned to you," Manning said.

She looked at Chet as he looked at her. Her stomach twisted as they looked at each other.

"Don't trust him," Broom said.

"No problem," Blue replied.

Just then a siren let out a screech and lights flashed..

"Time to go. Chet, get acquainted with Blue, you're her babysitter now," Manning said.

They left as Hellboy patted her back. Chet and Blue were alone now.

"It doesn't matter what he says, I ain't gonna be your babysitter, freak," Chet said.

"Good to know, I don't want you to be," Blue said.

She moved to leave the room but before she could, Chet grabbed her arm.

"What are you doing?" Blue winced.

He squeezed her arm and she gasped.

"Just because I'm not your babysitter doesn't mean you don't get to be told what to do," Chet said.

"Nobody tells me what to do, and that includes you," Blue said.

Quick as a flash, Chet hit her with his other hand and her face whipped to the side. She held onto her heated cheek. She looked back to Chet.

"Watch what you say, freak," Chet said before he let her go and left the room.

Blue stood rooted to her spot.

"Are you alright?" Broom asked with concern.

"I'm fine," Blue replied.

"You need to tell Manning," Broom said.

"Why should I? They seem to share the same view of us as freaks. And besides, if I can kill Hellboy, then I should be able to handle one man, can I?"

"Perhaps so, but I advise you to be careful," Broom cautioned.

"I will… I promise."