Hello everyone... late again, I'm sorry. But is a bit longer so I hope that helps to forgive my tardiness.

Chapter 40. Girl talk and the Beast.

Garfield was left bereft of understanding. Frustrated, he run a hand thru his hair and exhaled loudly, pursed his lips and closed his eyes while shaking his head, hands on both sides of his waist.

"Don't worry Gar… she didn't like me in the first place…" said Meliah, quietly from the door. He turned to look at her. She was leaning on its frame with her arms crossed over her chest.

"…I just gave her an excuse to consider her course of action towards me" she continued while walking towards him. He softened his features and walked to meet her in the middle of the room and hugged her.

"You heard all that, huh?" he asked quietly into her hair.

"Couldn't help it. I wanted to know exactly what she was thinking, she never said a word while in my mind. The way she found out…"

"Well, I have to admit it was a shock to find out what you did. I'm not sure if I should feel flattered or abused…" he said with a ghost of a smile, trying to lighten the mood. She narrowed her eyes and smacked him lightly on his left arm. "Ow!" he said while rubbing his arm.

"Is not a joke Gar. I didn't do it for pleasure… I've seen what happens if there is no release of the pressure… I was not about to loose you to a massive heart attack when I could do something about it…" she whispered, her expression serious, looking intently in his eyes. He pulled her into another embrace to calm down the trembling that threatened to overtake her.

"I know, I know… I'm sorry. I'm just…"

"I know Gar…"

…

…

Raven emerged from the portal on the ground of the tower's roof with the hood of her cloak over her head and the rest of the garment shielded her entire body from the early morning chill. And overlooking the scenery, she could feel a sense of peace. The city was still asleep, birds chirped in the distance and the birth of a new dawn coloring the tranquil waters of the bay added more beauty to the overall picture.

Hard to believe fall was almost upon them. So much had happened in so little time and yet, time had actually gone by in the blink of an eye. Up until two months ago, Raven had enjoyed what came to be a routine of sorts. Early meditation followed by a nice, warm cup of tea and a toast with homemade strawberry jam that Cyborg is known to make in industrial quantities due to his obsession with waffles and the sweet tooth the rest of her teammates shared. She smiled to herself at that. She had caught each male in her team, sneaking behind her back, thinking she wouldn't notice them while meditating. That of course, had happened when none of them knew she could sense their presence, no matter how quiet they tried to be.

The same as Garfield had tried once to surprise her in the hallway and around the corner. All that for him to just turn around and find her, silently and creepily staring at him, with the hood over her head and in a dead toned voice asked "What do you think you're doing?" he shrieked in a high, girly pitch before running away. A mischievous smile escaped her for a split second, and just as fast, it was gone before anyone else noticed.

Yes, there had been plenty of sweet, innocent moments he never realized she enjoyed. Or anyone else for that matter and of course, she would never admit it, but now… it was a completely different scenario.

The last few weeks have been absolutely gruesome. Sure their line of work wasn't at all safe and there was always the chance of getting seriously injured or worse, but they had never come across such ruthless characters that were capable of pushing others to the limits of insanity with Garfield caught in the middle with this girl he's been so fond of since childhood.

She sighed deeply into the soft, cool breeze that caressed her face and closed her eyes once more while images of Meliah's memories played in her head. She mused at how protective he had been of her when they were little, as if what she's seen them do for each other now wasn't proof enough. "How am I going to compete with that?" she said to herself out loud.

"There is no competition to be won, Raven" The thief's voice was heard from a few feet away. He was perched at the edge, tugging at his mask back in place.

"How long have you been standing there?" she asked with a frown while removing the hood off her head.

"Hey, I was here before you showed up, beautiful"

"So here is where you disappeared to" she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I didn't think anyone would notice… come…" he said, patting the cool concrete surface next to him. When he saw her hesitation he said "C'mon beautiful, I wont bite… " she narrowed her eyes at him again but complied and as she approached he added "…unless you want me to…" in that playful tone he always used.

