Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans, any songs, or products mentioned in this story.

Chapter IV: Convergence

Robin got himself to his feet, but sat there dumbfounded. He must have stabbed the heart.

The Teen Titan observed his savior; six feet tall, not wiry but not overly muscular either with muscles that were visibly very strong but not very large. 'Long muscles' they were called. Under the armor was a skin-tight bodysuit. The armor itself, some kind of Plexiglas, only clad his chest, shoulders, and back with a few plates of the same material running along the front of his arms and legs attached to the suit. A sash wrapped around and tied to his waist like a belt, and that held his weapons' sheaths. A pair of plate greaves ran over his thin leather boots. He also wore a helmet with a mask covering only the lower half of his face. His eyes were the darkest pool of green, but his entire uniform was colored violet.

After everyone recovered from the spectacle they had just witnessed, the violet clad warrior withdrew his weapon, stood up, and turned to Beast Boy. A strange look entered his eyes at that point. "Llie crone?" he asked.

"Uhhhh…" The Changeling slowly made his way to Robin, though the young men never broke each other's gaze, none of the Titans looked away from the new arrival. "Essamin naa Garrick, Garrick Nim'Ohtar. Vithel yele Daesalkar." He gave them a low bow, which confused and embarrassed them even more. "Amin nyeera ten'lle. Er enquie arinyan nae-"

"Whoa whoa whoa. Listen dude we don't understand a word you sayin'." Cyborg interjected, his sonic cannon opened but down at his side just in case.

"Perhaps I can help." Starfire answered. She began to walk up to him but stopped at the sound of Robin's voice.

"Starfire, be careful! This is the same guy that tried to kill you!"

"But, through the lip contact I can-"

"You really wanna go kissing him? We don't know anything about him. He could be some kind of demented pervert for all we know!" Terra added.

"Excuse me, but I speak Common." The masked warrior said.

"Oh, well… ahem… sorry."

"So dude, what did you just say?" Beast Boy asked.

"He asked us if we were hurt." Raven stepped up, eyeing the stranger.

"Wha-?"

"My name is Garrick. Also called Shadowdancer." Garrick answered as he walked to the creature and withdrawing his weapons. "I'm sorry. One week ago I put a member of your team in harms way by my own hand, I was scared and thought her an enemy. But I decided in my mind that I couldn't kill as my first act in any new place lest I be labeled an enemy, and I wish for no enemies." He spoke very formally and with great diction in his baritone voice. "Please, I truly apologize from the bottom of my heart." He turned and walked towards the orange-skinned girl. The Titans tensed and acted as if they were prepared to spring upon their own savior if he took but another step toward their friend. When he was just a two feet away he locked eyes with the girl for nearly a full minute before going down to one knee, closing his eyes, bowing his head, and holding out his sword to her.

The others were baffled by this action. But Starfire, raised in a world of monarchs, understood his actions without a second thought. He was displaying to her that he was prepared to accept any consequence. "Rise." She said, gently pushing the weapon back to its owner. "I thought long about the events of the past. You have done no harm to me or my friends. Though I was placed in a most dangerous position, you purposely did not injure me. When my friend Terra was in danger, you saved her even though you were under attack by her and others; your only goal was to escape to safety. And even now, you have saved us all from danger once again. And I assume that the lack of trouble lately was your work as well."

The fighter lowered his his head some more but said nothing.

"I have already come to the conclusion that you did not mean me any harm. Not truly. "

"Thank you."

"Mind if I say something here?" Raven interjected, walking next to Starfire. "It's been a long day and I'm sure Garrick would like some time alone..." she shot him an almost piercing look that could have been perceived as a threat, "… right?" He saw it, recognizing it for what it was, but did nothing to react.

"If you find it fitting, I was perhaps wondering if I may stay with you, if only for a short time."

"Excuse me!" Raven shouted from under her hood. "You don't seriously think you can put a blade to my friends throat, say sorry, and expect us to let you live with us do you!"

"Raven come here." Robin ordered, he had stood up and had the others already assembled around him. "Team meeting."

The pale girl reluctantly turned and marched to her friends, sneering the whole way while the other boy didn't even flinch or make a move to redraw his weapons. "What is it?" She barked out.

"We need to think about this before we make any rash decisions."

"No we don't! We've already seen what he's capable of and we can't risk him hurting anyone else! We know that he's perfectly capable of killing us and escaping."

"She's got a point Robin. He got away from FOUR of us, and was really close to bringing our team down to five. He could have if he wanted to." Cyborg pointed out.

