-Flashback-

Beastboy was pacing in his room. He'd been doing that lately ever since the team began branching out into their own hobbies. He thought back to Nightwing's suggestion.

"I think you should change-"

Change? Change what? He was Beastboy, he could change into any animal he wanted. He was the same hero during his run with the Doom Patrol, then later joining the Teen Titans. The whole animal kingdom was at his finger tips. And he transformed into every animal that he knew and read about since his patrol days. He'd turn into so many animals during his years as a hero… but they were all used for the same thing.

He stopped and looked up at his ceiling.

He'd always turned into his signature animals when fighting enemies. He would turn into a gorilla when he needed to clash with villains. A cheetah when he needed to dodge attacks and race across the battlefield. Any type of bird when he needed to travel long distances. 'Slam into the enemy,' 'throw the bad guys around,' 'run around the city, ' line up the bad guys so his friends could take them out.

He thought about their battles over the years, how many enemies did 'he' actually take down? When did 'he' get on the communicator and say "I got 'em you guys, it's all clear." He didn't know, it seemed like he was pushing the villains around, while his team was actually defeating them.

Then he thought of 'The Beast.'

Thought back to how he first turned into it. How the transformation had scared him, since he couldn't control it. But after his struggle with it during the fight with Adonis, Raven had given him support and comforting words that helped him accept this new part of him. But… is that what he would rely on? Relying on the Beast for his battles?

The last time he willingly turned into it, was during the battle against Trigon. But his wereform stayed dormant afterwards, he made sure of that. He didn't want to go berserk and turn into a wild card that the team couldn't communicate with or reel in during a fight.

Was that it though? Turn into the Beast, again and again? Go from 0 to 60 in every fight, becoming a one trick pony? He still couldn't fully control his 'beast mode.' He'd neglected to train in it, reach out to that part of him the Beast dwelled in. Out of fear. What else did he have, he reached up rubbed his face with his hand.

He was special, he had a superpower that was unique, unique to only him in a small world of meta humans. There had to be something that he could do to enhance his current abilities. Somewhere he could take his powers to a 'next level.'

He walked over to his bottom bunk and sat down.

He raked his brain. Then… Something was coming to mind, he could feel it. Then suddenly it came down on him like a sledge hammer. He'd turned into an amoeba.

He thought back to when he'd made one of his biggest mistakes on the team. When not only did he put Victor in danger, or even Titans Tower in danger. But a potential crisis that could have spread across who knows how far. All because he wanted to play an illegal game. Charges could have been brought against him. Cy had every right to take him before the team, and hold him accountable for what he'd done. But he let Garfield get away with it, buried it in the past and moved on. And now that he thought about it, he never showed Victor an appreciation for what he did.

Cy and the team never mentioned that transformation. Maybe they could have suggested doing more, or exploring where he could go from there. But he'd probably blow that off. Maybe they thought it was just a fluke, didn't think he was capable of doing new things. He didn't know, and he wouldn't assume the team's reasoning. But that thought hurt him.

He thought of what could have become of his powers had he trained and learned from the Beast. If he'd explore what such a small transformation could have turned into if he'd only practiced those possibilities.

All this time… all this time he could have made something of his powers. But he'd been uninterested in pursuing them. When he'd first joined the Doom Patrol, he'd met the Professor. The Professor was a good man, who was honest and showed interest in Beastboy's shape shifting. He would have helped Garfield not only out of the pursuit for discovery, but to aid one of the Doom patrol. But Beastboy had pushed him away, didn't want to learn about his powers. He'd let a golden opportunity get away. Why? Because he didn't care? Because turning into animals was cool enough for him? Those WERE the reasons why, and it was also because he was scared. Scared of messing with his father's work, the serum that saved his life and gave him his powers. But he wasn't alone, he had a genius like the professor with him. And he'd let the chance to learn and maybe grow, slip through his fingers.

Garfield didn't know until he felt it run down his cheek, but he was crying. Because he'd been so stupid. Stupid for not taking the help when it was offered to him. Stupid for not appreciating a boon in his power after the incident. Stupid for not realizing a great discovery in his transformation. He had gone straight back to the way he was before. Stupid, childish, naive Beastboy.

He sat on his bed for some time, then wiped at his eyes before standing up. He wouldn't cry, part of growing up was accepting and learning from your mistakes. It was obvious that the others didn't dwell on any shortcomings, but worked on themselves to become better heroes, better people. And he would do the same. He'll look at what he could do, where he could go from here. If he had to learn, or practice, experiment he would. He looked around his messy room and started to pick up clothes and comic books.