Raven frown and with a flick of her hand, tendrils of her dark energy enveloped him and threw him over the edge, towards the bay and the moment the dark tentacles disappeared, he teleported back to the roof and she was sitting on the same place he was a few minutes ago.

"C'mon kid, lighten up… I was just trying to get you to smile"

"It took years for Beast Boy to accomplish that. What makes you think you can do it in five minutes"

"…um…"

"That's what I thought" she said while facing the horizon again. "Why don't you take off the mask? Its pointless to try to hide your identity anymore when we already know what you look like" she continued, without looking at him.

He sat down quietly next to her, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands together. He scuffed to himself before answering.

"Because I don't want any of you kids looking at me the same way as the first time you saw my face. Comparing every single physical detail. Reminding me of what I am… a cheap copy of the so called Boy Wonder… no Raven, I refuse to be under his shadow. I've worked too hard to get a reputation of my own"

"You've worked hard to become …a thief?" she asked sarcastically.

"Would Richard do what I do without regret?"

She arched an eyebrow at his blunt use of Robin's real name but answered anyway "Yes, he was the first Red X, remember?"

"That doesn't count sweetheart. He was working undercover to get to Slade. I, on the other hand do it for my own benefit. You can say, he provided me my own way of freedom."

"Michael…"

"Tell me, Raven, wouldn't this…" he said as he pulled the mask off, revealing his jet black, tussled hair and crystal blue eyes, looking intently into her own. "…or this…" as if the voice she heard wasn't enough, he proceeded to run a finger along her jaw line. "… be unsettling to you without the mask?"

Slowly, she moved her face away from his hand "Ok, I get your point…" satisfied, Michael took his earlier position, this time holding the mask in his hands while the soft breeze played with it.

"Hey beautiful… can I ask you something?"

She hesitated for a moment, considering whether to answer him or not. "What is it?" she finally asked quietly, still looking at the scenery before her.

"What is it that you think you cannot compete against?"

"I rather not talk about it"

"Let's be hones beautiful. You're pissed because Meliah had him before you did. Am I right?"

"I said I don't want to talk about it" She said. Glaring menacingly but the unmasked thief wasn't at all concerned while he locked eyes with her now glowing white ones.

"Tell me Raven, is your pride so hurt and thick that it doesn't let you see what's really in front of you?"

"And what would that be, oh wise one?" she said sarcastically.

"For starters, he's alive…"

"Obviously. Is there a point to this or can I throw you to the water… and this time I wont let go until you're deep under" she said with a mischievous smirk as dark energy emanated from her hands.

"Funny. But yes there is. Thanks to what she did, he's alive and thanks to that… so is she. You can start your romance with him from scratch and I can… lets just say it's a win, win situation"

"You like her…well there is a surprise" she said while rolling her eyes. Sarcasm sipping thru her words. But he scuffed to himself and turned back to look at the mask in his hands while a somber expression took over his features. After a few minutes of silence, the beeping of her communicator broke the silence. It was Robin.

"Raven, I'm glad you're ok. Beast Boy said you wanted to meditate. Are you finished, did I interrupt."

"Actually, I didn't get a chance, but I'm feeling better" she said glancing at the thief then back to the screen with a ghost of a smile.

"Excellent. I need you to come to the common room for a meeting. Tell Michael to come as well. Robin out."

" He doesn't miss a beat, does he?" Michael asked and Raven was about to reply when another beeping noise interrupted her. This time coming from his utility belt. "Would you look at that, fresh out of Xenothium… good thing you're a sorceress"

"What do you mean?" she said with a faint frown and a confused look.

"I mean, how else would you know I had just the right amount of juice left to teleport back to the roof when you threw me"

"I didn't" she said and started to walk towards the door, trying to hide a smile. He got up and run to catch up with her.

"Wait, did you just say you didn't, then how…"

"I'm an empath Michael, I sense other people's emotions, I don't tell the future" this time her words sank in and his expression was one of pure shock and disbelief while a hint of fear lingered around him. Raven's features softened and changed into an amused smile she couldn't hide anymore.

