Chapter II

Parent-Teacher Meeting

Cyborg fiddled with his tie as he sat down on a couch in Bruce Wayne's deluxe skyscraper apartment. Robin had come too, and for that, Cyborg was grateful.

Alfred, Wayne's butler, walked into the room.

"Ah, Master Grayson," he said, his voice cordial. "Wonderful to see you, sir."

"Good to see you too, Alfred," Robin said, a smile appearing on his face. "Is Bruce in?"

"Yes sir, he's coming right now."

Cyborg sensed movement with his scanners outside the window. The next moment, Bruce Wayne had entered.

He was tall, well-built, and handsome, and Cyborg didn't understand why anyone couldn't figure out he was Batman. But then, when you sound like you've got throat cancer when you're a superhero, it must be easy... not.

"Bats," Cyborg said, nodding, trying to be cool, when all he felt like doing was running away as far as he could. Robin also nodded.

"Hello, Mister Stone," Wayne said, coming over to him and shaking his hand. Cyborg felt the grasp even through his molybdenum fingers. "I'm glad you could be here. And you, Dick."

"So, you want me to be your son's babysitter," Cyborg said, getting down to it.

"Not babysitter," Wayne said, sitting down on a chair opposite Cyborg. "I want you to be the teacher for his kindergarten class. He's not the only one in danger."

"How do you know these kids are in danger?" Robin asked. Wayne looked at him.

"Need-to-know, Dick. And you don't."

"And the guy who's after them is Bane?" Cyborg asked. "Never met the guy."

"He's scum," Wayne said, "but he knows what he's doing, for the most part. Do not underestimate him."

"And this will take me away from my duties as a Titan?" Cyborg asked, wishing to God he could just walk away.

"You will be recompensed," Wayne said. "As I understand it, that cyborg body of yours isn't immortal. You need to keep it in perfect condition, and that costs money. I will pay you upwards of five million dollars to teach and protect the kids. I don't ask that you go after Bane, only that you make sure those kids are safe."

Cyborg stopped listening after the number 5,000,000 came into the equation. It was true, his body did need constant up-keep, and it wasn't cheap. He could do with five million.

But Robin was unimpressed.

"Fifty million," he stated flatly. "To compensate for his loss as a Titan during this time."

Cyborg almost wanted to strangle Robin, but Wayne nodded.

"That is true," he said. "And God knows you can't do without Cyborg, even with your new addition."

Cyborg almost fainted. Fifty million dollars?!

"Okay, I'll do it," he said, hoping he didn't sound too eager. "When do I start?"

The criminal known as Bane looked through his binoculars at Bruce Wayne, Victor Stone, and Dick Grayson sitting in Wayne's living room. He zoomed in on Cyborg.

So that's who they are sending to protect Gotham's children? He is barely a man himself. Probably more brawn than brain, but then again, I can't complain of that too much...

His chest still pained him occasionally from being hit by the Bat-Pod. No one but he had known how he had survived that. He wanted it kept that way.

This could be fortuitous. With any luck, I'll have those children and have "Cyborg" crying uncle...

He pulled out his communicator, calling the lieutenants of his gang.

"I want a tail on Cyborg at all times. And see what you can discover of the Teen Titan's new addition..."

For this intrigued him. He wanted to know more about any threat that might follow Cyborg, and while he knew Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy, and Raven fairly well from reports, this "Spider-Man" was a new force.