Insaneiac: Ladies and gentlemen who read this story so adamantly, I give you the next chapter of Master of Beasts… right after I clear up some confusion. Winry is my own creation; I just failed to mention that part. She was originally supposed to be named Tory, and also be a little more of subservient…but I figured what the hell. I'll make her a hellcat. And you know, the more I think of it, the more it makes me glad to see so many interested in the Comic Relief suffering so, ya sickos! (Never mind, I'm enjoying this too.)

Reviews

Uberman:Thank you, and will do.

LadyMaundrell: Dam that's a fun name to write. I will say that I don't hate Robin, so much as I see him as edgy. He would truly be the kind to attack than question in many instances. And…if you're a little bit worried of Beast Boy suffering, you have every right to be.

We gots good grammar: Thanks for the congratulations, the compliments, and here you go, one hopefully soon update.

Chibi Scooby: Yup, you heard right. Hail the damned comas. And I know how you feel about horrible out of character characters. Totally defeats the purpose of reading a fan fic. Hope I can keep you interested.

TDG3RD: Well, it is Raven who treats him the worst, so it's probably hard for her just to stop. And yes, that was exactly the reaction I was going for when I had Raven defend Robin. I totally agree with you on the Beast Boy statements. He is my favorite as well, easily beating out Robin in my books. I just explored something that has danced in my head since The Beast Within (My all time favorite episode.) Glad you like the story, and I hope you keep reading.

Rebel-Aquarius: Why thank you for the compliment. I do intend on keeping it awesome, and alas, I do intend on torturing Beast Boy. So you may want to ready your sword, or gun, or bomb or whatever it is you are going to kill me with.

Moonshine Ryu: Will do! Enjoy

The Planner Conspiracy: You thought the last cliffy was bad… you'll want me dead for this one. Glad you like it, hope you stay with it.

Dragongirl: I have to admit, BB is one of the most fun characters to toy with. The entire second season and The Beast Within fed my ambition to write something like this and I figured I'd stop procrastinating and write it. I do intend to have Beast Boy's conviction tested, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't going to have some primo shockers for you all.

Kazzy103: Don't forget, Beast Boy's judgments on Robin are coming from his own perspective. We saw Robin doing that with concern, he probably saw him jumping at his throat within the first chance. And yes, it was a sad chapter, mood wise. I needed to set the tone after all. And as for Winry, she truly came to me in a stroke of luck. Thankfully, her character winded up being perfect to write. Anyways, enjoy the next chapter.

Eryka O.G.: Glad you like this story, and I agree. Not nearly enough Beast Boy centered fics here. And don't say it can't be done; there is so much material that could be used. And yes, Slade is one evil dude, and in all my cartoon watching years, he remains the most evil villain I've ever watched. Enjoy the chapter.

Numbuh Zero: Don't worry, she's an OC. Glad you liked the chapter, hope you like this one too. Good luck running those gnomes, they're a rather rude people they are/

Flam Guardian: Thanks dude, and glad you like it. The best? I'm modest so I'd have to disagree. Maybe the best Beast Boy centered fic…but the best? Enjoy the chapter.

Keri2004: Ask and ye shalt receive. Enjoy.

HeX-VaiN: A huge stampede of reviewers… I'd love to see that. I'd feel so loved before dying so painfully. And yes, I do intend to keep you all on edge. I have a world of things planned for you all. Enjoy this.

Alexnandru Van Gordon: Would you believe me if I said that line was a last minute addition. And Slade po'ed! Crap Alex, what the hell did you do! Oh well, deal with it as it comes. Enjoy the chapter.

Disclaimer: Winry is my property, but nothing else is. Just her and the idea. Cheerio

Chapter 3: The Devil and The Sufferer
"Precisely Miss Winry, a collar." Slade replied, looking down disdainfully at the young woman. He was quite under the impression that, had he been anyone different, she would have laughed at him. However, you do not laugh at Slade, and she found this out the very hard, very painful way. However, despite this little fact, Lin had remained a constant thorn in his side, and a constant reminder of just why he hated humanity.

"You know… I'd make a mother joke Slade, but I'm pretty sure you already killed yours." She replied, a smug little smile on her face. It was quickly wiped away when Slade grabbed her roughly by the chin, and pulled her out of her desk.

"You may find that I am not in the mood for your little games tonight. But if you want to continue pushing your luck, than please continue with your juvenile little comments, Winry." Slade retorted, his voice maintaining his tone, which made it all the scarier. With Slade, the smoother he got, the angrier he was getting. And if he ever did truly get angry, you were going to regret pushing him. With a final tug, pulling Lin out of her chair, Slade tossed her back into the chair, and slowly walked beside her desk, calmly looking over her shoulder, like some kind of slave master watches his workers. Lin grimaced and muttered under her breath, before going over the specs of the collar.

