Sorry I took a little over a week to get this posted, I was distracted by Otakon! ^^ Hope you like it though.
Beast Boy sat up in his bed and rubbed his eyes, thinking about the strange dream he had had last night. A beautiful, rather naked woman had come into his bed. She had started kissing him, and talking to him, and finally bit him, sending him back into a deep, dreamless sleep. He shook his head at the rather odd ending to such a promising dream and started to get out of bed, but stopped . . . something was off. Beast Boy looked around at his room and his confusion grew at everything he saw. It looked like he was in a hospital of some sort . . .
The Changeling lunged out of bed and ran to the door. Grasping the handle he tried unsuccessfully to open it. He looked for the hinges, only to find that they were on the other side. Turning around wildly he saw a window and hurried toward it, finding it locked tightly shut, searched the walls for some form of ventilation, to no avail. Shutting his eyes tightly he forced himself to think about what would put him in this sort of position. What if this was all some sort of sick joke from Cyborg, meant to make him freak out? Yeah, that's all this is, thought Beast Boy, a stupid joke. He turned back around to face the door and started laughing at his own stupidity for freaking out. Cyborg had done a good job on this one too! Beast Boy would have to congratulate him on his effort.
"Alright, Cy, you got me. I freaked. Now let me out . . .," His laughing faltered when there was no reply, and he soon stopped altogether when a familiar scent reached his nose.
Sniffing the air he tried to place it. It smelled of sandalwood, sweat, and fear. Beast Boy froze as the realization clicked into place. The young woman from the night before wasn't a dream, this wasn't a joke, and he had been kidnapped.
~3~*~3~*~3~*~3~
Raven yawned and rolled over, not wanting to wake up just yet. Sighing she pushed herself up and rubbed a sore spot on her neck. She paused and her head snapped up, as memories from last night lapped up to her mind. A sharp prick awake and a smiling face, then darkness, that was all that came to mind, but it was enough. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her power to try and do a physic sweep of the building she was in, but nothing came to her. Her brow furrowed in confusion and she searched deeper in herself, trying to find her magic, but nothing was there. Becoming frantic now, she dug in her mind, going all the way to where Nevermore should have been and still found nothing. Even her inner world was missing.
Raven gasped as she recognized this feeling from when Slade had attacked her. She had no power.
She looked up at a small clicking sound and realized her door handle had started to jiggle.
~3~*~3~*~3~*~3~
Beast Boy was slightly calmer by the time the old man came to visit. The teen was sitting on his bed getting his breath back after ramming the walls and door with every sort of animal he could think of. He watched the door open and an old man walk in, sit down on one of the chairs surrounding a small coffee table, and straighten his suit. An odd red gecko man followed after him with a tray of tea and cakes, which he set down on he table.
"Please," the old man said. "Come and sit."
Beast Boy just stared.
"Everything will be explained, but you must be hungry. Please," the man motioned to the seat across from him, "sit." It wasn't a request this time.
The changeling went and sat down.
The man motioned toward the gecko to come and pour tea, then stared across the table at Beast Boy.
The teen didn't like the man's eyes; they were predator's eyes, appraising and distant. They didn't have any normal human warmth or compassion to them, and he didn't blink enough. Suddenly Beast Boy felt like a field mouse being circled by a hawk.
"What going on?" he demanded. "Why did you bring me here, and where are my friends?"
The man just laughed. "Gets right to the point, doesn't he?" he said to the gecko. "No, let's wait until all our guests arrive, I don't like repeating myself, and I'm sure the young girl will ask similar questions to yours."
"Girl? Who else is here?"
As if on queue the door opened and Raven was escorted through the door by the same woman who had woken Beas Boy up last night. His eyes widened as the rest of the unknown female followed her upper body. She rose to her full height of at least eight feet and smiled down at him.
"Hello, my little puppet."
"Beast Boy!" Raven looked at him in confusion. "What are you doing here? I thought my father had planned this."
The old man started laughing and motioned for Raven to take a seat. As she sat the gecko immediately handed her a cup of steaming tea.
"Now, I'd like to be the first to officially welcome you to my zoo."
Both teens just stared.
The old man seemed slightly put out, but he tugged at his shirt cuffs and continued as if nothing had happened.
"My name is Carlise Retchund and you have just become a part of Retchund's Universal Zoo! I've made it my life goal to collect and breed any and every type of animal, creature, monster, mutant, etcetera, etcetera, and etcetera! I now have a shape shifter," he looked proudly to Beast Boy, "and a half-demon sorceress!" he turned his gaze on Raven.
There was a beat of silence, and then the changeling started yelling at the old man. He lunged, but the spider-girl held him back. Raven just sat in her chair, listening to the noise and watching her tea grow cold. Finally, when her teammate had worn himself out, she spoke.
"How did you take my power from me?" She asked in a half-whisper. She looked up at Mr. Retchund and the room went silent. She could feel BB staring at her in horror. "Why don't I have my powers anymore?"
Carlise smiled at her. "I'm afraid I cannot tell you how we were able to nullify your magic, however, I can tell you why. We tried to gain your species through cloning, but our plan came to naught. So we resorted to capturing you two and bringing you to your new home! However, some of my plans for you might invoke strong emotions, and we can't have you blowing things up! I have my employees to look after! So, I took precautions and made sure you couldn't hurt a fly!"
Raven felt like she had been kicked in the chest. Exposed and vulnerable, just to be someone's pet! And what were these plans? But before she could open her mouth to ask Mr. Retchund continued,
"You always have to look for a silver lining in circumstances like these! And there are some good points to your little problem! You no longer have to control how you feel! You're free as a bird!"
She felt tears prick her eyes, but her instinct kept a tight hold on her emotions and she swallowed her feelings.
Carlise gave her a moment to let her predicament sink in, and then went on with the meeting like nothing had happened.
"Now, you have to be wondering about things like meals and where you'll be staying. Unfortunately, your rooms aren't ready yet, so we'll be sticking you both in the same ground, at least for a little while. No need to worry about food. You're one of my pets, and I treat my animals well! We keep your water source full at all times, your cage cleaned, and you get three meals a day precisely at seven a.m. and p.m. and twelve in the afternoon. However, there is one small matter to be done with. I present my Zoo to the public in a certain way, and that way does not include either of your outfits. I'm afraid I am going to have to commission you new clothes and shoes. Once you bathe tonight, please put your clothes by the door and we will burn them for you," he smiled and stood. "Now, I'm sure you're both bewildered and exhausted so I'll leave you be to shower and change, and meet you tonight for your evening meal to show you your new grounds."
Raven was ushered out of the room by the spider-girl and Carlise and the gecko man slipped out behind her, leaving Beast Boy all by himself.
Sending you all love!