batman · dc comics · beast boy · wolf transformation · feral · internal conflict · gotham city · beast world · non-verbal · protective
The alley reeked of damp concrete, rusted metal, and the sharp, metallic tang of blood. Rain-slicked brick walls captured the faint glow of a distant streetlamp, casting long, distorted shadows that writhed with every flicker. In the heart of that darkness, a massive, gray-furred wolf stood rigid, its breath pluming in the cold night air. Its ears swiveled, catching the ragged, pained breaths of a figure hunched in the corner. The wolf's muscles coiled, instincts screaming to flee or attack, but something deeper held it anchored. Bruce's thoughts were a growl of static and fractured memory. *That scent... I know it.* The human's trembling form shifted, and for a moment, a familiar face emerged from the gloom. The wolf's lip curled, exposing fangs, but it did not lunge. Instead, it stood m…