The thief looked indignant and crossed his arms over his chest and said "Is not funny Raven"

"I know is not. I'm sorry, but your face was just… priceless"

"Well… I'm glad my near misfortune amuses you and…" he stop as he realized something and gave her a most mischievous of smiles. Raven sobered up immediately "What?" she asked, all amusement gone.

"You smiled" he grinned even more.

"So?"

"So, It didn't take me years like a certain someone. Not exactly five minutes but, I'm satisfied with the result"

"Shut up!" she said and rolled her eyes. "put the mask back on, I'll teleport us to the common room. Mento and Rita are still here and I'm sure they'll stay for the meeting and trust me when I tell you, you don't want him in your head"

"Whatever you say, beautiful"

…

…

As predicted, Mento and Rita were present at the meeting. Upon arrival, Raven received a bone crushing hug from Starfire. After all greetings were said and done, Raven motioned for everyone to sit in the sofa while she stood in front of them.

After explaining her findings in the other girl's memories, there was an open discussion about the possibilities of who, where and what exactly had happened. Raven's extensive knowledge of ancient spells and cultures proved to be very helpful as none of the others even knew that voodoo clans were still very much active.

Before the meeting started, Meliah had described the most prominent tattoo she remembered from her attackers. Cyborg had looked in the archives of any ancient culture with such markings and found it belonged to a clan that had not been heard of since the early nineteen hundreds.

The empath explained how that particular clan had been the biggest back in those days. How they had been bold enough to show up in public and try to perform their rituals in order to make themselves known, but, as the incantations and rituals turned out to be more gruesome every time, the said clan was banned from the villages that surrounded the area and even wanted for treachery, larceny and murder among other things. So they were forced into hiding and no one had ever heard of them again… until now.

Raven was bombarded with question after question on how and where to find them, even though clans like that were not known to remain in the same area for long. Mento and Rita being the most insistent. Understandable, thought Raven since it was their son that monk had been after. Or at least, all evidence pointed to that conclusion.

The briefing turned out to be excruciatingly long and tedious, and even worse when they reached the point of who to look for and where. There was a clear misunderstanding as to what exactly was the difference between monks and voodoo priests since all Meliah remembered was a monk helping her in a time of need but as she described the moment of the attack, he was there again.

Raven was growing irritated and frustrated. Mento had been clear that he didn't care what the man's title had been. He wanted answers and coordinates as to where to start looking. She admitted she had recognized the monk's robes as another ancient culture. They were Earth's version of Azarath's culture and they were known to live in a temple in the oldest part of Tibet.

"What are we waiting for?" demanded Mento, ready to get up and leave.

"I didn't say it had been them…Look, there is a possibility that whoever that was, was a rogue monk." continued Raven.

"You mean they can just change cultures?" Asked Robin, intrigued by the findings.

"With enough conviction, yes. Its rare but not unheard of"

"Well, I say we go to that temple and ask if they knew the dude. I want to know how did he know about me back then." Garfield said, getting up from his spot.

"Friend Beast Boy, do you think is wise for you to expose yourself to them just like that?" a worried Starfire asked.

"Star, if they are still interested in me then that would make it easy for us to find them"

"You actually have a good point Gar. They would come to us rather than we wasting time in a wild goose chase looking for someone we don't know if is still alive" said Raven.

"Bait…are you seriously considering to let him use himself as bait?" said an angry Meliah, speaking for the first time since the meeting started while approaching the demoness.

"M, is ok. I want to do this" Garfield tried to intervene but she ignored him as she walked passed him and stopped mere inches away from the cloaked girl. He winced in anticipation. Neither girl was known to back down easily.

"We are trained to take on any kind of mission and he will not be alone" said Raven with a cold monotone and menacing glare.

Everyone got up, the tension in the room was thicker than the air they were breathing.

