Chapter IV

Patience Is A Virtue

There was construction going on in the building across the street from GothamCityMiddle School. The construction workers were busy making sure the work came up to standards required by the City's Safety Code.

At least, that was what the cover was. In fact, Bane and his group of medically enhanced super soldiers were merely setting up shop.

All of the men had been surgically enhanced to have super strength, super speed, and enhanced brain functions. Of course, Bane was still greater than all of these, but they were quite a force to be reckoned with.

This will be glorious.

"Sir?"

His right hand man, Kowalski, came up to his perch.

"The Titan is leaving now."

"Let me see."

Bane focused his binoculars on the school's entrance. As the children and faculty were leaving, he could see the broad shoulders of Victor Stone. He seemed to sway back and forth, as if he were drunk.

"What the hell happened to him?"

"Guys, Cy's back!"

All of the Titans came out to greet Cyborg. They all froze at his appearance.

"Cyborg? What happened?"

His suit was ruffled, his shirt untucked, his tie undone. He looked like he had struggled through an army of Trigon's demons.

He walked past them all, collapsing onto the couch face first. They all stared at him. Finally, Beast Boy asked, "Had a good day?"

Cyborg moaned.

"I'll get some aspirin," Spidey said, reaching for the medicine cabinet. Starfire floated over to Cyborg.

"Did it go the okay?" she asked tentatively. He moaned again.

"I think that was a no," Raven said. Robin shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Cyborg," he said. "I shouldn't have let Bruce walk all over you like that."

"Yeah, sure would hate to see you sell yourself for fifty million dollars," Beast Boy pointed out. "Oh, wait... you did."

"Even more disappointing to see you lose all that money," Spidey said, handing him the bottle and a glass of water. "Ah, well... you can do without it."

Cyborg rolled over. His normal eye was closed. He took the bottle and downed it, then drank the water. And then his eye opened wide.

"I've got an idea," he said, standing up suddenly, scaring the others. "This is a battle I can't win on my own. I gotta do something else..."

He turned to the others, a manic gleam in his eye.

"I need... assistant teachers."

Everyone was silent for a moment. Then they all burst out laughing.

"Assistant teachers?!" Beast Boy yelled. "Us!? Ha!"

"Wow, those kids really did a number on you," Spidey said, grinning broadly.

"No, I'm serious. And my first assistant will be..."

He turned to Raven.

"... you."

Everyone became deathly silent again. Spidey made choking noises.

"Sorry, just choking on my own sarcasm," he said, shaking his head. "Do you have a death wish?"

"Cyborg..." Raven said slowly. "I know you need help, but I don't think this is a good-,"

"Oh yeah it is!" Cyborg said, slightly hysterical. "Get ready, Miss Raven, 'cause your special lessen begins tomorrow!"

And he walked out of the living room, tripping on his way out. They all stood there, stunned. Then Beast Boy picked up the empty aspirin bottle.

"Are you sure these are aspirin?" he asked Spidey. He shrugged.

"I think he does need our help," Robin said. "But maybe he is a little..."

"Nuts?" Raven asked.

Cyborg sank onto his bed, feeling energized. He knew how to teach those kids. Give them other people, superheroes to see, and he could walk them through how even though these people have powers, they were still just people like them.

'Cuz I can't teach math, English, or science... but I can teach human values.

He just needed a little patience.