"Exactly Robin, if he wanted to." Starfire intervened. "But he did not want to. Raven is right in the point that we know what he is capable of. He is a talented fighter and could even harm us now if he wished it done." Everyone looked back to Garrick who stood tall and still with his arms crossed and eyes closed, leaning against the skyscraper.

"While Starfire's right on that last part I still agree with Raven's caution." Terra said.

"More like paranoia."

"Beast Boy!"

"I'm sorry Terra, but I agree with Starfire. We do know what he can do and he's good at what he does. Besides, you remember when you sided with Slade, then disappeared, and came back? Did we turn you down just because of what happened? No, we forgave you and now look. You're an irreplaceable part of this team who has saved more lives now then you hurt then. How can this be different?"

"Because we don't know anything about him." Raven growled.

"And we didn't then either, but look how it turned out."

"I think Beast Boy's on the right track. I'm not saying I agree with him Raven," Robin answered her agitated look. "But we do need to think in the long-term. Cyborg?"

"He could be a real threat. Sorry B, but I'm leanin' towards no."

"Beast Boy?"

"Absolutely."

"Terra?"

"We need to be careful. I'm not sure, but maybe he should find someplace else."

"Raven?"

"Hell no!"

"Starfire?"

"I said I have forgiven him and I was sincere. I truly believe him to be more an asset then a burden."

Robin took a deep breath as he made his decision, and blew it out quickly. "Garrick!" he called out before meeting him before the dead creature.

"I guess you have come to a conclusion?"

"Yes. We first had to ask ourselves the question 'can we trust you?'"

"That is a good place to start. But I want to stop you before you tell me what you came up with. If you should turn down my request, I will not hold any grudge. But, in so doing, understand that I will not stop my work to continue putting an end to the evils that occur here."

Robin showed no emotion but continued. "Some of us said yes, others said no. And, ultimately, it comes down to my vote. Should I say no, our group majority would turn you down. Not only that, but the ones who said no feel that you are too much of a threat to trust anyways and we would have to try and run you out… or worse."

"I see. I cannot blame them for following what they feel is right in their hearts."

"But if I say yes, then there will be dissention among us. So next, we had to ask 'what would happen if we did let you stay?'."

"Let me guess, some thought that I would help you and others thought that that I would kill you in your sleep."

Robin nodded. "And that's when I came to my decision. When we became a team for the first time, we agreed that we would put the lives and safety of the people in this city first and above everything else, including ourselves. We agreed that we would do everything and anything necessary to ensure that happens." Robin turned his glance to Raven, who knew exactly where he was going with this and now felt guilty and irritated that he was making her feel that way. But regardless of what she felt then, she broke their gaze and looked away. "And if it means allowing you to live with us, we will put our lives in that danger to keep our promise. Garrick, let's go home."

"Thank you." Garrick nodded to the Titan leader and walked towards the tower with four of the others.

They began their walk towards Titans Tower, but two Titans purposefully lagged behind. Raven turned to Robin "You can't be serious."

"She said she forgave him. And he looked really sincere." Robin stared at the ground for a second in thought then looked back at her. "He saved our lives Raven. It's a life for a life."

"I just have a bad feeling is all." She looked towards their home, like an alabaster monument. "There are some things about him that are just… out of place."

"We'll ask him. He's not staying with us for free. I said he could stay, not that he's part of the team." He looked at the young sorceress's confused look and smiled. "Let's go."

OoOoO

The two Titans entered shortly after the others, who had already found themselves comfortable spots around the Common Room. Terra and Garrick sitting side-by-side on the couch with Cyborg standing behind the Shadowdancer, and Beast Boy rummaging through the sarcophagus pulling out different weapons and asking Garrick what they were called.

"What's this?"

"A rapier."

"What's this?"

"A scimitar."

"And what's this called?" A pale hand whizzed across the back of Beast Boy's green head.

Raven and Robin found themselves seats at the breakfast table. Starfire, who had been sitting beside Garrick as well, flew next to Robin and sat down, placing him between two of the three female Titans.

"I have introduced myself but am still unfamiliar with all of you. Who are you?"

"I'm Beast Boy." The changeling said leaning over the metal casket before falling in.

"My name's Terra."

"Mine's Cyborg."

"I'm Robin."

"And I am Starfire."

Raven lifted a cup of herbal tea that one of the other Titans must have already made for her and took a sip without looking at the boy. "Name's Raven."

