AN: Thank you for all the support! You guys are amazing! Anyways, on with the chapter!
Disclaimer: I asked for the rights to Young Justice and Raven for my birthday, but DC and Cartoon Network said no.
Previously:
Kaldur then spun the bottle which landed on Wally… and Gar, who chose truth.
"When did you turn green?" Wally asked, his mouth still full of taco. "No offense dude, but last time we saw you, you had red hair and blue eyes."
"Well, it's kind of a long story." Gar said, as the Team listened intently. "It all started back in Africa…"
Chapter 12: Garfield's past and the induction
Garfield closed his eyes as he tried to form the words, swallowing the lump in his throat as he watched the scene paint itself before him. "I was running around like crazy, chasing after a cool mongoose I'd seen. Somehow, I ended up chasing it deep into the jungle, which was close to our house, before I lost sight of it. I decided to give up and head back home, before realizing I had absolutely no idea which way I came from. I was completely lost."
Flashback:
"Help! Anybody! Please, I'm lost out here!" Garfield yelled at the top of his lungs in desperation. He was running around frantically, waving his arms around and trying to find any signs that civilization was nearby, but to no avail. He had found a strange clearing with a single, thick, palm tree in it. Light filtered in from above, and a few bushes grew at the edges. The red-haired boy circled the tree, his head cocked to the side and his eyes filled with curiosity. Suddenly, he heard a low, threatening growl. He snapped his head upwards instantly, only for his eyes to lock with those of a large, angry, GREEN monkey. Its teeth were bared, its emerald fur stood on end, and it was watching the young boy with an intensity that could bore a hole through one's head. In short, this was NOT a happy primate. Not that Gar noticed that.
"Hi Mr. Monkey!" He chirped innocently. "Do you know the way out of the jungle? I'm lost. Cool, you're green! That's my favorite color!" To the animal lover's delight, the grass green monkey abandoned its perch on the top of the tree, swinging down from one of the branches like a trapeze artist, and landing on the tree trunk. It then proceeded to climb even further down, and sit at the base of the tree, though its hostile demeanor did not vanish. If anything, it just seemed even more agitated.
"Yay! You're going to help me!" Gar exclaimed brightly, offering an outstretched hand to the simian as a peace offering.
This seemed to be the final straw for the unnerved animal. With a deafening shriek, it swung its arms around wildly and clamped its jaw firmly on the poor boy's arm. Gar cried out in pain, flinging his arm in the hope of dislodging the creature, but to no avail. After several failed attempts, he finally managed to rid himself of the vicious monkey by smashing its skull against the trunk of the tree with as much force as he could muster. With a final snarl, the simian scampered up the tree, his moss colored fur now making him resemble an ogre.
By now, Garfield's arm was bleeding uncontrollably. The evil ape had managed to tear right through his skin, exposing the muscle underneath. He was exhausted after his ordeal, and was now sweating profusely, suppressing a shiver when he though he saw the white of his bone when he moved his arm. Pain was shooting up his arm as if it was lightning, and he stumbled with every step.
By now, Gar had managed to make it back to the edge of the frightening forest, and could hear the heavenly voice of his mother calling out for him in frantic tones. Forcing his legs to keep moving despite his fatigue, he followed her voice like a bee to a flower. Smiling weakly when she came into view, her identical ruby-red hair glimmering in the fading sunlight, he managed to croak out a feeble 'Hi mom' before unconsciousness managed to wrap its arms around him.
End of Flashback
"Turns out, that monkey had a rare disease called Sakutia, which is why it was green. My mom was researching the disease, and managed to save my life using an untested medicine she'd been perfecting. Unfortunately, that means I ended up like this… Not that it's not cool, but I'd like to be able to look like my old self sometimes y'know?"
The rest of the Team stayed silent of a few seconds, staring at him with their eyes wide and their mouths agape. The silence was broken by M'gann who proceeded to crush him in a death hug, mutter apologies repeatedly (since she had no idea) and tell him that she loved him like a brother no matter what he looked like. The rest of the Team knew what it was like to have your life changed in an instant, and were quick to tell him so, with Conner giving the Statement of the Day.
"I HATE monkeys."
And that was that, the Team was closer, floodgates were opened, and the traumatizing truth or dare game had officially come to a close.
"Is it always like this?" Gar asked once he'd been released from his sister's strangling hug.
Kaldur gave him a warm smile "Welcome to the Team."
That was how Beast Boy was officially inducted into the Team, a strategic covert OPS team founded by the protégés of the Justice League.
And he wouldn't have had it any other way.
