A/N: Gasp! An update! Sorry guys, guess I'm a little burnt out. But everyone's been so great, and I still have stuff planned I kind of want to do, so I'm at least going to try to wrap this collection up with a bang. So look forward to twelve more oneshots, including this one to wrap up.

This particular one is related to "Animal Planet" which you can find if you scroll back in the chapters. And yes, I'm obsessed with the implications of Beast Boy's powers. I'm sorry.

Beast Boy

Green Around the Gills

I'd always suspected that I had, like, limited time remaining. When the Doom Patrol has taken me in, they'd had me checked up by this guy, Dr. Caulder. He was amazed.

"You should be dead! But your parents somehow managed to stop the reaction by…transforming you. I'm not sure how long it can last, though."

"Niles!" Rita had said.

"I'm just being realistic. Nothing like this has ever happened before. He's still infected with the disease; his parents just…mutated it…and who knows how long his system can handle the shape shifting. Germs are tricky things, it's hard to say the sakutia won't figure out a way to beat his immune system in its current strain. It could even come back worse."

"I don't understand," I said to Rita.

"Nothing, Gar. Just grown up talk. You're saying he shouldn't shapeshift?"

"No, I'm not sure if that will make a difference. Just keep bringing him to regular checkups. If something goes wrong, we can catch it."

Of course, the checkups had stopped eventually. And the next time I thought about it again was when Cyborg mentioned my genetics were unstable. It reminded me of that visit. I thought about it, and decided that if the day ever came that my borrowed time ran out, I'd just deal with it. No need to worry about it or anything, if it happened, it happened.

So I think one morning when I woke up and felt strange all over, in a way I couldn't really…explain…part of me knew. And didn't care.

"You look a little pale, BB. Like, puke green."

"Gee, thanks, dude. My insides just feel a little weird," I flopped on the couch next to Cyborg. It actually felt a little like something was unraveling inside me.

"Well, you don't seem t' have a virus," Cyborg said, scanning me with his arm. "You eat too much tofu last night?"

"Probably."

"Gross. Maybe you should lie down."

"I'm fine. I want to play our new videOW!"

"What's wrong?" Cyborg said.

My hand had changed into a paw, ripping my glove to shreds. That was weird. It had hurt too, which was even weirder. It hadn't hurt for me to change in a long time.

"Nothing," I said, concentrating and shifting my hand back. "Powers went a little wonky, I guess."

"That's never happened before, though," Cyborg said in concern.

"Maybe it's puberty. Dude, come on, let's play."

"Okayyyy…"

The game hadn't even started properly when pain shot up my arm and it turned all scaly.

"Ghhnnn!" I tried to change back, but I couldn't.

"Okay, something's wrong." Cyborg said.

"Wait…" I concentrated, and slowly the scales receded. "There. See, it's fine."

"No way. You can't ignore your powers acting like this. It reminds me of Starfire that time…"

"What, you think I'm going to develop eye lasers?"

"I need to check you out. This is serious," Cyborg scratched his chin.

"Oh, come on, you're totally overreact…ahhchhh…" I began to cough. It was like I couldn't breathe. I tried desperately to suck in air, but that only seemed to make it worse. I fell off the couch, clutching at my throat.

"B!" Cyborg grabbed me. "Oh my God…"

At the sides of my neck were gaping slits, flapping in the air. Gills.

"SOMEONE HELP! WE NEED WATER! Beast Boy!"

The world began to darken at the edges, and then it faded completely.

When I woke up, my head was in a tank of water. The problem was, just as I breathed in, I realized my lungs were back to normal.

"ACCCH!!!" I began to sputter and cough, before someone pulled me roughly out.

"He's awake!"

I shook my wet hair out of my eyes and saw Robin, Raven, Star and Cyborg standing around me.

"You okay?" Robin asked.

"Yeah…"

I looked around the cold room. Wires were attached to my body. I was hooked up to one of Cy's lab thingies.

"Those gills disappeared as fast as they came," Robin said. "It shouldn't even be possible. I mean, you've never been able to do half and half, have you?"

"Nope."

"Raven, do you sense anything?"

"No," Rae's eyebrows creased in concern as she said it. I knew then that I had to be in trouble.

"Oh…this is not good. Not good at all," Cyborg said studying the computer.