"Like I said before, I am Garrick Nim'Ohtar. However, my last name is not my own. My foster parents gave it to me when I was young. And is there a name for this company of yours?"

"Huh?" Beast Boy scratched his head.

"He means our team. We're the Teen Titans." Terra corrected.

"So Garrick what's with the mask? Do you have some kind of wicked scar you got fighting monsters or something?"

"Cyborg!"

"What?"

"It is alright. No I do not have any scars, on my face. This mask is for the protection of me, and those who wish to know me." Again, his comment left the Titans confused. "You see, while my helm and my mask protect my face physically, it also protects my friends from knowing my true identity. That way if my enemies were to find them, my friends could not tell them who I was, even if they wanted to, because they would not recognize me without my equipment."

"Sounds a little pessimistic to me." Raven put in, leaning back and crossing her slender arms over her chest.

"Maybe it is. But as long as it protects those I care about, it does not matter to me." He continued. "Since I started my adventuring days, only one person has ever seen me without the mask."

"Who?" Terra asked.

"My teacher, Drizzt Do'Urden."

Raven's eyes went wide. Suddenly she slammed her hand on the table. "That's it!"

"Raven?" Robin asked

"That explains it. Why the hieroglyphics couldn't be cracked, where he comes from and why he was speaking that language. All the time we were on our way back home I was trying to figure it out." She took a moment to collect herself as everyone stared at her waiting for an answer. I can't believe I'm gonna say this. Usually Beast Boy is the one to come up with this theory. She drew in a deep breath and answered their glares. "Because he's from another dimension."

OoOoO

"Yes, Yes, Yes! I knew it! I knew one day it would happen and it finally did! Haha! Yeah!"

"Alright BB that's great. First in three years! Ha!" Cyborg remarked rather sarcastically.

"She speaks the truth." Garrick says. Everyone turned to him. "I'm from a land called Abeir-Toril. A land not so different from your own, though hardly as advanced."

"What I still don't know is how it was your people were able to transport you here. Wouldn't planar travel be relatively easier? It's certainly more common." Raven commented.

"Hold up! What the hell are you two talking about?" Terra exclaimed, frustrated.

"It's like this…" Garrick began. He reached for two of the coasters on the table and set them side-by-side. "This is your dimension." He says pointing to one coaster. "And this is mine" He continues, pointing to the other. "As they sit side by side they exist as basically the same. Your land and mine sharing mountains, oceans, and deserts; only difference being the formations. But they are separated by this gap here, a vacuum between universes. This non-space separates the dimensions."

"But as the dimensions sit together, they are also bound." Raven explained further. She levitated the coasters next to each other and began to rotate them at a speed to the point at which they began to blur, appearing like multiple discs. "This represents the planes… other worlds of existence that exist within the dimension... nearly infinite others. Wizards, and others who study the arcane, are able to find holes in the boundaries that separate them and, thus, travel to other planes."

"Very good. You have much knowledge of the Arcane arts; you must be a magician of some sort as well." Raven didn't give him the satisfaction of letting him know her discomfort of being read so easily. "But piercing the non-space is nearly impossible. Think the afterlife only more distant; we believe it exists and that it's a place of its own but we cannot quite reach it, short of dieing. So, traveling between the dimensions is hardly ever even thought of. The planes exist as one, as you can see, but the dimensions are simply different versions of the planes. My home is a version of the Prime Material Plane, or physical Earth that you live in here. The only way I can think of travel between the two would be to have some kind of pact with Ao the Overgod, or to have the blood of a creature that can do such things." Luckily, he didn't see Raven's shock.

"Woah, the universe just got a little bigger." Beast Boy announced.

"Where I come from, we call it the Multiverse."

"And this explains your language how?" Robin asked.

"I spoke the language of the elves. A race of-"

"We know what an elf is." Beast Boy put in.

"I assumed you knew. When I first saw you I thought you were one."

"Aww come on, girls love the pointy ears!"

Garrick continued his lecture on planar travel. He had some questions of his own. "How did you recognize it Raven?"

The young Titan didn't miss the question, but rather misinterpreted it. She heard it as an accusation, and, responding, replied with an unsubtle glare. "It is necessary in order to cast certain spells here." That of course was only half the truth.

"And how does this 'Drizzt' explain Garrick being from another dimension?" Starfire questioned.

"Because," Raven answered, "the people from my dimension of Azerath gain knowledge from other dimensions through means even I don't understand. Drizzt is well known and has filled volumes of books with his exploits."

