Chapter 7. Changes
"You are in no position to make threats" Raven said with a somewhat controlled anger.
"So it would seem… but I wouldn't hold you to that"
There was tension between the two girls again. Starfire however, tried to lessen the heavy air.
"Meliah? Who is this "Gar" you speak of?"
"That's kind of my real name Star." An embarrassed Beast Boy said.
"Gar… it is a strange name" Mused Starfire before noticing how Cyborg and Robin were trying (without much success) not to laugh.
"Please… have I said something… amusing? Asked Starfire innocently.
"His real name is Garfield, Starfire" Said Raven but at this, Cyborg and Robin lost all control and were laughing their heads off. Raven glared at them and so did Meliah.
"ENOUGH!" Meliah, with crystallized blue eyes and Raven, with glowing red ones said at the same time. That stopped them all cold. The guys had stopped laughing and looked from one girl to the other while the girls glared at each other.
"Apparently we do share some common ground" mused Meliah.
"Apparently" Said Raven in a cold monotone.
A small smile came to Meliah then turned to the alien. "Starfire… isn't?
"That is correct"
"I call him by his real name because that's the only name I know him with." then turned to Beast boy "If I had known that you wanted to keep it a secret, I would have respected that… Beast Boy."
"Thanks M, its ok, you can call me whatever you want."
"Then Garfield it is. There is no such a thing as "boy" that can describe you anymore."
Beast Boy blushed again and Cyborg and Robin started to shake in barely contained laughter. Meliah quirked an eyebrow.
"Please Meliah, ignore them. They can be such a clorgbags. But I can assure you, they mean no harm." Starfire said before turning to admonish her annoying team mates.
Without taking her eyes off of the flying alien, Meliah asked in a low voice " Enlighten me Garfield… what is a… clorg…bag?" She had turned to him with a questioning look. Beast Boy shrugged innocently.
"It can mean immature, but in her language it can also mean much, much more offensive words" Answered Raven in a monotone while she approached slowly.
Meliah however, who's eyes had turned normal for a brief moment, looked at Raven at the same time that her eyes crystallized again. Raven didn't take this kindly.
"What's the matter with you?" Raven frown.
"M, Raven is a friend, you don't have to feel threaten by her." said Beast Boy without thinking. Raven glared at him and for a split second there was hurt in her eyes. She couldn't help but recognize the double meaning of his words.
"Forgive me Raven, nothing personal. But as I said before, your demonic presence is not subtle on my senses, my instincts are telling me there is danger lurking around and so my body reacts"
"Meliah, Raven is not evil, don't call her a demon again" Said Beast Boy almost in an angry voice.
"You sense her in a completely different way, Garfield. In my case, there is not much I can do about it."
"Why are you here Meliah?" Asked Robin, apprehension in his voice.
" Believe it or not, I came to ask for your help, but the lack of my medication, however, made me a bit.. Violent. Allow me to demonstrate."
Robin arched an eyebrow and cross his arms over his chest. But with a swift move of her right hand with sharp claws, she ripped the straps on her body. One by one they gave in until the only thing holding her down was the IV on her left arm.
It happened so quick, no one had time to register what had happened until she was free. Immediately, Robin's hands went to the side of his belt where the freezing discs and bird-a-rangs were in place. Raven had summoned her dark magic around her hands and on seeing this, a reluctant Starfire had gotten her star bolts ready. Beast Boy was too shocked to react and Cyborg was taken by surprise, but instead of getting defensive like the others, he just stared.
"For how long have you been able to do that?" Cyborg asked when finally the information sank in. He then checked the monitors on his arm and confirmed the intake of sedatives still attached to her arm.
"I gave you a double dosage, I thought you said…" he felt silent as too many questions were being formed in his head.
"I've been able to since I woke up. The sedatives calm me down but they don't stop me". She said calmly with a serene expression while she sat on the bed, getting ready to stand up.
Beast Boy finally snapped out of it and jumped over the bed to stand in front of her. "Meliah, I'm right here. don't do anything stupid."
"My dear Garfield, I merely said I wanted to show him something, besides, I've been laying on that bed for too long now. I needed to stretch.".
Meliah looked thru the clothes that had not been torn. Luckily, the hidden pocket was still intact and pulled what she was looking for. It was a small pouch to which she emptied on the bed still not able to move her other arm much. Then took a few pieces of what seemed to be almost crushed pills.
Then looked around looking for water but Starfire had already beat her to it as she was coming back flying with a glass of water. Meliah took the glass with a smile and thanked the alien then popped the pills in her mouth and finished entirely the contents of the glass.
The changes were somewhat subtle. Her eyes turn solid blue again, her expression wasn't wild and defensive but soft and friendly but most of all, her scars deepened and were now three barely pink strikes across the right side of her face.
Everybody gasped. She smiled shyly and turned to Cyborg "Would you mind taking this off? I promise I don't need it anymore." She said sweetly.
He noticed no trace of the wild, lustful girl that had flirted with him earlier. He took off the IV and she smiled and thanked him then turned to Beats boy who had been standing in front of her the entire time. He looked at her as if it was for the first time.
Her scars had brought all the memories in a rush. Her sweet, innocent smile. Her so honest eyes, reminded him that every time he looked into those eyes, is like he could see right thru her. And there she was, his dear friend. His sweet Meliah.