"Oh no," Starfire turned to him. "What is wrong?"

"That disease that gives him his powers. It's…"

"Mutated? Made my genetics too unstable?" I finished for him.

The team looked at me in shock. "How did you know?" Cyborg said.

"Nothing lasts forever. Kinda saw this coming," I shrugged.

"You SAW this coming?" Robin yelped. "And you didn't TELL us?"

I shrugged. "I don't really think there's anything that can be done, so…"

"Of course there's something that can be done! There's got to be someone who knows something about sakutia," Robin began to pace.

"Hey, if you can bring people back from the dead now, that would be sweet, but my folks were the only ones who ever got a cure. And I'm not sure even they could fix this." I shrugged.

"What's wrong with you?" Raven interjected suddenly as Robin opened his mouth again. "I've never seen you like this."

"Dude, can't we just forget about it? I wanna go play video games or something…" I tried to get off the table but Starfire pushed me pack.

"B, you have to take this seriously. You're gonna DIE." Cyborg said.

"Well, duh."

"I mean SOON, if we don't fix this. Raven, is there anything you can do?"

Raven shook her head. "I'm not powerful enough. If he had a cold, I could help, but something like this…"

"Wait, you can fix colds?" I interjected.

"Beast Boy…"

"And you let me SUFFER all those times I got sick? That is so not cool!"

"BEAST BOY!" Robin suddenly yelled.

"WHAT?" I shot back.

"You're not taking this seriously!" Robin cried.

"What, should I cry or something?" My vision began to blur. "Aw man…"

"What?" Starfire gasped.

"I'm shifting again. I can't see," I waved my hand in front of my face, but it was like someone had blindfolded me. Somebody grabbed my hand, and I tried to figure out who it was. When they squeezed it and I felt crushing pain, I guessed Starfire.

"What is this?" I heard Robin groan.

"I think it's a mole's eyes, but I could be wrong…"

"The virus has mutated so it can unravel his shapeshifting abilities. Soon it's going to be too much for him," Cyborg interrupted me.

"I don't want to know what that means," I shivered. For the first time a little fear managed to get through my acceptance. Shapeshifting to death. Not cool.

"I just don't understand why this is happening now…." I heard the sound of Cyborg scratching his head.

"Okay, that's it. I'm going to find someone who can fix this.." Robin's voice had shifted fully to "heroically determined".

"Robin…hey, I'm starting to see again…GaOWWW!"

"Beast Boy!" Starfire cried.

"Huh." My hand had freaked out again, only this time the claws had burst straight through the skin of my fingertips. Raven waved her hand over them, stopping the bleeding.

"I'm going to make some calls," Robin said, massaging his temples. "Take care of him."

"Dude, it…will…not…work. Nobody else has figured out a cure to this virus, okay? Nobody's gonna be able to come up with one quick enough, not if it's mutated. I've accepted this was happening a long time ago, you need to as well, okay?" I burst out.

"If it doesn't matter to you if you die, at least realize what it means for us," Robin shot back. "Nothing's impossible. I WILL find a way. That's what we do."

He stormed out of the room.

"Robin is correct, Beast Boy," Starfire said sternly. "You should have come to us sooner about this."

"It was just a suspicion…" I sighed. "I wasn't sure if it was really going to happen. Not completely. I didn't want to work everyone up over nothing."

"I should have realized it," Cyborg muttered. "But I've never seen anything like this! This is happening way too fast, it's not normal."

I could hear Robin talking, far away. Almost too well. I touched my ears. Cat.

"Is Robin calling up the entire Justice League?"

"Huh?" Cyborg said, concentrating on the monitor. "I guess."

"They're not home. Now he's calling someone else. He has crazy connections!" I was impressed, I admit.

"Hey, it's me," I heard him say. "Yeah, really. I missed you too, I'm sorry. I know, I know. Listen, I'll call you again, but I really need to speak to him. A friend of mine is in serious trouble. Where is he? Oh. Can you patch me through? Do they get reception there? Okay, good. Yes, it's that important. Okay, thanks a lot. Yeah, you too."