"So, let me get this straight. You want a collar that can regulate emotions, send calculated shocks ripping at the press of a button, and control… what the hell is a Were-Beast?" Lin muttered, dropping the folder. Slade slowly pressed a button on his wrist, and turned to the screen behind her, as pictures of Beast Boy's Were-Beast appeared on the screen. Lin turned as slowly as she could, before her eyes met up with the screen. The horror that set in her eyes was one of the purest emotions Slade had ever encountered from her. He loved it.

"That would be the Titan known as Beast Boy." Slade began, as Lin pushed her glasses to her face, and worked at fixing her breathing. "I want that side of him under my absolute control."

"That little green kid has that in him!" Lin exclaimed, over looking the picture multiple times. 'No way… he was always such an innocent person…always so happy…'

"I guarantee Winry; you were not the only one surprised. But that is beyond the point now. What matters is what I want done."

"Slade, this is too far! Robin's tougher than he is; he's a fighter by nature. You've beaten him within an inch of his life, and he keeps coming back. I'm positive Beast Boy isn't even capable of comprehending that kind of punishment. You just can't…" Winry said, before suddenly shutting up. It was too late and she knew it. You don't tell a man like Slade that he can't do something. Fact of the matter, you don't tell Slade he can't do anything. Slowly, almost sinisterly, Slade shifted his view back to Winry, a malicious glint all too visible in his one eye.

"Can't?" Slade muttered, grabbing Winry by the throat, and lifting her from her chair. He squeezed nice and tight, listening closely to the sounds of the young scientist struggling for air. "Miss Winry, I can do anything I want." Slade muttered as smooth as usual, but this time with a certain bit of anger dancing around. Slowly, he drew her closer to his mask, so as to make it painfully clear just what Slade wanted. "You will make me those items, and you'll do it without playing your little games. You are on a deadline this time, Winry, and I suggest you keep with the schedule." Slade continued, as Winry began to gag and kick from the lack of oxygen. Her eyes were begging for mercy in placement of her failing voice, and despite the major urge just to kill her, Slade showed her that mercy.

Unceremoniously, Slade tossed her back into the chair, allowing the air to rush back into her lungs, and for her voice to come back. She had gotten off exceedingly easy that time, and she was worried beyond all belief as to why she would have. Of course, despite her moral alert system ringing at full volume, she had no choice. Slade still had Richard, and if she strayed, Richard paid.

"You're a bastard Slade…" Winry chocked out, her eyes filled with hate. Hate, but subservience behind it. Try as she might, she could not hide her emotions and personalities worth a lick against Slade.

"For the collar, you have three days. For the serum, a week after the three days. You'll find all the specifics for what I need in the folders, and they must work." Slade replied, walking away. He could hear her mumble all kinds of obscenities under her breath, and despite the content, he smiled. She made it such an easily noticed thing when she was beat. It was beautiful really.

"And Winry…"

A jumble of growls followed his words, before finally being answered. "What?"

"You should dress accordingly for your anniversary." Slade taunted, before walking off. Lin had no witty response laced with hatred. She had no smart backtalk to maintain a position of fleeting power. She just stared. Stared at the back of Slade as he walked away from the door, and continued to stare as they shut, blocking her view from Slade. Looking down at the folders, she opened them up with weakness coursing through her veins, and shuddered as a tear dripped onto the page.

Titan Tower ------

After what seemed close to an hour, Raven suddenly pulled away, breathing deeply and falling off backwards from the bed. The loud thump awoke Robin, who had drifted off while waiting for Raven, who quickly jumped towards helping his friend off the ground.

"Did you find anything?" Robin blurted out, concern darting through his voice. "Why does he keep mumbling Slade's name?" Robin finished. Raven, for a brief moment, stared at the leader rather disdainfully. Robin may have had Beast Boy's best interests at hand, but still his obsession with Slade remained constant. Ever since his brief run as his apprentice.

"I did, and I dealt with it. He'll be fine now." Raven replied dryly. A typical response from her of course, but one Robin would not accept.

"What was it?"

"Nothing that concerns you Robin. It is, and will remain, an issue between him and myself." Raven replied, putting herself in a position of power. Of all the Titans, you do not dive into the personal affairs of Raven. Not unless you wanted to meet your makers.

"Not good enough. If he's muttering about Slade, it concerns me too!" Robin retorted, a little more eagerness in his voice. His life, since the apprentice incident, had soon shifted from saving the city from disaster on a daily basis to bringing down Slade at whatever cost necessary.

