Chapter 17 - For the things I did not…

Beastboy's face was pure rage and hatred for Clay's darker half. His aura dripped of pure corrosive venom. With one swift movement, he tackled Nebiros and began frantically clawing the mage's face off.

"Ugh… Get off of me wretch!" demanded Nebiros as he tried to shield his face from the shapeshifter's berserk attacks.

"AAARGHH!!!" growled Beastboy, hungry to spill some magician blood.

Clay started to regain consciousness, rising from the floor shakily. His vision was still blurry and his hearing was muffled at best. Robin and the others immediately came to his side.

"Clay… You alright?" asked Robin.

"Y-Yeah… But where's…" asked Clay before his question was answered when he saw Beastboy on top of Nebiros. "N-No… Beastboy get out of there!" yelled Clay.

As if on cue with Clay's voice, Beastboy was sent flying away by a pulse of purple energy. Nebiros sat up from the floor, his face marred by Beastboy's rage.

"Lucky shot furball." Frowned Nebiros as his eyes squinted into angry slits.

Clay came to Beastboy's side, determined to protect him at all cost. Nebiros slowly walked towards the two, his hands radiating of his dark energy.

"I invoke the presence of the five arch mage of Kolra, become a wall to protect thee of evil. Repel all that is unclean…" chanted Clay.

Nebiros stopped just inches away from Clay, blocked by an invisible barrier.

"Heh… The wall of the five mages. Quick thinking there, Claytoss…" grinned Nebiros. He turned around and started to walk away. "Don't think this is over Claytoss. I WILL take you, one way or another…" added Nebiros before fading out of sight.

(The next day)

"The restoring spell that Clay had cast is starting to take effect. The buildings that the fight damaged are being repaired and the people of Jump City are starting to forget what happened…" spoke a female voice on the other side of Robin's communicator.

"Thanks Star. We'll meet you back here in the tower…" replied Robin before closing his communicator. Behind him was Raven and Cyborg in front of a computer panel. "So… How are we doing?" asked Robin to Cyborg. He was hesitant to answer but Raven eventually took the liberty of answering it for him.

"The Mana Containment chamber's working like a charm. Clay's magic is being suppressed and he can't cast a single spell…" explained Raven.

"Rae… It's not that he can't… It's that he won't…" defended Cyborg.

"We can't take any chances! You saw what he was capable of!" yelled Raven.

"It's not him Rae! Beastboy told me everything!" responded Cyborg.

"Even so, we can't be entirely sure that Clay wasn't responsible for it. For all we know he could be the evil one from the two!" replied Raven angrily.

Light poured into the dark chamber as the door behind revealed Beastboy. He shot an angry glare at Raven as he approached the girl.

"Don't say that like you know him Raven…" told Beastboy begrudgingly as he turned his attention to Cyborg. "Can you open the door for me Cy? I… I want to come inside with Clay…" requested Beastboy.

"Sure BB… I… I'm sorry…" replied Cyborg.

"I'm not…" retorted Raven before leaving the chamber.

(At the Mana Containment chamber)

Clay sat in the middle of a white room filled with arcane symbols. He was wearing no distinguishable facial expression. He stared blankly at the ivory floor, reflecting on the destruction his other half had caused. His thoughts were cut short when he heard the door sliding open from behind him.

"Clay?" asked Beastboy from behind the magician.

Clay eagerly turned around and gazed upon his lover. His face was filled with warm joy at the sight of the shapeshifter.

"Hey Beastboy…" replied Clay softly.

Beastboy walked towards him and sat beside him. Clay let his head rest on Beastboy's elbows, taking solace on the comfort of his lover.

"We haven't talked since that day…" said Beastboy.

"I was casting the restoration spell. Can't really talk to you in a meditative lotus position…" replied Clay, trying to add a little humor to the conversation.

Beast boy wrapped his arms around Clay, indulging himself from the contact that he had yearned so much.

"You didn't do it Clay… It was Nebiros… Not you…" said Beastboy, his tears welling up at the thought of the guilt that was plaguing Clay.

"I know… But, Raven's right… We could never be too sure…" replied Clay.

Beastboy pulled away from the hug, his eyes not able to contain the tears anymore.

"Stop beating yourself up from something you didn't do! I can't… I can't look at you like this anymore…" demanded Beastboy.

Clay looked away from Beastboy, his lips curled in grief.

"Beastboy… Maybe… You should stop looking at me then… You're only getting hurt…" replied Clay.

Beastboy cupped Clay's chin, shifting the mage's vision to him.

"No… You need me now more than ever. Even if it kills me, I'll never stop looking at you. Never!" cried Beastboy.

Beastboy bent over and placed a soft kiss on Clay's lips which the mage openly accepted. Clay laid his head on Beastboy's lap and closed his eyes.

"Beastboy… How do you do it? How do you make me feel so happy even at my lowest? What magic are you using?" asked Clay.

"It's not magic…" answered Beastboy before running a hand over Clay's forehead. "It's love."

Wow finally an update! Please continue reading and reviewing!