There was a pause. "Hi. It's Robin. Yeah, I know you know. Yes, really serious trouble. My friend, Beast Boy- you know his real name? How'd you-have you been-look, never mind. He's sick. Uh, yeah, that's exactly what it is. Can you…? What do you mean? There HAS to be a way! I know there is, I know you could get somebody. They can battle it just fine without you! ….EVERYONE'S there? No, you can't go, he'll DIE! Listen, I'll do anything. I'm serious. …Yes, even that. He's my teammate. Are you telling me you wouldn't do the same thing? …Okay. Oh, you've got to be kidding me. That's the only person…? Yes, I know it's only twenty-four hours, but you have no idea…! Yes, I do want him to live. Yes, I know you have an alien menace to fight. Okay, fine. Fine, I'll do it. He won't like it though. Thanks, I owe you one." There was a really long pause. "I know. Bye."

Robin burst into the lab. "Beast Boy, someone's figured out the cure for sakutia. But they're in jail."

"What? Who is it?" I asked.

" Louis Register."

"Who?"

"The Mad Scientist," Robin looked away.

I took a moment to process it. "The guy who freakin' turned me into an animal experiment?"

"I know, I know. But he's got some of your blood, and he's been bragging he figured out a cure," Robin sighed. "Nobody else, not even the most brilliant person, would be able to figure the cure out before your time is up, but he developed one for weeks. Br…my source thinks he can modify it for this mutated strain, even."

"No. No way. I'm not letting him near me."

"You are. I'll cut a deal with him. Reduced sentence," Robin said shortly.

"No way! You can't reduce his sentence."

"He'd probably have escaped before it was over anyway," Raven sighed.

"Look, I would never put you through this if your life wasn't on the line. You know I don't like to cut deals with criminals. But this is how it has to be. It's risky, but it's a risk we have to take."

"You guys can't be down with this," I looked around at Cyborg, Raven and Starfire.

"Beast Boy, I shall not let you perish. I shall allow anything if it will help," Starfire said earnestly.

"Word to that," Cyborg said in solidarity.

"I'll go with you to get the convict," Raven said, getting up to stand next to Robin. "Beast Boy, stop whining. You're getting cured whether you like it or not."

"But…"

"But nothing. I need someone around to mock. Let's go, Robin."

They marched out the door."

"I am so out of here," I said, but Starfire grabbed my arm.

"You are so not."

My head was hurting, like my skull was caving in on itself.

"Do the lying down," Starfire forced me to sprawl across the roll away bed.

"You all suck," I muttered.

"See, enlightened commentary like that is why we need you around," Cyborg quipped. "Seriously, stop being so pessimistic."

"Dude, I just wanted to forget about this. You're the one who's all "death by shapeshifting!"

"You know what? Tell a stupid joke. Go on, it will make you feel better." Cyborg walked over.

"I can't think of any…head hurts…" I muttered.

Cyborg exchanged a worried glance with Starfire. My arm was numb. I looked over and saw it was boneless and limp. Tentacle-y. Ew.

It was getting worse. I could feel my insides wanting to stretch, to shift, to spill out. I concentrated on trying to keep myself together, which just made my head hurt more and more. The feeling seemed familiar. I'd felt it when I was three, after getting bitten by a green monkey.

"Y'know…I got…my powers from a basilisk…. while heroically saving…kittens…" I muttered.

"Yeah, I know. You're wicked awesome." Cyborg said, ruffling my hair.

"I think I'm going to pass out. Happened…last time…"

"That would probably be best," said Starfire and I knew she was thinking of the Mad Scientist coming, and not wanting to upset me. Which was just the thing that kept me awake.

Raven and Robin came in dragging the criminal. As soon as I looked into his eyes, I knew this was a trap. Unable to speak, I tried desperately to get away, but Starfire pressed gently on my shoulder, which was more than enough to pin me down.

"Ah, the marvelous specimen," the Mad Scientist said.

"Don't talk to him," Robin snarled. "Just tell us what to do for the cure. You get near him, or try anything funny, you will go down."

"Frightening,' the Mad Scientist fiddled with his cuff, and then all of the sudden, there was pain. And no control at all. My body was shapeshifting randomly, different parts all at once, and I could only cry out as my muscles tried to jump out of my skin.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING--?" I heard my friends yell.

"Ah-ah…don't do anything rash, or I press this button all the way, and my catalyst sees to it he dies."

