"Beast Boy!" Robin almost screamed.
The painfully familiar walls enclosed all around them. Turns that jut made them go around in frustrating circles. The rocky barriers dripped tiny beads of water, there was definitely a source somewhere above them. Robin thought they were under a waterfall, or a lake.
They were hungry, tired, and murderously angry. They had him. They had his scent, they saw the flashes of movement in the thick shadows of the underground. They had reached the marble floor, and Robin was sure that they had him. He didn't foresee that Slade would have an escape plan. But he always did, Robin should have learn that lesson by now.
And they lost him…and Raven.
They ran tirelessly into the dark, but it was no use. Slade had led them back into the maze of solid rock, and only he knew the way out.
The chase was all that mattered to Robin now. He ignored the roars of his stomach, the headaches that drilled his mind, and his friends' consolations.
At least they had quieted down. He didn't know if he could take them yelling again.
They were so close. So close. He could almost sense Slade's presence in the dark. Hear his muted breathing in the echoes of the tunnels.
It was more torturous than being starved.
His fist had been pounding rhythmically on the stone for the last minute. The green teenager hadn't come.
"Beast Boy!" he croaked out again through cracked lips.
The dilapidated dog scurried forward, whining.
"Beast Boy," Robin began, his eyes rolling suspiciously in circles. "I need you to see if there's any sign of his scent here."
He pointed to a spot on the ground, marking where the boy should begin. Slade's obvious footprint laid patiently in the sand.
The pup wagged his tail in understanding and snorted up dirt. He inhaled a few more times.
Then he barked. Loud.
Before Robin's hopes could fly higher than his name, the dog took off, down another corner. It looked the same as all the others: Dank, exceptionally dark besides the light shimmer of the water on the rocks, and claustrophobic.
"This way!" Robin called out to the others, who were straggling behind.
The sound of his paws hitting the ground was comforting to him.
He could smell the sickly sweet scent of Slade. It was subtle, but once it was caught, too intense to miss. Beast Boy let his nose lead the way. His animal body simply followed.
He could understand why Robin was so furious about Slade. He really could. But, he found it odd that his leader cared so much about the masked man, but never mentioned Raven anymore. He was worried. And for some reason, he felt as though he needed to find her first.
He picked up his speed, trying not to think about tofu or veggie burgers…
His stomach growled.
I know…I know…he chanted to himself.
They had started this rescue mission, what seemed like, a lifetime ago. They thought that it wouldn't take so long. But, it had, and Beast Boy's attention was on Raven.
His body ached, and he slipped slightly, weak with hunger.
He would never bring less than an entire refrigerator to one of these things again.
Don't think about it.
His thoughts wandered away from mouthwatering delicacies the minute he picked up another scent. It was smokier, but in an intoxicating, incense-y kind of way.
Raven.
He was happy she hadn't lost her smell. He gave a tiny yip of joy.
Robin had lost his.
Beast Boy stumbled a little bit again, but managed to stay on his pads, digging his claws into the dirt.
When Robin had been taken (what was it with the one eyed dude and kidnapping, anyway?), Beast Boy was positive his leader could take it, might even be able to turn Slade's plan on its head.
He did manage to do just that, but it had cost him. Something unexplainably huge.
The first sign was his different aroma. It had always been sort of a cologne type of thing (probably from all the hair gel he used). It was a pure scent, one that was familiar, not overpowering, but noticeable.
When he came back, torn up inside and out, it wasn't that anymore.
It still smelled fine, he guessed, but it was a little wrong- like spoiled somehow, or out of date. Like old man smell. Not much of a difference, but just enough to tip off the green teen.
Then when Terra…
He whimpered, and tore his mind away from her smiling eyes.
He knew that anyone who hung out with Slade for more than an hour was going to have some serious repercussions. Terra had only followed the masked guy for just over a month, and she ended up…
She…well…
She wasn't here anymore.
Raven had been missing for almost four months now.
He picked up his speed even more, the trail was hot. Burning.
He raced around corners, left and right, sand kicking up from his powerful haunches. He transformed when he knew he was close enough now to taste Slade. His paws became four times larger, and his fur became a majestic, dune-colored mane.
He felt powerful, he could see so much better, and he knew that if he saw Slade now…there would be no contest. His instincts were blinding.
A powerful growl rumbled deep inside him, tempting him to roar with unadulterated rage and sadness. He was eager, beyond eager, to save Raven, but, would she change into something else, too? Just like Robin?
It was easy to see the boy wonder caving into his darker side the more time they spent in the maze. No rest, not eating, or even trying to preserve himself. The only thing that mattered to him was finding Slade.
