Disclaimer: Today, I realized that I do not own Teen Titans or DC Comics. FML.
Part 2: The Beast Within, The Changeling's Tale
Chapter 8: Friends
-R-
Robin listened intently for a reply, but Beast Boy did not answer. He lifted his thumb off of the call button and heard hissing static. What the hell was going on? Why wouldn't Beast Boy answer? It wasn't like him at all to not answer his communicator.
"Flash, can you s—"
"Already on it."
With a gush of wind Flash sped out of the Tower. Within seconds he reappeared.
"Beast Boy's not there. But take a look at this." He held out a strand of toilet paper. "Someone vandalized Terra's tomb."
Gasps of astonishment rose from the other Titans. At once Robin understood what had happened. Beast Boy found her and was probably rampaging across town.
"Who could have done such a terrible thing?" Starfire asked, putting a hand to her mouth.
He looked at the others and wondered what to do.
One part of him wanted them to search the Tower while the other wanted to track down Beast Boy. Robin knew that there were plenty of people who could have done it. Petty vandals. Terra haters. After all, the press hadn't taken too kindly on him and the Titans after Terra's betrayal. He turned to the fastest man in the world.
"I'm sorry, Flash, but can you help us track him down?"
Flash glanced at his Justice League communicator. Although Robin was confident that the Titans could track down Beast Boy, it would go down faster if Flash helped. It almost killed him having to ask Flash for help, but neither of these could wait.
"Flash!" Batman's voice growled across the Justice League communicator. "What the hell is going on?"
"Batman, we're fine," Robin said, snatching the communicator from Flash's hand. "Flash is ju—"
Flash took the communicator back. "There's been some…complications."
Robin waited for Batman's answer with baited breath. He could sure use Flash's help, but if he was really needed in Metropolis…
"What do you mean by that?"
"Slade's mask was stolen from the Tower," Flash said, "I can't give you a dust sample."
Batman didn't reply right away. Robin looked up at the older superhero.
"Flash? Will you help?"
"I—"
Blaring sirens filled the air as red lights flashed. Raven reacted first. She ran to the computer to see what the emergency was.
"The HIVE is attacking the south side of town," she said. "There's a massive break-in at a weapons factory."
Robin felt like hitting his head against the wall in pure frustration. Of course, all of these things just had to happen all at once and in the presence of a Justice League member. He felt stupid. He felt incompetent. The others, including Flash, waited for his orders.
"We're going to find Beast Boy," Robin said.
"But the HIVE—" Cyborg began.
"I know. We'll just have to finish this fast."
His conscience nagged at him. If Bruce was here he would head immediately for the HIVE, which was what Robin wanted to do now.
And the HIVE really couldn't wait, especially not after their…semi-successful infiltration of the Academy. Robin furrowed his brow in deep concentration. Could the HIVE be behind the dust? After all, Slade had done business with the HIVE before.
Raven levitated into the air, crossed her legs Indian-style, closed her eyes and muttered an incantation. Her soul-self rose into the air and phased through the roof like a dark of the Angel of death. Robin couldn't help but shiver as a gust of cold air billowed out in great waves.
"Spooky," Flash said. "What's she doing?"
"Finding Beast Boy."
It seemed an eternity before the dark soul reunited with its mistress. Raven opened her eyes.
"He's in the east end of the city heading towards the carnival."
"Split up," Robin said. "Flash, Starfire, Cyborg, you three go after the HIVE agents. Raven and I will track down Beast Boy."
Raven shot Robin a cold look. "Do I really have to help find Beast Boy?"
"His communicator is offline and at Terra's tomb. You can help me find him."
"Fine."
She did not sound happy about it. Truth be told, Robin didn't feel happy about it either. He was fairly confident that the HIVE trio could be taken down easily without him and Raven, but he didn't like any of this.
Not one bit.
-BB-
Red filled his vision.
People careened out of his way as Beast Boy leapt forward, his jowls practically frothing with uncontrollable anger. The first criminal to cross his path would regret it.
He had no plan of action.
He didn't care if he had a plan. Right now he wanted to beat someone—anyone—to a bloody pulp. If he could bring Slade back from the dead Beast Boy would do so gladly—and then put him back in the grave. Beast Boy transformed into a cheetah to pick up his speed. He wanted nothing more than to run. Run away from the pain and the memories. Run away from his friends, just like he walked away from Terra after learning of her betrayal.
"Whoa! Yeah Terra!"
Terra blushed happily as she leapt off from her rock. It thumped to the ground a few seconds later, spraying clods of dirt everywhere. The young earth-mover stood awkwardly in front of them and rubbed the back of her neck.