Garrick's eyes settled on her and narrowed. She returned his gaze with the same intensity. His suspicions of her started to become clearer. He knows she thought to herself or at least suspects.

"And where is this Azerath?" It was more spiteful than intended.

Raven paused before answering. "It's where I was born." Her eyes and her voice, matching his volume, she was not one to back down.

"And you can travel between the dimensions? But you seem about human."

If only this guy knew… Raven could hear Beast Boy think. He's trying to get me to admit it. She thought to herself. "I am."

"You're more" he assumed "or less than completely human. Raven…" She looked up at him "you're a tiefling." There was no kindness in his dark green eyes. Not anymore.

Garrick fought the urge to throw a dagger into this monster's throat. He barely got out of trouble from his last violent encounter with the orange-skinned girl named Starfire. He could never trust a tiefling. Sure he could trust his black elf teacher, despite common claims about his heritage. But not a half-demon. Not since that day…

The purple-clad warrior back flipped off the couch, behind Cyborg, and began walking towards the door. He paused once, just to glance back at the dark girl. Then he saw her eyes. Those violet orbs reminding him of his master, of all the things they, both Drizzt and himself, had stood for. He saw the pain and torment in them, and seeing another in pain pained him. He knew what he did was wrong but could not apologize. Not after what they did to him. He turned and, bearing the pain, left through the door to the elevator.

"Tee-fling?"

Raven simply sat there, her mouth agape. Did he just say what I think he said? How could he even think that's okay? Normally, she would be infuriated. But that name, that word, she had not heard it for so long, and it did not bring back pleasant memories. She drew in a deep breath and, holding back minimal tears, calmly stood up and began to walk out of the room opposite the door Garrick left.

"Raven! I-"

"Please, Beast Boy. Just leave me alone for a while."

"…" He wanted to apologize for what he said even if he didn't understand it. But then he saw the water rimming the lips of her lids, her eyes not even looking at him, just staring at the floor, and he immediately calmed down.

"Please…" she begged.

"…Raven…"

She pulled up her cowl and descended into a portal of dark energy. She was going to the roof; she always did, especially at times like this.

OoOoO

Four hours had passed since the incident. Unable to find Garrick and confront him about what had happened the Titans had long ago gone to bed. Robin walked to the roof slowly. He was still worried about their team's empath. Not fully understanding what had just happened between Garrick and Raven, he was intent to find out.

OoOoO

Raven sat on the roof staring at the moon. Her hood pulled down, short purple hair waving in the wind, and tears streaming down her pale cheeks. She hugged her knees even closer to her breast. She pleaded to herself not to cry, that it was too dangerous especially with her powers. Even though, after the death of her father Trigon, she had gained greater control over her powers, she still that knew too much emotion would yield dangerous consequences. But she was still human and the slow silver streams came regardless if she wanted them to or not.

She sensed someone coming. Quickly she wiped at her face, stood up and pulled down her hood. Robin entered through the door.

"Everyone else is asleep." Raven commented.

"And you should be too." Robin retorted. "Listen, Raven, I know you probably don't want to talk about it but-"

"You're right I don't." She shot back. "But…I don't keep secrets from my friends anymore." Then she began. "When I was a little girl, I was ridiculed, humiliated, and turned away for being what I am: a half-demon. Garrick has been with us for less than a day and he already has figured that out. From his world tieflings, another name for half-demon humans, are considered to be evil; as evil as their demonic parent. And he follows that prejudice apparently. I don't know what happened to him to make him hate me so much and frankly I don't care, but whether I care or not doesn't make it right for him to condemn me. Especially if his teacher was a drow."

"Drow?"

"From his world they are a race of evil subterranean elves with black skin. They steal, murder, and destroy, even their own family, without a second thought, all in the name of their goddess's lust for chaos."

"So his teacher was evil? That certainly doesn't explain much. If he taught Garrick then apparently his morals didn't rub off."

"No, Drizzt was not like his people. But he too faced prejudice when he first deserted his people to live a good life on the surface." She looked over the edge of the roof to the half-rebuilt control panel. "Which is what confuses me. If Garrick was able to get over his prejudice and accept Drizzt, being a drow, then why such an attack towards me?"

"I'll have a talk with him. I'll find out why he has a problem with you, and I'll get him to apologize."

"Thanks, but I don't need his approval."

"Well, racism isn't something that we stand for. He'll need to learn how to deal with it or he can leave."

They stared at the moon together for a while then finally left to go back inside and back to sleep. "So are you finally going to get to sleep by yourself tonight, or is a certain alien wishing to do 'the cuddling'?" Raven grinned.