"It's late, and I'm tired. Good night Robin." Raven replied, ignoring Robin's asinine comment. 'Sometimes you really are full of yourself.' As she walked by Robin blocked the exit, and adopted a rather anxious and somewhat violent look. No one living above rocks was unaware that Robin had been tortured by Slade respectively Even when he was dead, Robin found himself beat around and tortured by him. He hadn't slept right ever since the events of that night, and whenever someone said Slade, his usual nice persona disappeared, replaced by someone who wanted nothing more than revenge.

"Raven… what was Beast Boy muttering about?" Robin growled. "If it's something to do with Slade, I deserve to know!"

Raven suddenly found herself remembering Beast Boy's words inside his head. Robin right now was proving her suffering little friend perfectly right. "Robin… which is more important to you? Slade or Beast Boy?" Raven viciously replied, sparing no quarter with her voice. The hard look on Robin's face suddenly softened, and pushing through, Raven left the room. Raven, whether she knew it or not, struck a painful blow against Robin that night. Robin, whether he wanted to or not, found himself swiftly ashamed of himself.

"Beast Boy…" Robin muttered, before turning away and leaving the med bay. He closed the door, turned off the lights in the section, and went off to sleep. It was only five, the sun was only beginning to rise, and they still had some time. It was going to be a pretty late wake up though. And, for the first time in over a month, Beast Boy had a dreamless sleep. No Slade with a collar, no Terra attacking him, and no white, demonic eyes burning into his soul.

Noon ------

Beast Boy was the last to wake, his eyes blinking open slowly and lazily, before his eyes opened fully. It had been the longest night of his life, and the previous events had left him more than just a little rattled. From what Raven had said last night, his previous actions had caused a fair bit of concern to come from anyone. He also knew that Robin was going to hound him for information. Beast Boy, though it was out of his power, had ended up quivering on the floor, mumbling Robin's least favorite person over and over again.

And it really didn't help that he had a pounding head ache, and an all too important meeting with Raven later at night. Slowly, Beast Boy slipped out of bed, the safety straps removed earlier that morning, most likely by Starfire. A long sigh escaped his lips, before he put away his feelings, and once again adopted the comic relief persona everyone classified him as. To be fair, he had put himself in that spot, and regretted it ever since. No one on the team respected him, everyone thought he was an idiot, and he couldn't even have his own eating habits without them being insulted by his "friends."

And to top it off, the one person who treated him worst than anyone was now the holder of some of his darker secrets. He knew Raven was good at keeping them, but the fact remained. Of course, there were always other people he hated much more than Raven. Adonis comes to mine, the primary reason for the nightmares. Slade of course fits in, and then there was Robin.

Beast Boy gave another long sigh before jumping off the bed, and walking towards the med bay doors. Just as he reached them, the doors opened up to reveal Cyborg, carrying a rather large collection of foods.

"Whoa! Beast Boy, you're up!" Cyborg replied. Fact of the matter was, Cyborg was watching from a special camera he mounted in the bay, and knew he was up just in time to make the food. Of course, Beast Boy didn't know any of this, and found himself instantly delighted that Cyborg would have gone and done something like this, even if it was a bit creepy. Of course, it soon kicked in that it may all include meat.

"Don't worry BB, it's all vegan stuff. No meat or animal related products, blah blah blah" Cyborg said, almost on instinct. On the outside, Beast Boy adopted a wide smiling, as though he were a king and Cyborg nothing more than a mere servant. Of course, inside he was marking down points on his weirdness scale. Cyborg serving vegan food to Beast Boy definitely marked high on his scale of weirdness.

"DUDE! You did this for me?"

"Yup! Someone had to cook your lazy butt some breakfast… or lunch as the case seems." Cyborg replied, putting the food down on a counter. "Man you're a late sleeper BB."

"Dude! Did you really cook this? All of this? YOU!" Beast Boy replied, almost oblivious to the shots. Almost.

"Yup. Of course, I had some problems with the Tofu stir fry… and I ended up losing a very good mixing spoon in the whole mess." Cyborg gloated, as though he had just defeated an army of thousands. Of course, Cyborg was by no means a vegetarian chef, and the fact that he accomplished such a task still left Beast Boy a little more than surprised. Even that wouldn't stop him from partaking in what was any vegan's dream meal. Beast Boy dug right in like a lion digs into a fresh kill, thoroughly disturbing Cyborg.