"Wonderful!" Starfire exclaimed, bouncing up and down in excitement. "It is most glorious to see you improve!"
Beast Boy beamed. Even after a few days with the Titans Terra's skills had improved considerably. Not that she wasn't good before. She was just better now. He held up a newspaper with the headline: The Sixth Titan!
"Look, Terra, people already like you."
Run.
"—And that's how I saved the Doom Patrol from the Brotherhood of Evil," Beast Boy said, a grin spreading across his face. "Pretty cool, huh?"
They were sitting outside on the rocky foundation of Titans' Tower to watch the sunset. Like they always did in the afternoons, Terra and Beast Boy chatted while they practiced skipping rocks across the calm ocean. He liked the way the sun cast a reddish sheen on her golden blond hair. It caused her whole head to glow like an angel.
He waited expectantly for an answer like an overexcited child. What did she think of that story? He had tried to make himself sound heroic even though he knew that he hadn't been all too heroic as a member of the Doom Patrol.
"Yeah." She leaned back on the boulder. "The Doom Patrol seems cool. Why did you leave?"
Beast Boy felt his smile falter slightly. Even though he loved to talk about his supposed "glory days" in the Doom Patrol he never really talked about why he left. He sat beside her.
"Family issues," he said simply. "The same reason why Robin left the Bat, I guess."
"I've been to Gotham once or twice," she replied. "Not a nice place."
Her voice trailed away. She was uninterested in the subject of the boy wonder, a complete rarity compared to other girls her age. All the newspapers ever talked about was Robin this and Robin that.
"I'm glad you left the Doom Patrol, though," Terra said, her voice brightening. "If you hadn't joined the Titans, then I would have never met you."
He felt as though he would melt from pure joy…
Run.
His paws swept across the hot pavement as he zipped through the milling crowds. Calories of energy released itself in bursts as he ran through Jump City in a terrible rage. He ran past the video game store where Control Freak lay siege to the movies, ran past the bank where Terra stopped Mumbo, and the bridge where Killer Moth's monstrosities chewed away at the steel cables.
"Beast Boy," Terra said, a little hesitantly. "If you knew something bad about me, would you still be my friend?"
Beast Boy turned to look at her, a little surprised. What did she mean by that?
"Of course, Terra. Why wouldn't I be?"
Run!
-S-
Starfire felt like crying herself.
Her own distress over Terra's tomb almost incapacitated her flying abilities, but she forced herself to continue on. Starfire consoled herself by affirming that they would find the perpetrator of this atrocity.
There were too many things happening at once. All of this uncertainty made her uneasy, and not just concerning Terra. The dust, for instance, and Robin. She never once asked Robin to take off his mask and never questioned about his identity. Starfire didn't even know about his relationship with the Batman until Beast Boy (in one of his strange and so-called "fanboy moments") told her about it. She never questioned about his past because he never asked about hers, of course until they had to visit Tamaran for that botched wedding. But his recent actions demonstrated otherwise.
Last night she had been so sure that he would show her his true face. But why was she worried so much about it? Starfire was so used to seeing him with his mask on that it shouldn't even matter. It was just that…just that he seemed to want to. Robin had allowed her to see him in his civilian identity, even if he couldn't make himself show his face.
She flew alongside the fastest man in the world and fought to keep up with him. Even though she knew how to fly faster than the speed of light she had to admire the Flash. Cyborg zoomed along a little ways behind in the T-car.
"From the looks of things the HIVE agents have broken into a weapons factory," Cyborg said through the communicator.
"What are they after?" Flash asked.
"Not sure. I left the Academy before I managed to figure out what exactly they were up to."
As they approached the factory Starfire could tell that someone had broken into the warehouse. With a loud screech the T-Car slid to a stop just feet from Starfire and Flash. Without waiting for a say-so from the others, Cyborg aimed his sonic cannon directly at the double doors. With a loud boom he blasted away the doors. The Flash winched slightly at the loud noise.
"Subtle, guys," Flash said. "I'll be in the back."
"Hey, what—" Cyborg trailed off as Flash ran off. "Hmp."
Starfire and Cyborg walked into the warehouse together. She could hear the echoing voices of the three HIVE graduates rise. There was no doubt in her mind that they had heard the explosion and would come to investigate.
"Only two of the snotty Titans?" Gizmo asked, his annoying voice hardening into a gloating sneer. "This must be our lucky day."
"And look," Jinx said, pointing towards Cyborg, "the teacher's pet."