The thing was, Beast Boy wasn't sure what would happen when the two were face-to-face again. Robin had sworn not to kill, he wouldn't break his code, would he?
There were so many questions to be answered, and the weak link was Robin. The shape-shifter prayed that Robin would be able to control his anger, or things would get very ugly. Would he stop his friend, his leader? Or would he let him destroy a life, even if it was Slade's?
There had been a time when the green boy wanted just the same thing.
He picked up his pace, strength flowing through his veins. Puffs of savage breath exploded with each leap. A narrow alley was just ahead, too small for anyone to go through, but Slade had definitely gone through it.
He reigned in his viciousness and became small. He left the others far behind, he could hear their frantic feet echoing, but they were lagging.
Not everyone could be as strong as him. He had to be the first to see her.
It was a short distance to the next tunnel, and he morphed again when the space became big enough. He felt his teeth grow and crack into fanged canines, his snout curled in ferocity. Ears pricked for anything, he did hear something different. It was a soft drum.
But it was beating fast, too fast.
It couldn't be a heart, unless it was a hummingbird.
It couldn't be a machine, it was different, not thrumming the way technology does.
He cocked his massive head, listening intently.
It finally hit him.
Was it laughter?
The closer he got, the more positive he was that someone in the caves was chuckling softly, malevolently.
Slade.
He growled softly.
He assumed it was directed at Raven. And his heartbeat picked up at the thought of the dark girl being laughed at, tormented in the shadows. He would rescue her, he had to. He couldn't fail again.
But he was surprised. The giggle escalated into a mad, eerie howling, an all knowing cackle. This confused the teenager, what was he so giddy about?
He put on the brakes.
The scent was right on top of him. It hit him full on instantly, too powerful, too quickly. He immediately shrunk and scaled the walls with his scaly, sticky skin. He blended in, looking in all directions.
He licked his chops, tasting the air.
No doubt about it, Slade was very near. He had to be no more than a couple yards away, but Beast Boy couldn't see him anywhere.
He hesitantly scurried forward. Keeping his eyes peeled, listening with his entire body, barely breathing. The shadows bounced and swayed, and light source was close by. Maybe he could just pass the fight all together…
"There you are," said an unholy voice, softer than a dying breath.
His body was yanked off the stone, and he was suddenly very tiny and looking right into a massive, pale-blue eye. It studied him closely, peering through his peeling flesh.
Without a second to spare, he snapped at the man's throat, changing mid-air into a different beast. Slade held him off with his arm as the wolf tried to dig its threatening teeth into him.
It did so, and tore off a piece of metallic armor.
"Playing dirty are we?" Slade observed coolly, his pungently sweet breath blew through the slits.
Beast Boy twitched his nose in disgust, and crunched the metal between his fangs before he threw it away. He snapped his powerful jaws, drool flying everywhere in his frenzy.
Slade's back bent under the weight, but the more uncontrolled the teenager became, the more weakness he exposed.
The man finally regained his form and landed a devastating kick to Beast Boy's chest, sending him flying into the wall. Pebbles shattered and fell as his spine hit the stone, and he let out a pained whimper. His sight swirled and spun as he shook off the blow. As he stood, he saw a shimmer of silver coming at him fast.
Dodging just in time, he leapt away and stood on two legs, swiping his sharpened claws in the air as he roared. He ran forward and grabbed Slade in a bear hug, crushing him.
He heard a pop, and guessed that a rib was no longer intact.
The one eyed man barely made a sound, and smashed open one of his smoky escapes. Beast Boy backed away in surprise at the explosion of gray mist that had just appeared and grunted in frustration. He couldn't let Slade get off so easy.
Upset for too long, the hit came from behind. It dug into his newly bleeding wound, and the animal teen snarled, clapping his jaws together, grinding his teeth. The fog remained thick, and he knew he could never win like this, oblivious to Slade's movements.
He spread his wings and took off as far as the tunnel would allow. He was a few feet above the cloud, and he shrieked out, trying to see Slade without eyes.
He wasn't in the smoke, but stood nonchalantly a few feet away from it, looking up at the bat with a bored pose.
Forgetting his fear at Slade's obvious confidence, he dived and landed solidly on top of him, his talons going for his eye. He missed as the man moved inhumanly fast just as Beast Boy scratched out.
"Can you be any less subtle, boy?" Slade critiqued, his voice smug. "I could hear you a mile away."
Instead of lashing out and getting his butt kicked again, Beast Boy took the advice and became too small for human sight. Creeping, crawling, his long legs melted in the dark, while the red spot on his back spoke of poisonous warning.
"Ah, now we're getting somewhere…" Slade murmured, his body stoic, but his eye swirling around and around, looking for the bug.
