Disclaimer: I have no ownership of Teen Titans
Chapter 2
He hated this. He really and truly hated it; the moments before he had to risk his life yet again. He would wonder what he was doing, what the point of it was. Why was he going to risk certain death once again for people who really didn't care about him or his team? Sure, when he did a good job and caught the criminal everything was fine, but if he slipped up even once they would turn on him. He had that in the back of his mind every time the call went out that they had a new mission. If he didn't act accordingly and execute his job perfectly he may be the end all be all of the Titans. No pressure, right?
He could feel his heart beating in his chest as he, Raven, and Robin approached the building that had been set ablaze. His stomach felt sick and his body broke out in a cold sweat. It took all of his willpower to move his legs so that he moved forward towards the burning building.
"There're eleven people still inside," said Raven, concentrating on the building.
"Alright, let's get them out," said Robin. And with that he ran into the building with Raven flying in right behind him.
Beast Boy took in one last breath and then charged inside. He turned into a hummingbird and flew as quickly as he could up the stairwell, passing Robin and Raven. He arrived on the top floor and began throwing doors open and running inside, calling out for anyone to answer him.
"Beast Boy!" Ravens voice called above the sound of the roaring fire.
"Raven?" he called back.
"I know where they are, so get back over here!" she ordered. He quickly flew back down the stairs until he found her; Robin was already off saving someone Raven had found. "There's someone in that apartment," she said, pointing to a door.
"Alright," he said and made his way inside. The fire had already eaten away at most of the apartment and the heat was nearly unbearable. The smoke filled the air and his poor sensitive nose suffered and his eyes stung. "Hello? Is anyone here?"
"Help!" a voice screamed.
His ears instantly new where it was coming from and he headed right over to where the voice had come from. He found a bedroom and dropped to the floor, looking under the bed. There lay a hysterical young woman with an infant crying in her arms.
"Hey, you're gonna be okay," he said quickly.
He got back up, turned into a gorilla, grabbed the hot bed, and flipped it over. He helped the woman to her feet and then turned towards the doorway, which was now encased in flames; they weren't going to get out that way. He looked around and let his mind work as quickly as it could. He then knew what to do.
"Stand back," he said, pushing the woman up against the hot, but still flame free, wall.
He turned into a T-rex quickly and punched out the apartment wall completely with his head, revealing the open air. He turned back into a gorilla, grabbed the woman, who still held her infant securely in her arms, and began his climb down the building. He found it extremely difficult since he couldn't really find anything to hold onto and he was working with only one hand, but eventually he made it down to the ground. As soon as the woman and her baby were in the hands of the firemen he made his way back into the building.
He met Robin, who was escorting a large choking man, in the stairwell and asked where Raven was. He told him she was on the top floor helping a family of four. So that's where he headed. He arrived at the top and found Raven and three members of the family.
"You need help?" he asked above the sound of the screams, fire, and rushing water.
"There's a boy still inside," she said. "He's in his room."
"Alright, you get them out of here and I'll get the kid," he said and headed inside.
"I'll be right back," said Raven and in an instant she wrapped herself and the three members of the family in her cloak and was gone.
Beast Boy really couldn't see or breathe now. The smoke was thick and the flames clung and devoured the walls and ceiling. He got down low and began to search for the boy's room. It took him three tries, but he finally found what looked like a little boy's room. He quickly tore about the room looking for where he could be hiding. He flipped the bed over and then ran to the closet. He threw the door open and, sure enough, there lay the boy.
"Hey, kid, you okay?" he said, shaking the boy, but he didn't respond.
He scooped him up and knew he had to get out of there. He knew he couldn't get out the way he came in; it'd been hard enough getting through that way. And so, once again, he was going to have to make an exit of his own. He turned around and looked for a window, but there was none.
"Crud," he said to himself.
He was going to have to charge through the flames. He grabbed a blanket, covered the kid up entirely, and then made a break for it. He leapt and jumped over the flames as quickly as he could and looked for the door. The heat scorched him and he could feel his skin burning. He had to get out of there.
Finally he found the door and burst out of the apartment and into the fire ridden hallway. He choked and coughed as more and more smoke made its way into his lungs. His eyes stung and watered, he could barely see. But he had to get this little boy out of there. He couldn't give up.
He held the kid close to him and began the long descent down the stairwell. Flames, flames, and more flames; he really hated fire right now. But he ignored the flames, the smoke, and the heat and focused on getting the boy out of the building. He jumped down complete flights of stairs, ignoring the stinging in his legs. The fire was spreading fast and he wasn't sure if he'd get out of there before the ground floor would be infested with the flames.
At last he reached the bottom and ran out of the building. He handed the child off to a fireman and then collapsed on the ground, coughing and wheezing. Robin was there and quickly helped him over to an ambulance to get checked out. They placed an oxygen mask on him and took his uniform off to get a look at his various burns.
"You okay?" asked Robin.
