Summary: Jump City had been peaceful for the past two years. Slade was out of commission after a grueling fight, super-villains were far and few, and the crime rate was low. So the Titans had pursed their hobbies. Beast Boy volunteered at a wildlife museum for children and enjoyed the work. The 19-year-old had nothing to fear…until Slade reappeared. (One-sided Slade x Beast Boy)

Trapped Chapter 13

They rode in silence. The woman with water powers, Moss, drove the helicopter. The man, Zachary, sat in the passenger seat with Angie trapped on his lap. Beast Boy sat in the back with Becca on his own tight hold while the woman with power over vines perched beside him. The tension was practically unbearable.

Beast Boy couldn't stop biting his lip, his eyes fixated on the helicopter's sideview mirror showing Angie's trembling form. His youngest daughter stayed stiff in his arms. Even his absent-minded thumb strokes along her elbow did little to soothe her.

Their flight continued and he cast his gaze out the window. Buildings blurred into parks and lakes before returning to a town. He swallowed as they passed a familiar building. Roseville Elementary. They were close…

The seconds ticked by. His daughter buzzed in his arms. Moss tilted the controls and they started to descend. The vine-woman shifted beside him and shot a glare. He sucked in air and, as the rooftops below them grew and a familiar street curved into view, he had half a moment to realize it wasn't just his daughter shaking. His heart thudded against his chest and his jaw tightened.

They landed atop a rooftop. The vine-woman was the first to exit the vehicle, followed by Moss and then Zachary. The man opened the back door and he struggled to unlock his limbs. Both his daughters looked to him for guidance and he swallowed against the lump in his throat.

"We'll be okay." He found himself saying.

Judging by their expressions, they didn't believe him. That makes three of us. He placed Becca to the floor and outstretched a hand to Angie, still held in one arm by Zachary.

The man shot him a scowl. "Do you think I'm stupid?"

Beast Boy bristled. "Give me back my daughter."

"And let you fly off? Don't think so." Zachary shrugged.

He bared his fangs and stepped closer. "Give her to me."

Zachary sneered. Angie wiggled in the hold, little arms reaching for him with a frightened expression, and he latched onto the flash of anger.

"Give. Her. To. Me." He took another step.

"Aw," that damn sneer. Zachary tilted his head and stared down at him, relaxed and visibly amused. "What could a doll like you do to a man like me?"

Anger burned hotter. What the hell did he just say? A fist shot out to punch square in the stomach but missed as the jerk side-stepped with a smirk. Beast Boy paused a beat to put Becca down and launched himself at the other. He successfully knocked Zachary down and scrabbled to grab his girl while the jerk laughed.

"Feisty!" Zachary easily rolled them so he straddled atop and dropped Angie to the side. Beast Boy continued to kick and punch despite the weight on his hips, desperate to fight the lost battle. Zachary leaned close to Beast Boy's pinned form and whispered. "It's a shame Wilson called dibs. I'd be a better–"

Zachary bolted upright and off him, straight into a rigid salute. What the hell just-? Beast Boy righted himself and followed his gaze. Moss stood with her back to them, saluting something. The vine woman stood a way away, closer to the helicopter and held the same pose. Dread settled in his stomach and he glanced at his daughter's puzzled faces before refocusing on what could be emerging from behind the helicopter.

"Finally."

He stopped breathing.

Slade. Grant was in his Slade uniform. What? Why? Was this it? Had Grant finally tired of him? Of course he had! That was stupid. Why would he think– Why would Grant ever want– There's no way he'd want him– He was so dead but the girls…?

Slade looked him over with a critical eye. "Unharmed and delivered on time. Wilson will be pleased."

Beast Boy struggled to hear over the ringing in his ears. Wilson? Wasn't Grant Wilson? Who– He made to speak but Slade (Grant?) spoke over him.

"I will personally deliver this package. You are dismissed."

Zachary spoke first with a audible frown. "Boss…?"

Moss turned. "Of course, sir. Thank you for the mission."

She strode to the helicopter and grasped Zachary's arm along the way, tugging him into the vehicle. The vine woman followed after. Beast Boy stayed on the ground as they climbed into the helicopter. Only when they took off did Slade–Grant (Slade?) speak.

"Follow."

He didn't move as the man turned and walked away. He stared, barely daring to breathe. Slade stopped and turned, his visible eye curving and Beast Boy filled in the blanks. He could see Grant with that pinched expression: a deep frown and the slight tightening of his jaw. Disapproving. He blinked fast as Slade strode back towards him, shadow towering over him and he fought to move but his body wouldn't budge.

He stammered nonsense and small hands clasped his arms. He let the comforting touch ground him.

"Don't…" he tucked his arms behind his daughters and gathered them into a protective hug, instinctually hiding their faces from Slade's own. He braved lifting a chin to meet Slade's eye. "Don't hurt them."

The lone eye narrowed. Instantly, he dropped his gaze and cursed inwardly. He struggled to meet the eye once more but couldn't will himself.

"Please…" he murmured as the shadow covered their forms and blocked the sunlight. He tried to breathe but it felt like he was suffocating. Slade was so much bigger than him. So much stronger. The man could do anything he wanted, had done anything, and he wasn't strong enough to fight back. He was weak. Helpless. He could never win.

But he couldn't let his girls die either.

"S…Slade…" the name felt heavy in his mouth. Like swallowing a stone. It felt so…wrong. "Please–"

"That is not my name."

Beast Boy stiffened. Then what was? It couldn't be Grant. He was in his Slade uniform after all. So then, what? What could it be? The only other thing he had been told to call him was…

"…Master…?" He tried.

A soft snort drifted his way and the shadow shifted. "Figures."