Without the man's knowledge, he crept up the wall behind him, and jumped silently. The massive ape landed on the man's back, beating into his skull.
He picked up Slade, as he was taken off guard, and threw him as hard as he could into the ground. He picked him up again and chucked him to the dirt once more. When the man became still, he pounded his chest in victory and yelled savagely.
He poked him in the back, making sure he was down and out.
Pride swelled in him when the man did nothing. He knew he could do it.
He flipped the body, and stared warily at the mask. His creepy eye was closed, and dust covered his front, puffing out in small clouds. It settled, and Beast Boy sniffed him closely. He really looked like he was done.
After a few moments, he changed back and looked around. He could see the faint glow bouncing off the shadowed boulders. As he turned to leave, find Raven, something caught his foot. Startled, he glanced back, and saw Slade's hand tightening around his ankle.
Beast Boy grew claws and his pupils dilated, but Slade was quicker. He moved his hand from the teen's ankle to his throat, cutting off his voice, and air.
Half boy, half tiger, he squirmed. Slade marched him into the moss-covered wall, and the green changeling kicked out his legs in distress, his slit eyes begging for life.
Pain sprouted in his chest and reverberated from his back. He knew his spine was cracking from the distress. His rib cage creaked from the punching of his lungs. His insides squirmed and began to go numb.
Help! Help! His brain screamed.
His feet were frantic, his arms flopped around grotesquely, and he gasped for breath that could not enter. His vision was fading quickly, blackening around the edges.
He was fighting for life, he swung out, and only managed to caress Slade's chest. He lashed out, he writhed, he did everything, but it all faded as quickly as he acted.
He was just a boy, and his sorry life flashed through his mind. He was going to die, he knew it. But, he was not above begging. Not now.
He caught the attention of Slade, the veins in his dark jade eyes popped and the red swirled with the green. Slade cocked his head, fascinated by the explosion.
"Please…" Beast Boy managed to choke out in a rushed exhale.
Slade's eye narrowed.
His body dropped to the ground, just before he could faint. He sucked in gulps of air, his body weak and quaking. Slade stood above him, wondering what his options were.
He didn't like the annoying boy. He desperately wanted to kill him. His friends would suffer immensely. His fingers twitched. It would mean that the boy couldn't follow his trail anymore.
These were all good reasons.
He crouched down, his hand cupping the chin of his mask. The Titans weren't far behind. He would have to be quick.
Oh, but he hated killing slowly. It ruined all the fun. He wanted blood, but was hindered by the slight problem with the way hewould get it. His body quivered, it was tantalizing, but he could wait. He took a deep breath.
But, he couldn't leave the mutt behind. He would just keep following them, pestering. The Titans would eventually find the girl, but it would be so much harder without a bloodhound.
And if he killed him, leaving Robin to find the body… The ex-apprentice would be practically bloodthirsty. He would never stop hunting him. This gave him an unexpected wave of pleasure, but also one of annoyance.
Did he want a bloodbath?
Yes.
Did he want a quick one?
No.
It was decided. He would be patient. Or, as patient as he could be.
A quick movement caught his eye. The changeling was getting up and…
No, he wasn't actually…
He was.
Slade smirked. Children were so precious.
Beast Boy stood up, and glared at Slade, his clawed fingertips becoming longer and fiercer by the second. He took a quick swipe at the mask, determined to land a hit.
Without much effort, Slade caught the small boy's slim wrist. He was unbearably thin. So weak.
His other hand came lazily forward, as if the first blow took all of his energy. But, Slade batted it away with a disappointed sigh.
Quickly, he turned the boy around, snatching both arms and tugging them behind his back, he pulled until he heard a clean pop from both shoulders and the corresponding screams.
He let go then, and the child fell immediately and began to cradle both arms, tears in his blood-shot eyes, covered in dirt.
"I will…I will…" he was beginning to threaten through heavy breaths.
Slade chuckled.
"Do what exactly?"
He kicked the back of the boy's head, and stomped heavily on the weak spot on his spine, hearing a few more cracks splintering out of his chest. Ribs, maybe? Eye for an eye.
Or in this case, a rib for two ribs, dislocated shoulders, and a concussion.
He listened to Beast Boy's scream sing around him. The tunnel now stunk of blood and sweat, and of course, defeat. The boy was finished.
Slade smiled.
He could see the limpness of the green adolescent, and he knew he was seconds from unconsciousness. Sighing, he became more aggravated by the thought of looking after two Titans. He wasn't a zoo keeper. But, he did enjoy the thought of having a punching bag around.
Brightening up at the thought of beating the boy senseless while the girl watched, he heaved the light-weight onto his shoulder and practically skipped deeper into his lair.