"Okay then… Enjoy…" Cyborg uttered, slightly perturbed as Beast Boy ripped into the food voraciously. The meal, as large and splendid as it had been, lasted a grand total of twelve minutes as Beast Boy devoured it with a massive appetite to fulfill. When he was done, Beast Boy unleashed a rather frightening loud burp that would have shattered all the glass in the tower, had they not been specially designed to withstand high frequencies and bullets, along with other things.

Of course, this still left the very sensitive ears of the rest of the team susceptible to the shockwave. Beast Boy hadn't a clue until a green blast of energy tore through the doors, and Starfire flew in prepared for anything.

"Where is it?" She yelled, eyes glowing…

"Um…what Star?"

"I swore I heard the battle cry of a Thragthox." Starfire replied, looking as though she expected the devil himself to show up. "They are very dangerous and very violent monsters.

"Um Star, I think that was me…"

"But that would be impossible. Not a being in the universe could mimic that battle cry. Why, it's very sound mortifies my people beyond no extent." Starfire continued, as Beast Boy unleashed another record breaking belch. Two things could have happened in that instance. Starfire could have realized that it was just Beast Boy, putting his amazing lung capacity and gas exhaling talents to good (or not so good, depending on how you look at it) use, or she could have actually taken Beast Boy as the much feared monster she spoke so potently about.

Unfortunately for Beast Boy, the realization came just a little late as a pair of starbolts nearly struck Beast Boy, had he not changed to a mouse in the last moment. Of course, Starfire realized all too late afterwards just what had occurred, and clamped both hands over her mouth, as she saw Beast Boy transform back to his normal self, eyes wide.

"DUDE! You could have killed me!"

"No being in the universe should be able to mimic that cry…" Starfire muttered, before suddenly coming to the conclusion that she had nearly vaporized one of her closest friends. "Friend Beast Boy! Are you alright?" Starfire cried, grappling Beast Boy in one of her signature and quite deadly hugs.

"Not…anymore…" Beast Boy choked out, as he heard several rather alarming cracks emanate from his spine.

"Are you feeling better than you were during the previous evening?" Starfire questioned, dropping Beast Boy from her friendly, pro-wrestler like death grip. Suddenly, Beast Boy's insides flipped as he realized all to well that Starfire had seen him have his nervous breakdown. He could only assume the kind of emotional related issues that sparked in her because of him. Another thing to beat himself up about.

"Ye…yes Star. Much better." Beast Boy replied, scratching the back of his head, and looking at the ground. Starfire grabbed one of Beast Boy's hands within both of her own hands, gently, and smiled at her close friend.

"It makes me glad to see that you are feeling better than you did last evening." Starfire replied.

Beast Boy felt everything inside him melt. Of anyone in the Titans, Starfire had always been friendly to him, even when he treated her like dirt. She never said anything truly bad about him, and aside from the brief mix up a few minutes prior, never attacked him of her own accord. Deep down inside, though he would never admit it, he felt something for her. Her smile would warm his day, and even though she never truly took him seriously, she never purposely put him down either.

Unlike the other female member of the Titans, who had just walked into the room. "Um…Starfire. Do you think I could talk to Beast Boy?" Raven muttered. In her left hand, she was holding a book of some kind, probably another book of spells she was reading, or perhaps a book of poetry she was using.

"Why, of course friend Raven." Starfire replied, waiting for a few minutes. She missed the hint that Raven had tried to send her.

"Um…alone?" Raven continued, looking at Starfire. As good as a person as she was, it did take her a little while longer to truly understand some of the more subtle Earth sayings. She had an excuse though. Unlike Beast Boy, who was tactless, and Robin, who was ignorant in some occasions, Starfire was an alien. She wasn't use to the hidden meanings behind phrases.

"OH! My apologies then. Goodbye friends." Starfire replied, before exiting the room. Of course, Raven mentally reattached the doors, just for privacy's sake, before walking up to the changeling. Needless to say, her view of him had changed drastically in barely half a day. He had gone from being the village idiot to suffering soul. Despite her antics, she just wouldn't feel right insulting him now.

"Raven…" Beast Boy mustered up, still looking down. It caught him off guard when Raven handed him the book in her hand, dropping it rather unceremoniously onto the back of his head, shocking him. Beast Boy grabbed the book, which had found a perfect resting space at the base of his spine, and opened it up.

"It's a book of poetry. I figured maybe if you read some of it, it may just help you get over these nightmares."

"I though that was what you were for?"

"I can help you through them, and try to help you avoid those…outbursts. It may help if you had some vivid imagery in that…" Raven began, stopping herself in mid-insult. However, Beast Boy knew what was meant to be said, or at least what along the lines was meant. He wouldn't say anything though. Why should he? He was Mr. Comic Relief.