Meliah tilted her head, eyes locked with the demoness "Is that your excuse… I will not allow you to put him in danger…"

"Allow me!? … since when do you think you have the right to allow me anything, specially where Gar is concern"

"More than what you can imagine"

"So you taking advantage of him is what makes you think that, you whore!?" said Raven, instinctively taking a fighting stance, eyes glowing red and her hands glowing black, ready to attack.

Meliah also took a fighting stance, with her well known predatory demeanor. Sharper fangs and claws, tense muscles and growling. Her eyes, although no longer turned into a broken, crystallized blue, were sharper and even in lighter color that made them seem cold and murderous.

"Bring it… witch!" said Meliah with a malicious smirk. Raven didn't need to be told twice and with a swing of her right arm, a whip like tendril was directed at the other girl who was quick enough and had jumped to turn and twisted in the air to turn into a hyena and with a howling, laugh like sound, pounced on her pray, showing sharp teeth. Raven however, disappeared in a portal on the floor and reappeared mid air, right above the mammal and with a larger tendril of energy, pounded on the animal, hard.

"Do you think I'm not prepared to encounter your tricks? And just remember this… he's mine!" said Raven while Meliah turned back human, wiping some blood off her lower lip.

With sonic blaster, bird-a-rangs and star bolts ready, the other titans stood, not too far from the confrontation but with unsure looks as to whom to defend from who. Mento and Rita were just as close, watching in horror how the two women attacked each other.

At some point, Steve raised his hand up to his helmet with the idea of stopping them somehow, but Rita stopped him.

"Steve, we can't intervene. This is something they have to fix themselves. Is too personal a situation."

"Rita, these are not normal girls having a catfight over some guy. An enraged half demon and an enraged shape shifter who can turn into any kind of predator are fighting in close range over our son… don't you think they need a little help to sort this out without destroying everything around them?" Mento said while stopping a chair from colliding with his wife with his powers.

"Steve, I know what you're saying, but in the end, it all comes down to the basic concept. Those two girls and our son, have to figure this out on their own. This is a situation you cannot fix."

Mento let out a frustrated grunt. She was right of course.

"Rob, what do we do?… how are we going to stop them, and the tower, is half way destroyed as it is. It wont take long before it crumbles under their catfight" ask Cyborg, shooting down a broken iron beam before it hit the screen of the main computer.

"We have to lead them outside, there is little possibility of them destroying anything" said Robin looking at a enraged Raven using two whips now, trying to capture a king cobra who threatened to get closer to the empath at every snap.

"But Robin, what if they approach the city? We're not that far from it" Starfire said, her eyes and hands no longer glowing green. Concern evident in her voice.

"We have to contain them, there is only one place that can hold them both" Robn said.

"Contain them? And how the hell do you pretend to get close enough to them to do that. Even if we manage to get them inside that chamber, is a bad idea." said Cyborg.

"I… I just don't know how to stop a fight like this" Robin admitted. For once, he had no solution or a plan. Because in the end, it didn't matter how much or how good a Titan and a warrior each were, they were women. Women fighting against each other to defend their beliefs and the man each one thought it was her right to protect and defend.

"Yo Beast Boy, any idea how to control your women?" Cyborg asked, but something was wrong. Garfield had not said a word the entire time and now was rubbing his temples, eyes shut tight as if fighting back a pounding headache.

At that moment, another window shattered. When everyone looked, there was a red kangaroo falling back on hind legs while Raven was flying back at top speed and while the marsupial turned into a gorilla, distracted by her oncoming attacker, a dark portal opened behind her. Raven's intension was obvious. For once, she would do what she always threatened everyone with, to send them to an unknown dimension.

At seeing this, Garfield snapped and as he transformed into a larger form he said in a deeper voice, almost a growl "This has gone long enough!" and right in front of them, the massive animal stood. With dead, cold eyes. Longer, serrated teeth and claws that scratched the floor as he started to run towards the women.

The Beast let out a roar and the moment they saw him approach at a dangerous speed, the portal closed, Meliah turned back human but let out an angry hiss and Raven tried to block him with her dark energy, but it was too late. The Beast jumped and with lightning speed, not only avoided the obstacle, he also managed to trap the girls mid air, one on each arm and go thru the broken window.