Slade crouched in front of him. Beast Boy leaned back but there was nowhere to go. Nowhere Slade couldn't catch him. A gloved hand reached for him and he watched, waiting for the strike. Instead, the palm cupped his cheek. Warmth emanated from the fabric and gentle finger stroked his skin. Instinctually, he leaned into the familiar touch, eyes slipping to half closed. He'd missed this.

Realization slapped away the foggy thoughts. His eyes snapped wide and he jerked his chin up and out of the hold. His voice cracked. "Wha–What do you want…?"

The gloved hand hovered in the air, as if stunned, before Slade sighed and stood. "Come, Garfield. I will not ask again."

This time, he obeyed. He pushed himself to his feet and followed the man like a lost dog. He held his daughter's hands tightly as Slade opened a door atop the roof and they entered a stairwell. The door shut with a clang behind them and they flinched. Faint touches on his shoulders to his waist prompted him to follow the man. Down and down they went it seemed, passing door after door, until Slade stopped. How far down did the building go?

Slade turned the knob and crossed a threshold into a dimly lit hallway. Beast Boy and the girls continued after him, eyes wide. None of them dared speak as they were led past door after door until they finally entered another room. An office. One similar to Grant's (Slade's?) own.

The man locked the door behind them. Beast Boy could hear his heartbeat in his ears as Slade stripped out of his uniform.

"Slade?" He squeaked as the metal armor came off to reveal a black shirt. "Not…not in front of the girls."

"Relax, Garfield." The man answered instead. "That is not on the agenda now."

Questions whirled in his head but he stayed quiet and just turned the girls away from the view. He studied the metal door in front of them until Slade cleared his throat and they turned around. Standing in front of them with the uniform neatly folded on the desk, was Grant as…himself.

Beast Boy cast his gaze to the side as Grant, now wearing a button-down dress shirt and black slacks, strode forwards. Muscles rippled beneath the thin white shirt and scarlet heated his cheeks. Damnit. A hand grasped his chin and he couldn't fight the urge to look into the steel gray eyes as it guided him into a soft kiss.

"I've missed you, love." Grant–Slade murmured against his lips when he pulled away. Beast Boy staggered backwards as if punched.

"I don't understand…" he managed in a small voice and studied the tiled flooring. "You're not–"

"Now is not the time." Grant said instead, stepping back to return to the desk. He rifled through one of the drawers and placed a small device atop the surface and clicked a button. He then tucked a second cube into his pocket and returned to his side. Grant wrapped an arm behind his waist. He didn't fight as Grant pulled him, and in turn the girls, towards the door. "Just play along."

"What?"

The door opened and Grant twisted as if to talk to someone inside the room. "Thank you, Slade, for returning my husband to me."

His ears twitched as he heard a muffled click. A monotone answered from within the room and he blinked, confused, as Slade responded. "Do well not to lose him again."

"Of course." The door slid close. "Let's go, Garfield. Ah, Kinetic, was it?"

They faced forwards to see an unfamiliar woman. The woman in the muted blue spandex scanned them up and down before nodding. She led them down the hallway. Beast Boy stumbled as Grant quickened his pace and the girls struggled to keep up. He tugged them along. Questions buzzed in his mind but none of them formed coherent sentences. Could he even ask anything with an unknown, probably super, in front of them?

Kinetic brought them to a stairwell. Back up the stairs they went until they arrived at what appeared to be the ground floor. She ushered them outside and bid them farewell, turning and returning to the eerie building. Beast Boy turned to Grant for guidance, searching for answers in the other's face, but he only led them along the sidewalk and to a very familiar car.

The driver's side opened and out stepped, "Ryder." Grant greeted.

"Mister Wilson," Ryder returned. "And Mister Garfield, glad to see you are well."

"Define 'well'." He couldn't stop his mouth from moving. He stiffened and his eyes darted to Grant, nervous.

Ryder hummed. "The car?"

"You drive."

Ryder nodded and opened the backdoor. Grant pushed him and the girls into the back before shutting the door. He curved around the car and entered the passenger side while Ryder returned to the driver's seat.

The engine revved and the car cruised out of the parking spot and into the street. Ryder spoke. "Mister Garfield?"

"…yeah?"

"Why are you frightened?"

Beast Boy stared a beat, disbelieving. Was Ryder seriously asking him that?

"He shouldn't be." Grant scoffed. "There is nothing to fear."

"Perhaps. But the fact remains: he is frightened."

Grant huffed but quieted. When another beat passed, he realized he still hadn't answered. Slowly, he tried to form the words.

"…why aren't you hurting us?" As an after-thought he added. "Mister Wilson."

"I am your husband, pet. Did those heroes," Grant spat venom, "make you forget who you belong to?"

Beast Boy shrank and the girls huddled close. Silence reigned. He kept his eyes glued to the floor and mumbled an apology.

Ryder inhaled through his nose. "May I be frank, Mister Wilson?"

Grant grunted. A park blurred into view as the car glided around a corner.

"There's no need to be so harsh. I understand you were concerned, and I understand he was missing for quite a while, but he's back now. He's safe with you."

"Does not excuse his actions." Grant snapped back. "He did not choose to come back."

"Ah," Ryder soothed. "Then let him choose."

Hope fluttered in his chest. Would Grant really let him go? Could Ryder truly convince him? It was a small, impossible chance. But maybe still a chance?

"Where would he go without me?" Grant shot back. "The Titans are gone. He's home here."

Cold dread shot down his spine. The two men continued to speak but he was deaf to the words.

The Titans are gone?

~oOo~

Notes: I'm totally wingin' this. Have a vague sense on where I want to go. This chappie doesn't feel as dramatic as I was hoping but, oh well! Titans are gone, oh noes!