"Well, Cyborg has cooked for me, Starfire nearly killed me, and you've given me a book. That just leaves one last…" Beast Boy began, as the alarm went ringing. Without a moment to lose, Raven and Beast Boy charged into the center of the Tower, where Robin had already accessed the emergency alert, and traced it to a place that was all to familiar to Beast Boy.

"Someone's attacking the old quarry!" Robin yelled, looking for more details. A camera quickly came on, revealing a sight that not one of the Titans ever expected to see. A sight that caused a shiver to charge up Robin's back, and a sight that caused Beast Boy's blood to run ice cold.

On the camera was a rather large group of Slade-bots.

The Quarry ------

This was the place that it all went wrong for Beast Boy. He first saw Terra lose control here, and he promised that he'd never tell anyone. Robin ruined that of course, and that led to the single worst moment in his life, the loss of a loved one. All because of two people that Beast Boy truly hated in the world. Robin, the beloved leader of the Titans, and Slade, Robin's greatest foe. And just like before, Slade-Bots had attacked the place, though with no real reason behind it all. Of course, Robin thought Slade was back for either revenge, or for Robin himself.

"Titans GO!" Robin shouted, as the Titan's sprung into action. Like usual, there were a lot of Slade Bots running amuck, which meant a lot of very easy targets for a very agitated group of teenagers. In typical fashion, Robin loosed a couple of smoke bombs, clouding his initial attack on the nearest group of Slade-bots as he jammed his bo-staff into the face plate of the nearest. Raven was quick in her initial charge, flinging a large piece of expensive machinery into a group of Slade's robotic minions, who looked on emotionlessly as they were crushed.

Starfire had immediately gone airborne, loosing starbolts and eye beams into a crowd of Slade-bots, and dodging their return blasts that were fairly short lived, as a blast of sonic energy tore through them like a hot knife through butter. Beast Boy had entered the fray rather viciously, pouncing one on Slade-bot in tiger form, before turning into a gorilla and using the robot as a club. The robots fell in groups, being defeated by the Titans with relative ease, when something caught Beast Boy's attention.

For a brief moment, he laid eyes on Terra.

For a brief moment, Raven felt a scream of joy through her mental link with Beast Boy. She tried to respond, hoping to find what was so happy to him at such a time, but found she could not concentrate when fighting multiple Slade-bots. However, her answer would come soon, and with out warning.

"TERRA!" Beast Boy screamed, turning towards the tunnel he had just seen her in. He saw her again, but this time she was running, and fast.

"BEAST BOY, GET BACK HERE!" Robin yelled, though having little affect whatsoever. Beast Boy continued his charged after Terra, ignoring Robin's warnings, disregarding the other Slade-bots, and remaining completely oblivious to the bombs that went off in a ring of fire at the mouth of each tunnel. Beast Boy was through with ease, but he was now locked away from the Titans.

Not that he cared much. This was Terra he was chasing, and he was catching up on her. The chase led on, Beast Boy breathing heavily as he finally leapt, and tackled the young girl's legs. The two clattered to the ground, and Terra broke.

Or, the Terra robot broke. It took Beast Boy only a fraction of a second to realize it. He didn't even have time to curse himself for being stupid enough to believe such a fake scam, as another loud bomb roared just behind him, and a waterfall of rock and dust crumbled just to his rear. He was completely separated from his teammates and alone in the cave, minding a broken Slade-bot that looked remarkably like Terra.

"Wait…why would there be a robot looking like Terra… Terra was important to me…not Robin…" Beast Boy began, looking around in the small cave. The most obvious thing was the small object of light just beside him, and the second most obvious thing was the severe lack of exits in the rather small room.

Of course there was one broken Terra bot, his own handiwork, that he assumed was used to get someone's attention. 'Maybe Raven was supposed to see it. Slade could use her. But why would it run away when I saw it then…' Beast Boy worked out in his head, as he laid his eyes on something. That something wound up being a single, unblinking eye staring towards the green changeling with eagerness dancing about within, masked by composure. Beast Boy's eyes widened, in the most perfect display of fear the man had ever witnessed.

He backed up as best as he could, but he could only go so far as he began backing into a wall of rocks. From the shadows stalked the man that had haunted his dreams for so long, that has haunted him like a ghost for a solid month. The same mask he had seen in every dream he had was now in front of him, slowly approaching the young changeling.

"Hello Beast Boy." The voice said calmly, as the tiniest gasp escaped Beast Boy's trembling lips.

Insaneiac: Ooh, as far as cliffhangers go, that may just be my most evil one yet… I'm even shuddering at its super evilness. Revel in my evil superpower of cliffhangers.