Where would he start? He thought back to turning into an amoeba. That was pretty cool, so small no one could detect him. And he multiplied! How crazy was that? Then he paused in picking up an empty container, he multiplied? He actually became more than one Beastboy. They all had a singular mind, to stop that virus from corrupting Cyborg. Then, they all joined back together to become him again. He wondered… what did he multiply? When there was more of him, what did they all take from him? Did he sacrifice something, like his mind or body? Did he split his life expectancy amongst the others. Did he split his soul?

Before he knew it, he looked down at the clean floor, and at the bags he'd filled while thinking. These thoughts, and ideas… is this what it felt like when Victor was planning and working on his projects? When Raven was studying and experimenting with magic? He liked this feeling, he was giddy. He wanted to find the answers to these questions. He'd come up with something to do about his discovery. What if there were more of him, what if he evolved?!

His hearing picked up jet engines, then he walked over to the window and saw an incoming JL ship. He smiled… Raven.

He walked through his door and headed to the Common Room. He'd let her stretch her legs after the ship ride and be there to greet her in their living room.

-

'Woosh" the common room doors opened and Raven walked through. She made her way to the kitchen before she noticed Garfield sitting on the high chair looking at her. The smile that he always had on his features when she was near him made her heart afloat, before the feeling settled into her stomach.

His smile faltered some, and after spacing out a little, he shook his head.

"What's the matter?"

"... Nothing." He took a few breathes. Then his smile returned. "Did you woo them?" he asked standing up.

She let the interaction slide, understanding what he was asking.

"We were able to trace back the origin of the tome that Zatanna discovered in eastern Europe. After a few hours of deciphering it, we translated into the language closest to its original founders. She thinks it'll be a great learning experience for the magic wielders that are interested in the magical courses we will be offering soon." She answered with a small smile, trying to hide how proud she was of herself for such a big contribution in the tome's translation.

But Gar wasn't afraid to hide how proud he was of her, he walked up to her and gave her a big hug and squeezed her for her skill and time away from the tower. She relaxed and slowly raised he arms to return the hug. He leaned into her, resting his head against hers. He wanted to smile, at how his ears rested above hers these past few years. But he squeezed her again, and took a few breathes. Her arms slid to his chest and he took that as the sign that she was going to continue the conversation. He pulled back and looked at her. Before she could say anything, he spoke.

"I'm proud of you Rae. I never doubted you'd make Zatanna see she was wrong about you," then he leaned in a kissed her softly on the cheek. His lips rested on her cheek, and he felt her soft hands give his chest a gentle squeeze. he pulled back again and looked down at her. She stared up at him, memorized in his forest green eyes.

BEEP! They both flinched. BEEP!... BEEP!

Raven looked over and saw the steaming mug on the counter. She looked back at Gar and his sheepish grin. "Still using the oven to time my tea?"

"Baby, it's cold out-"

"Don't give me a Christmas joke Gar, it's still September." She held onto his chest for a few moments before retreating them and walking to the counter. She flicked her wrist, and with her powers, silenced the oven timer. She reached over and picked up the mug. She glanced at it before placing her lips on the rim, eyes on Beastboy.

'Siiip.'

And he waited... and waited... He shifted to one leg. Hopeful.

"... Perfect, like always." She said. And Beastboy jumped and slapped his knee with a great big grin. She smiled, remembering how Garfield begged her to teach him how to make tea. Make it just the way she liked it. And as time went by, he'd surprise her with a hot mug on any occasion that he believed she was busy.

"And what about you, we didn't get a chance to talk much while i was away." She asked and she took a seat on the high chair. She gestured to the chair next to her. Garfield slowly made his way to the chair before taking a seat. She saw his mind wonder and let him sort his thoughts.

"Training with Nightwing. Thinking about some stuff."

"Stuff?"

Beastboy leaned an elbow on the counter, and used his hand to prop up his chin. "Well... since you've been away for a few days with the Justice League, and Victor's buried under a pile of paperwork... I've found myself with a lot of free time." She looked worried. Guilty. So he hurried to continue. "But that's good! I need to think about some things. What about me you know? I'm going to have to start doing something around here... out there..." He spaced out again.

She placed her mug down slowly, looking at him. She reached a hand out and placed it on the hand he rested on his knee. He felt her with a small jolt, but settled down and gazed into her eyes.

"What ever you do, where ever it is... you'll still be here, right? We'll still be here?"

He didn't know how, maybe it was because he loved her. Because she meant the world to him, no... more than that. She was his world, his everything. But he understood what she meant. She wasn't talking about the tower, with her soft hand on his, she was talking about 'them.'

He smiled. Leaned in and gave her his signature smile. He called it the 'Lady Killer,' and she called it the 'Goofy' look. He looked into her eyes and said.

"As long as you'll have me Rae..."

-Flashback End-