And he hugged her fiercely. A Starfire style bone crushing hug. He buried his face on her neck and cried silently on her shoulder. He hadn't noticed she was a few inches shorter than him now.
"I'm so sorry Gar. I'm sorry for yelling at you and pushing you. I'm sorry for treating you like that when all I wanted was to tell you was how much I've missed you and how glad I am that you're alive."
" No, don't be. You had every right to do that and more. Please forgive me M. forgive me for not coming back for you. I'm sorry baby girl".
He then let go and took her face in his hands and softly, very delicately, placed a kiss on each of the scar across her face. Meliah had no words. It was just like when she first came out of the hospital without the bandages on her face. Garfield had been waiting outside until she came out. He was so remorseful at what he had done. And without a word, he took her face and very gently placed a kiss on each scar as if hoping that that would make them go away.
She had never been scared or mad at him. Not then, not now. She pushed him back gently and said with a weak smile and tears in her eyes "Its been a long time since I was a baby. You don't need to do that anymore".
"I don't care if you're 80, ill still do it no matter what."
He was still holding her as if for dear life, with his forehead against hers. Enjoying her presence, her scent… her very existence.
The others had gathered silently on the other side of the room.
"She seems like a complete different person". Commented Cyborg.
"What was that she took.. It changed her completely" asked Robin, crossing his arms over his chest and looking at the girl.
" What do we do now?" Asked a confused Starfire.
"We need to find out more about her" And with that resolution, Robin walked slowly towards the couple still embracing each other and cleared his throat to get their attention.
"Beast Boy, I'm afraid we have to take her to the holding cell for tonight. We'll discuss this whole situation tomorrow after everyone's rested".
"Dude! She's not going to the holding cell, she's not a prisoner!. Beast Boy said closing his hands into fists and putting himself between Robin and Meliah.
"She attacked you Beast Boy, she's a threat." Beast Boy growled and Meliah felt him stiffen in front of her. Then very gently, she placed her hand on his shoulder and softly, she said " Gar, its ok. He's right, I did attack you. I don't mind spending the night in the holding cell if he thinks is necessary"
"No Meliah. I will not allow him or anybody treat you like some criminal" he said glaring at everybody.
Meliah walked in front of him and placed her hand on his cheek "Thank you Gar, but I know they don't trust me around you… at least not yet". she said glancing at Raven for a split second.
" But…" Beast Boy tried to say something but Meliah stopped him with her index finger gently on his lips. Raven didn't like this.
"Don't worry. Besides, you and your friends need to rest… so do I and tomorrow we'll talk… I promise".
Even though he was still upset, she felt him relax a little then she turned to the others. "Robin… I'm ready.. Lead the way".
They got out of the med bay down the corridor towards the elevator. "friend Robin? Is it really necessary? She has already apologized to friend Beast boy for her previous behavior".
"I know Star, but I don't want to take any risks. As incredible as her change seems, it just.. Odd"
"You.. Do not believe her?"
"I'm not sure"
Robin talked quietly to the alien while walking ahead of the group.
Raven however hadn't said a word. Her expression as stoic as ever. But as discreet as she wanted to appear, her behavior had not gone unnoticed.
"Raven, are you alright?" asked Cyborg standing next to her, both watching the group walk down the hallway. Raven watching how Beast Boy held the girl.
"I don't trust her" she said then turned to the her team mate "what is it that she took?"
Cyborg walked over to the bed where the girl had emptied the small pouch and after closer inspection, found a few tiny pieces of the crushed pills.
"Not sure Rae, but I have a hunch. I'll send this for analysis first thing tomorrow"
"What are you thinking?"
"Can't tell you yet 'till I'm sure. But might not be good news… C'mon, we need to catch up with them before they notice"
Cyborg placed the tiny piece of the pill in a vial and put it in a locked compartment on the console then left with the sorceress towards their friends.
The elevator door opened showing the short hallway to the holding cell. Beats Boy was carrying Meliah on his arms bridal style.
He had seen her wince out of the corner of his eye when she started to walk. At first she managed to walk normally, but after a few minutes, she started to limp slightly.
She had tried to hide it, even said she was fine when Beast boy asked if she was ok, but she couldn't handle the exercise anymore and so he lifted her in his arms against her complains and carry her all the way.
That's when he noticed how thin she really was. He could feel her ribs under his fingers and she didn't weight as much as she should. He wondered how she had managed to stand the attacks of the Beast for so long.
They made a stop in the kitchen to get her some food and water. " Left over pizza and some fruit for later" he had said to her with a smile. The others had not said anything. Then they were on their way again.
When they got to the holding cell room he didn't want to let go at first, but complied after Starfire reasoned that if he held her like that she wouldn't be able to rest properly. That made him sigh deeply and set her in the small bed. He was kneeling in front of her when he voiced that he wanted to stay with her.
Robin tried to refuse but after Starfire put a hand gently on his shoulder, he gave in, but with the condition that he must remain outside of the force field that surrounded the bed, in case of any emergency otherwise he would not be able to morph.
Starfire smiled at Beast Boy from behind Robin. Beast Boy nodded at them both and turned to the girl. He placed a kiss on each scar once more and exited the cell. Watching sadly how the force field closed behind him
He thought to himself that she really looked exhausted as if she was ready to pass out. She laid down, never looking away from him, gave him a content smile and closed her eyes. She was fast sleep in seconds.
Beast Boy then, turned into a St Bernard, curled up on the floor and closed his own eyes.