Through the chaos, I could barely make out that the Scientist has a tiny device under his cuff, which he was pressing.

"Catalyst?" Robin gasped.

"Yes. You see, this sickness was my doing. In case something went wrong and he was rescued, I made a germ that simulated sakutia, only it specifically attacked my subject's shapeshifting powers. Powers I plan to harness. It was set to trigger on this date, and I knew I would be called to help. The perfect opportunity."

"So, it's not the sakutia," Robin snarled.

"No, that's still dormant, and I suspect it will be so for the rest of his life…which he won't have unless you do what I say.

I saw Raven's eyes began to glow, but the Scientist smiled at her and said, "This device will explode if anyone- or any telekinesis or other such power-touches it. And the device breaking, by the way, will kill him."

Raven's eyes dimmed and the Scientist released the pressure on the button, and my body stopped freaking out as much. I hurt all over and I was shaking uncontrollably, gasping for air.

Cyborg started toward me then stopped at the Mad Scientist looked at him, his finger still on the button.

"What. Do. You. Want." Cyborg said through gritted teeth.

"To run some more tests on the boy. I was trying to figure out a way to replicate his shapeshifting ability. Imagine an army of people like him! If I can get that, I will let him live. I only kill for science, after all."

"No way am I letting you experiment on Beast Boy again," Robin snarled.

"You shall have to go through me!" Starfire yelled

"Fine, I can just kill him now, then," the Mad Scientist said smoothly.

"NO!" My friends shouted.

"Okay," I said.

"What?" the Mad Scientist and my friends said at the same time.

"Go ahead, then. Kill me." I snapped.

"Beast Boy!" Robin cried.

"Come on," I chanted at the villain. "Do it! What are you waiting for?"

"I…" the Mad Scientist stared at me.

"I knew it!" I propped myself up a little better so I could look directly into his eyes. "You're not gonna do it, are you? You can't. Cuz what if my body doesn't give you enough to figure out how I shapeshift? What if I have to be alive? You can't risk that. I know you."

"I…I…" the Mad Scientist was sweating.

"You're bluffing about the device killing him if someone else touches it, aren't you?" Robin suddenly realized.

"Um…"

Raven grabbed the device out of the Scientists hand with telekinesis, and just as soon as she did, Cyborg grabbed him and slammed him to the wall.

"You're on our playing field now," Robin said.

"Give us the cure!" Starfire demanded.

"He'd better do it quick," I muttered. "Because I….don't…feel so…hot…"

Someone, I'm not sure who, cried out my name, just as everything went blissfully blank.

I woke up groggy and hurting, but also to the greeting of my beaming friends.

"We got him to cure you!" Cyborg said. "You're gonna need to recover, but you'll be all right."

"I can't believe you saw through his bluff," Robin said, shaking his head.

"Yeah, that was…really clever," Raven marveled. "Maybe being sick improved your brain power."

I tried valiantly to think up a comeback, but it was too much effort. "I spent so much time with him, as an animal, I guess I got to know him," I admitted.

"I still can't believe you suspected you were sick and didn't tell us," Robin shook his head.

"Yeah, that's behavior I expect from…well, almost everyone else, but not you," Cyborg said sternly.

"Sorry," I shrugged.

"Well, it wasn't the sakutia, anyway. I think you're going to be around for a while. You've adapted."

"Maybe I should change my name to Adaptor Boy. Adaptor Man, really…" I mused.

"Azar, let's not get started on the name change again," Raven groaned.

"You know you love it," I scoffed.

"I am glad you are well," Starfire said warmly.

"Me too," said Cyborg.

"Okay, he needs to rest," Raven ordered. "Out, everyone."

"I'll bring you some pie or something," Cyborg called back at me as they vacated.

The door slammed and it was quiet. I did feel tired, still. But before I dropped off, I noticed the little metal device with the button my archenemy had waved around, and a tube full of what must be the catalyst they'd made him extract out of me. For no particular reason, I picked up the device and pressed the button. The liquid inside the tube bubbled, and then the glass of the tube broke open as the catalyst sizzled out, spilling everywhere.

I drew back slightly. If pressing the button all the way down wouldn't have killed me…then what would it have really done?

I guess it was good thing I'd never find out.

I rolled over and drifted off to sleep.