Robin's eyes went wide and he froze in place as he watched Raven leave through the door without even looking back at him.

OoOoO

The next morning came earlier than usual. Robin got up and, slowly easing Starfire's arm off his chest, went into the bathroom and got himself ready for the day.

He looked out the window of the living room and, wiping off his plate of breakfast into the sink, decided to give himself an early workout to calm his mind over the recent events and clear some things out.

He went outside and found Garrick already going through several routines against an imaginary opponent. Wielding a long curved knife and a longsword, Robin's new roommate continued his practice without interruption. His practiced rhetoric consisting of many elegant twirls as well as hard pivots and lunges. From what Robin observed, this warrior was as much an opportunist as he was a fighter. He would go through one routine and finish with a particular move, then start over and, going through the same routine, finish with something completely different. He was training both his muscles and his brain to memorize how to react to different scenarios. That's clever. With that kind of training over enough time, one could really learn react in split seconds. "Hey!"

Garrick turned and looked at his new landlord. "Good morning! I pray you found rest a welcomed companion?"

"Did you stay up all night?"

"I don't know how long I've been asleep for before the last week. And I have too much on my mind to simply lay down and will it away. I have always kept strange hours and often have little need of sleep."

"I've seen first-hand how good you are with those weapons." Robin reached behind his back. "Care to give it another go? You want a real opponent this time?" A bostaff extended and the Titan leader gave it a few spins the air before bringing it down. Robin wasn't just going to fight Garrick, he was going to find out why he hated Raven so much.

"As you wish."

They ran at each other, Robin, wielding his staff with two hands off to one side, and Garrick with his two blades off to each side. Robin launched a swing that would have landed on the side of his opponent's face. But Garrick ducked under it and continued running, dragging the flat of his larger blade across Robin's exposed ribs. They both stopped at the same time, each other's back facing the other. Garrick did not even flinch, but Robin, his eyes wide, turned to face his enemy and stared at him dumbfounded.

"How did you-?"

"The weapon is simply a tool to be used at you're will. It has a spirit of it's own but in the end you decide where it will go. It is a part of you, as cliché as that may sound."

Robin smiled. "Let's try this again."

Garrick nodded and they charged in again. Garrick was the first to strike this time, bringing his longsword down in a vertical chop. Robin horizontally parried with his staff. Garrick, keeping his sword locked, swung his long knife up to slap at Robin's stomach. Instead, he heard the ring of steel on steel. The Titans' leader twisted his weapon and brought the end to meet Garrick's.

"You fight good." Garrick complimented.

"I was trained by the best."

"As was I."

Robin slipped his weapon up, expecting to get Garrick in the groin. But to his shock, Garrick withdrew his swords and back flipped just barely out of range right as the staff came up, nearly clipping Robin's chin in the process. Luck and hyper-sensitive reflexes moved him far enough back before his brain even registered the movement. As his adversary stuck his somersault he sprang up and dropped his long knife, picking a dagger from his boot,and fired it toward the leader. Though aimed nowhere near Robin's body, just above his shoulder, if the attack went unanswered then it would prove another killing blow. Quickly, the young fighter fired a birdarang and it intercepted the projectile perfectly, knocking them both off course.

Garrick landed lightly on the ground, grabbed the knife from its stuck position in the ground and the two charged at each other again, Robin, with his bo staff leading the way got caught in between Garrick's crossing blades. They pushed off of each other and Garrick came in again.

Slashing his longsword diagonally up and right, Garrick followed shortly with his knife along the same path. Suddenly, the knife made a sharp turn, cutting horizontally at neck level. Everything slowed. Robin dropped into a narrow crouching squat, ducking the attack.

From this position, he sprang up, somersaulting over Garrick. When he made no move to attack, Garrick stood and stared at him with his stoic almond-shaped eyes.

"I get a disturbing feeling that you wished to exchange more than blows. Have you something to say to me?"

"I could ask you the same thing, but then where would we be?" He stood there unflinching. Staring at this martial equal.

Garrick came in piercing with his knife. Robin dodged the first few jabs and then brought the staff up horizontally from under the last. Garrick's sword crashed on the other side of the weapon. Robin intended to bring his pole down to disengage from the pressure, but Garrick stopped that with a raised knee; pinning the shaft between a limb driving up and two blades coming down, both which started to slide along the staff and scissor for his neck. Robin began to disengage but that driving knee stopped its push and extended out. Robin let go with on hand and turned his body to dodge the kick. But doing so allowed Garrick to reverse his knife and rest it on Robin's collarbone, ending another bout in victory for the newcomer. The two took their steps back and stared at each other much harder than before.