"Y-Yeah," he said through a straining breath. "Where's Raven?"
"She went in to help you," said Robin.
"I never saw her," he wheezed.
A moment later Raven materialized next to them, and she didn't look to happy. "What's wrong with you?" she said, evenly. "I said I'd be right back!"
"I had to get him out of there," he choked and pointed to the little boy who was being put on a stretcher. "He's unconscious."
"All the more reason to wait for me so I could get you out of there safely," said Raven. "Now look at you. You're burned and suffering from smoke inhalation."
"Go check on the kid," he said. "He needs help." Raven stared at him for a moment, unsure if she should give him another scathing remark, but then turned and went to see if she could help with the little boy. "Is everyone out?"
"Yeah, we got everyone out," said Robin. "And Cyborg and Starfire have apprehended Cinderblock."
"Good," he said and then began to cough again. The medics put ointment on his burns and then gave him a blanket to cover himself up in, since he was now sitting in his boxers.
Raven soon returned saying, "They're taking him to the hospital. It doesn't look good."
"What do you mean?" asked Beast Boy.
"He inhaled a lot of smoke and, according to his parents, he has asthma," said Raven.
"Don't worry, Beast Boy, they'll take care of him," said Robin.
They waited for Cyborg and Starfire to meet them and then the five headed back to the tower. They were each a bit beaten up, but none as bad as poor Beast Boy who'd lost his eyebrows in the inferno. Once they got home they each washed up and went to relax for a little while. Beast Boy locked himself in his room and lay down on his bed. He felt exhausted and his body hurt all over. What a rotten day this turned out to be.
A while later he decided to go hang out in the common room, since his thoughts were starting to taunt him again. He quickly wished he'd stayed in his room when he found Robin and Starfire on the couch, making out.
"Oh, dude," he said, covering his eyes. "You guys have rooms, you know."
"Oh, er, sorry, Beast Boy," said an embarrassed Robin.
"Yes, we thought you were sleeping," said Starfire, blushing.
"Doesn't matter, you guys should have the decency not to do that all out in the open," he said and went to the fridge to get a soda.
"Are you feeling okay?" asked Robin, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, why?" he lied.
"Because usually when you catch us doing something like this you make fun of us," said Robin. "But you just sound mad, if anything."
"Well I've had a bad day," said Beast Boy, opening his soda. "Where's Cy?"
"He is retrieving pizza for us," said Starfire.
"Good, I'm starving," he said and leaned against the counter as he took a long drink of his soda.
"Please, how are your burns?" asked Starfire.
"They hurt," he sighed. "And I totally miss my eyebrows."
"You should ask Raven to heal your burns," said Robin.
"I don't wanna bother her," said Beast Boy. "She seems pissed enough at me."
"I am sure she will help you with your injuries," said Starfire. "All you need to do is ask."
"Maybe later," he said, taking another sip of his soda. Just then Cyborg arrived with four pizzas.
"Alright, y'all, who's hungry?" he said, holding up the pizzas.
"Oh, I am!" said Starfire, raising her hand and waving it about excitedly.
"Good," he said, putting the pizzas down on the table. "I think I got enough for everyone. We got one cheese, one with olives, one with pepperoni and mushrooms, and one meat lovers explosion. And I even picked up some mustard, pickles, and frosting."
"Oh thank you!" said Starfire. She took a slice of the pepperoni and mushrooms, slathered it in frosting, put some pickles on top, and happily ate while drinking her beloved mustard.
"How you can kiss her after she eats all that is a mystery to me," said Cyborg to Robin.
"It's not that bad," said Robin. Even he knew that was a lie.
The doors opened and in glided Raven. She went right over to the table and served herself a slice of cheese. She took a seat, which happened to be next to Beast Boy, and began to eat.
"So, uh, Raven, Beast Boy was wondering if you could take a look at his burns," said Robin, who had a feeling the changeling wasn't going to ask.
"Sure," she said simply.
"You look so weird without your eyebrows, man," said Cyborg.
"Yeah, I know," he said, rolling his eyes. "I doubt Raven could heal them, though."
Suddenly the phone began to ring and this caught them all off guard. They all sat there and looked at each other, wondering who'd answer it. Finally, Raven sighed and said, "I'll get it." She got up from the table, walked over, and answered the phone.
"Hello?.. Yes… Yes… I see… Yes, I understand… Thank you… Bye."
She hung up the phone and sighed. She walked back over to the table with all four of her teammates staring at her. As usual, nothing could be read by the expression on her face. She took a moment and then decided to talk.
"Beast Boy," she said.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"That was the hospital," she said in an even, calm tone. "The little boy you saved from the building… he didn't make it." Beast Boy stared at her for a moment before turning his gaze at the table. He sighed and his head hung low. They each felt sorry for him; even Raven. "I'm sorry."
They now put their attention on him and waited for him to respond. And, for a few moments, he just sat there. And then, he slid out from his spot at the table, stood up, and silently exited the room.