Chapter Twenty: Showdown
6:56am
Gar groaned a little as he woke up. It was dark; even for Raven's room. And he didn't seem to be on the bed anymore.
Shrugging it off the changeling stretched then frowned. When had he gotten back into his clothes? Unless Raven had dressed him…
A crimson hue overtook the young man's face as he remembered the events of last night. It was a good thing Raven had insisted on her room being soundproof inside and out. Shaking his head to rid himself of the thoughts he noticed he was wearing some kind of collar. And not his normal leather bands that he wore. This one was heavy and it had spikes, only… they were turned inward. Touching the strange object that had found its way around his throat it dawned on him, slowly but surely.
He wasn't in Raven's room anymore.
7:14am Titans Tower
Raven's eyes flickered open and she turned over. To her surprise Gar wasn't in the bed with her. Where could he have gone to?
Quickly pulling on clothes and her cloak she walked downstairs. Maybe he'd already gotten up to eat. It was almost nine.
Walking into the main room she scanned the room. Shade was sitting at the breakfast table absorbed in a newspaper. Everyone else, except for Gar, was sitting at various tables eating.
"Has anyone seen Gar this morning?" she asked glancing over the large group. Everyone shook their heads
"I have not seen him." Starfire reported taking a pot of… something off the stove. As whatever-it-was inside moved the alien princess slammed the lid on and began yelling at the thing in Tameranian.
"I can look for him if you wish." Shade offered looking up from the paper.
Raven shook her head "No I'll go look. Thank you though." the Goth floated over to the large window and settled down. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos." she whispered. Her empathic senses weaved through out the Tower searching for Gar's familiar aurora. Strangely it was no where to be found.
'Raven!' the voice screamed so loudly it knocked Raven backwards into the couch. Pain, Hatred, Pain, Fury, Pain, Rage! 'Raven!'
Raven whimpered at the onslaught of emotions. They battered at her walls and literally tore through her psyche. In Nevermore her emotions cried out at the desperation in the voice. Someone was lashing out; trying to contact her. And Raven had a good idea of who it was.
7:30am Somewhere under Jump City
Gar slumped to his knees desperately trying to claw the collar off. But each time he tried the electric shocks that riddled his body increased in power.
In his mind's eye he saw Raven's broken body lying battered and bruised on the rooftop. And when he looked down his silver gloves were stained crimson.
"It's not real; it's not real." the changeling whimpered 'Mind over matter. Raven's safe at the Tower.' he told himself
"It seems you're stronger than I thought Garfield." the familiar female voice sneered "But soon the collar's voltage will grow too high and you will die. And you can not turn into an animal; the spikes will pierce your skin and kill you. There is no escape Garfield." Shahari laughed as she watched the young man writher in pain.
But then Gar's pupils shrank until they vanished into the white of his eye. Shahari ground her teeth, was he just going to kill him self quickly? She wanted his death to be painful and long. It was what he deserved.
The man's body enlarged until it was about as big as a large gorilla. Green fur covered his entire body and the distinct sound of cloth ripping could be heard. The collar gave one last shock to the massive animal before bursting off and landing at Shahari's feet.
The Beast gave an enraged roar and charged slamming the surprised woman into a wall. There was a sickening crack and Shahari screamed.
The Beast back up and was about to ram her again when a black portal appeared. Raven and the others all stepped out
"Gar! Don't!" Raven exclaimed "Don't hurt her anymore!" she pleaded, praying to Azar that the furious animal would listen.
The Beast's lip lifted in a growl as he stared at the broken body of Shari Simon. Then he walked over to Raven and… licked her face!
The half demon froze in surprise as the licking continued. Everyone else stared at her then burst out laughing.
"Dude that is the weirdest thing I've ever seen in my entire life!" Jason gasped through high pitched laughter.
Raven glared at the group and was nearly knocked over as the Beast nuzzled her face gently. It was purring, deeply and loudly.
"Okay Gar," she muttered blushing furiously "That's enough." she tried to say. But the Beast just continued with its display of affection.
Everyone finally stopped laughing and Robin grimly sized up the situation. Cyborg ran a test of Shari. She was fine; mostly her wounds were cuts and two broken ribs.
"I said enough!" Raven protested trying to get away from Gar's primal form without much success.
Gar knew he was still the Beast but he was too happy to change back into a human. He also knew Raven was getting really annoyed with him but that changed nothing.
Finally stopping his licking and purring the massive beast settled to standing beside Raven inhaling her sent.
She was his. No one could ever have her. They would always be together. No matter what.
(Okay I know the end really didn't live up to everything else. I'm sorry. But I want to get this thing finished! There will be one more chapter and then…)