As they fell, neither girl could move or transform. They were angry but the Beast gave them no room for struggle . He landed on his hind legs with a thud on the sand and dropped both girls unceremoniously on the soft ground. Then, he leaned over them, slamming each claw. His left one next to Raven's head and the other one next to Meliah's.

The Beast was panting and growling at the same time. Both girls were surprised to say the least. Raven specially, as she had never been object of the Beast's anger but neither one was afraid.

"Garfield… MOVE!" growled Meliah, panting herself.

"Garfield! STAY OUT OF THIS!" ordered Raven, eyes glowing white.

But the Beast would have none of it and pounded his fists repeatedly on the sand then leaned his head back and let out a louder roar. Finally he got their undivided attention and with a shudder, the Beast's body trembled and soon, Garfield stood above them, eyes closed, then, he opened them suddenly and slowly, the green pupils appeared again. He got up and waited for them to get up. Cautiously they did. Raven's eyes were no longer glowing but she glared at him with a raised eyebrow and Meliah much the same but with a frown instead and arms crossed over her chest.

" This has gone long enough. I am not a little kid anymore that needs to have his decisions made for him… Meliah, I said I'm going and that's final… Raven… Meliah is not a whore, we didn't have sex, … we were trapped… in a metal cage… with NO powers … she used herself on me as her last resort because a cynical psychopath had drugged us… you know why? because he wanted to sell our kids to the highest bidder like some exotic animals."

"Meliah… don't ever! And I mean EVER! Call Raven a witch or a demon or anything of that nature" he said with barely contained anger. Hands balled into fists, shaking. The Beast was lurking very close to the edge of restrain and Raven figured he let Garfield out just so he could communicate since growls and loud roars were not getting his point across.

The others had arrived but stayed at a safe distance. They could see how much was Beast Boy trying not to snap again. The frown on his forehead seemed to be sculpted on his features and as hard as he was breathing, they were afraid he would pass out from the exertion.

"But Gar…"

"But what!?" Garfield interrupted, grinding his teeth. But Meliah was not one to be submissive no matter how dangerous her position was.

"Why do you insist on playing bait to find those people. don't you understand I don't want you to go thru what I went thru?"

"Its because of what you went thru that I want to find them. Don't you get it. What they did to you had been meant for me at some point and I left like a coward when I couldn't do more to save you and my parents… Not this time. I might be late for my parents but not for you."

"And Raven?… haven't you figure out by now that I only want you? … Gosh, you're so stubborn and bad tempered. You have thrown me out the window more times than I can remember and I still come back for more… doesn't that tell you anything?"

"Gar… I…" but Garfield heard someone chuckled and he sharply turned towards the offender. Then walked towards the thief who, on seeing the green titan approach, straighten his pose and started to say "so she does like throwing people over…thheeh…"

He didn't have time to finish as Garfield had grabbed him by the throat. And with a predatory growl he said " If you ever touch MY girlfriend or even sit next to her that close again… I will tear you apart" and he pushed the thief back, making him loose his balance and as he propped himself on one elbow, he rubbed his throat with the other and for once, he said nothing.

Garfield turned back and walked towards Raven. Gently, placed his hands on her face and pulled her in a breathless, possessive, almost angry kiss. Raven felt him tremble. His contained anger was sipping thru his barriers but he never hurt her. So, she tried to sooth him by kissing him back. He finally accepted her softer, slower rhythm and she could feel his tension started to waver. His hands went around her waist and her arms around his neck.

Eventually, they had to pull apart, both in need of air but rested their heads on each other's foreheads with their eyes closed. After a moment, she opened her eyes back up and shyly rubbed her nose on his. When he opened his eyes, they were not angry anymore but softer, even apologetic. A small smile escaped her as she whispered "I love you my Beast Man" he couldn't help but chuckled at her joke and simply said "I love you too Rae".