Out of the corner of her eye Starfire saw Cyborg grimace. Although Cyborg told them much of his time at the HIVE Academy there were things he did not wish to talk about. He shrugged.
"Hey, you're the one who asked me to the Sadie Hawkins dance."
This took the sorceress by surprise. A faint shade of pink suffused her pale cheeks.
"I didn't invite you," she snarled, flinging out a flippant hand towards them. "I invited Stone."
The ground underneath Cyborg trembled as powerful pink shockwaves zipped through the concrete. Being able to fly, Starfire easily avoided this attack as Cyborg stumbled. She flew to his side and steadied the mechanical man. They looked at each other and nodded.
A storm of starbolts ravaged the air as Starfire moved in to attack. Cyborg of course went to do battle with Mammoth. Starfire wondered where the Flash was. They could really use his help now.
"Stupid of bird-brain to send only two of you snot-eaten losers," Gizmo said.
"Yeah, it's rather insulting," Jinx cut-in. "But I suppose it just makes our job easier."
A red streak whizzed by them.
"What?" Gizmo spluttered. "W-what was that?"
All three of the HIVE students were knocked to their feet as Flash whizzed by them again.
"Crud!" Gizmo shrieked, levitating into the air. "It's the Flash!"
"Are you really that slow?" Flash asked, stopping in front of the HIVE trio. "Of course, everything seems a little slow to me."
Their expressions of shock were rapidly replaced by grimaces. Jinx puffed up her chest in an effort to look intimidating.
"Attack pattern Alpha!"
-B-
"BEAST BOY!"
He turned at the sound of his name. Robin and Raven skidded to a halt feet from him. Where were the others?
"Are you here to help me?" he demanded. "You're late."
"Look," Robin said, slowly stepping forward. "I understand how you feel, but you can't do this now."
He looked at his fellow Titans.
How would Robin know how he felt? Sometimes the guy could act so callously. Instead of answering Beast Boy transformed back into a gorilla. Robin shouted something else, but Beast Boy didn't hear. Instead he roared in frustration and continued on his way.
"Jeez," Robin muttered, "Beast Boy, I really don't want to do this."
The Boy Wonder struck him hard across the face with his bo-staff. The force of the blow caused stars to explode in front of Beast Boy's eyes as he reverted back to human form. Beast Boy landed hard on the pavement and rolled away, his head throbbing painfully.
"What are you doing?" Raven demanded. "Hitting him won't do any good."
Almost at once Beast Boy sprang to his feet, morphed into a bull, and faced Robin. His hooves pounded the ground angrily. If they weren't going to help him, then they should get out of his way.
"Stop it!" Robin snarled, grasping Beast Boy by the collar of his uniform. "Stop it right now!"
Beast Boy squirmed in Robin's death grip and glared at him. He didn't need to follow orders from him, a kid who didn't even have powers. All at once his respect for Robin dissipated as the Boy Wonder pressed the bo-staff against his neck.
"Why should I stop?" Beast Boy snapped. "Someone vandalized Terra's tomb!"
"We know! But we don't deal with vandalism, Beast Boy! This is something the police can handle!"
"I don't want the police to handle it!" Beast Boy roared. "I want to find them myself!"
Didn't any of them understand? Didn't any of them care about what happened? Beast Boy's lips turned down into a feral snarl.
"Calm down and think rationally," Robin said. "We don't know who did it or why. Beating the crap out of the first candy-stealing crook you find won't do any good."
"Where are the HIVE guys?" Beast Boy demanded. "I bet it was that little snot Gizmo who-"
"Even if they are responsible we do not enforce the law!" Beast Boy could hear Robin's teeth grinding. "That's the JCPD's job. Our job now is to take down the HIVE agents!"
"Then let me do it!" Beast Boy struggled underneath Robin's grip. "Why are you doing this?"
"Maybe," Robin growled, leaning in closer to Beast Boy's face, "I know what it feels like to be obsessed."
Their faces were mere inches apart. Beast Boy's thin chest rose and fell quickly as he stayed there under Robin's bo-staff. Who was Robin to lecture him? This was why he left the Doom Patrol in the first place. He was tired of being lectured, tired of being held back, and tired of being pushed around.
"Let. Me. Go."
The eyeholes of Robin's mask narrowed. Beast Boy's voice sunk to a rough growl. You know, he thought, I could hurt Robin bad. I have the power.
So did Terra.
"If this is how you're going to act, then you can take your attitude somewhere else."
"Robin," Raven said. "You're not making this any better."
Beast Boy could almost see and hear Gotham through Robin's actions. He knew about Gotham's hardened residents. That was why Robin acted so paranoid and—at times—so ruthless. Beast Boy could tell that Robin was holding back. Where did he learn to fight Metahumans? Surely Batman—as a normal human himself—wouldn't know how. Perhaps Slade had taught Robin a few tricks.
"Look who's talking," Beast Boy spat. "I'm not the one who went totally flipped-out cuckoo labanza o—"
Too far.
"Don't pull this stunt now," Robin hissed. "The HIVE is attacking Jump. I'm sorry, Beast Boy, but you're going to have to put your emotions behind you." After a moment's pause Robin spoke in a lowered voice so that the passerby wouldn't hear. "And this won't bring her back."
Robin eased the pressure on Beast Boy's neck. Beast Boy stood up and brushed dirt away from the front of his uniform. But as he looked upon the faces of his friends he suddenly felt ashamed. This wasn't like him at all.
"What's happening to me?" he asked himself quietly.
Robin held out a hand. "Let's go help the others."
-C-
With Flash, it was almost too easy.
The HIVE graduates were prepared to fight the Teen Titans, not a member of the Justice League of America. Cyborg sniggered under his breath. Funny. The HIVE Academy was supposed to train its students to become the best villains around. If these were the HIVE's top graduates who couldn't even deal with the Titans, let alone the Justice League…
He heard his communicator beep. That meant that Robin and Raven had found Beast Boy and were heading this way right now. He almost picked up his communicator to tell them that they weren't needed, but with Brother Blood one would never know.
Jinx and Starfire tangoed across the large room, their powers clashing with great bursts of energy. The sorceress spun with ridiculous flourishes, trying desperately to hit the Tamaranean princess. Flash moved to catch Gizmo, who was doing his best to fly away from him. Cyborg and Mammoth's fists were locked together like two sparring bucks, each gritting his teeth in exertion.
"You got a heart in there, tin man?" Mammoth asked.
Cyborg didn't waste his breath with a witty reply. He pushed. Mammoth slipped from the sudden push, which allowed Cyborg to free his other hand. He caught the giant by the forearm and swung him around. The HIVE graduate yelled as he flew across the room and landed on a pile of wooden boxes.
"Titans, go!" Robin's voice rang out from above them.
Ah good, the cavalry had arrived.
The three remaining Titans leapt down from the shadows above with cries of enthusiastic vigor.
"Let's get out of here," Jinx said, her voice shaking with suppressed fear.
"Blood won't be happ—" Mammoth began.
"I know!" she snapped. "But we can't handle this."
All at once the HIVE trio attacked one last time. Jinx flung out her arms and cast a hex while Mammoth punched the ground and Gizmo threw an exploding disc. Raven threw up a shield of dark energy to protect them all from the blast.
As the shield dissipated the HIVE trio disappeared, most likely to crawl back crying to Brother Blood. Beast Boy stepped forward and gestured a fist towards their backs.
"COWARDS!" Beast Boy shouted once he went back to his human form. "Come back here and fight!"
"Dude, chill out BB," Cyborg said.
Beast Boy's ensuing glare shocked Cyborg into silence. If anything, Cyborg should have been the one pissed off because of Brother Blood's involvement. With a snort Beast Boy morphed into a bird and flew away back to Titans Tower. Cyborg opened his mouth to call out to his friend.
"Let him go," Robin said.
"What?" Cyborg asked. "Dude, I'm his friend I should—"
"He needs some time alone."
Cyborg looked down at the boy wonder and frowned. For the first time he noticed how very tired Robin looked. He was sure that purple bags of weariness rested beneath that mask. Like the others, Cyborg had considered the possibility that Robin was losing his grip. But Cyborg knew that he shouldn't ask or criticize unless Robin was doing something seriously-and obviously-wrong. The last thing the Titans needed now was their leader losing his grip.
And now this...this thing with Terra. Cyborg gritted his teeth and stared at the sky.
Damn that dust.
A/N: All right, I am so not used to writing BB's POV. I will say this right now: Beast Boy is not my favorite character. As you can probably tell, Robin is. But this story is part mystery and part character study, a challenge on my part to write something other than Robin-centered stories. But because "Haunted" is primarily a Robin-centered episode his POV will still be significant to the overall storyline. I plan to have the chapters get steadily longer as I slowly expand upon each character and his/her history. I don't think the next few parts will be as long as part one, though.
And this is the moody "Beast Within" Beast Boy. I like him more when he's angsty.
I also dislike writing fight scenes with more than six people. It gets too complicated. So tell me if something doesn't make sense.
As always, please review.