"You're avoiding the question." Robin said after looking at Garrick and his narrowed and focused eyes.

"Then be more specific!" Garrick ran towards him and quickly spun, whipping the flat of his sword against the metal rod.

Garrick brought his knife up, intending to give the young leader a smack in the side of the head.

But Robin managed to duck under the attack; he pushed down on one end of his weapon, expecting to bear down on Garrick's shoulder, only to be denied by a parry with the long knife.

Garrick slapped his opponent in the neck with his now free weapon. Robin flinched, of course and rubbed at the stinging skin with his green-gloved hand while backing up and trying to read his opponent's face expression. Unfortunately, there was none anymore. He had apparently read through Robin's tactics and did not give the leader what it is he was looking for.

They started again. Robin, using his staff like a pole-vault, launched himself at his enemy, firing a strong kick while in mid-air. Garrick crossed his blades and blocked it. As Robin landed he swung his staff vertically down, but it got caught in Garrick's crossed weapons.

With the weapon caught, Garrick brought his swords down to his side on the ground, taking with it Robin's staff, then whipped his long curved knife out and slapped Robin across the cheek again.

"Damn!"

They backed off each other and started another round. Robin ran in screaming and swung at Garrick's legs. Garrick tried to rebound off a rock but the pole just caught in the crook of his ankle and managed to hit him. Robin tripped him, and while on the ground, attempted to deliver a Coup de Grace of his own by jabbing him in the chest with the butt of his staff. But he was denied by an X-cross of blades. Catching the staff right in the middle, Garrick pulled Robin, by the staff, down to the ground.

Garrick locked his weapons with Robin's at the hilts and, driving them deep into the earth, pinned the bo staff against the ground. Now pushing against the ground, Garrick succeeded at his "back flip-chin-kick" and sent Robin flying backwards. But thinking quickly Robin used the momentum, somersaulted, and landed on his feet.

Garrick dashed at him much quicker than before; he leaped, twirled and landed a kick right to the Titan's face. As he landed, he launched another swinging kick, this time for his opponent's legs, tripping him up. Now, spinning on his back, he brought down his foot for a third time, aimed at Robin's stomach, hoping to end the match. But Robin saw the attack and quickly rolled out of the way, then got up back on his feet, as did Garrick. They eyed each other before Robin spoke up again.

"Raven told me that Drizzt was drow, but you didn't care about his heritage. But Raven being half-demon drives you crazy? What reasons could take you to such extremes?"

"Long ago my family was murdered, both of my parents." The two fighters began circling each other. "I witnessed them die with my own eyes. Not just my family, but my entire village was destroyed by monsters. I vowed that day, that I would never allow such atrocities to happen if there was anything I could do about it."

"The Teen Titans don't tolerate any form of discrimination. We can't let you stay with us if you don't learn to accept her."

"I may not like her. But I will tolerate her and I do accept her."

Both were unarmed now. Garrick ran and struck first with a spinning back kick, which Robin easily blocked. Next, he tried to trip him up again, but the acrobat simply jumped over the attack. When he landed, Garrick struck at him with an open-palmed hit. When the two connected with Robin's block, he grabbed Garrick by the forearm and pulled it down while he drove his knee up into Garrick's chest. Garrick stumbled back, though only from the rare loss of balance, and placed his hand over his armor where the blow had struck.

Both circled each other for what seemed like forever. Glaring. Panting.

Robin charged in. Garrick, his arms defending his chest in a crossed X pattern and open palms, waited for him. The Teen Titan slapped away his defenses and struck up with his palm directly in his chin. Dazed, Garrick tried to put up his defense again, only to feel two, three, four lightning-fast jabs strike him directly in the ribs. He tried to shrug it off but before he knew it, Robin had grabbed his arms and pulled the violet duelist into him and forced a knee into his stomach.

Garrick seized his opportunity while he could and yanked up on Robin's other leg, tripping him up. However, Robin was agile; he bent over backwards, caught himself on his hands, and landed back on the ground. Meanwhile, Garrick worked away from him.

Arrogant, Robin smirked at his opponent before he ushered for Garrick to attack. And, with a face unemotional under his mask, he obliged. He threw a punch. Robin caught it with one hand and slapped it away then turned his hand quickly and back-fisted Garrick across the helmet, following with a fast punch to his forehead with his free hand. Again he tried to get his defenses up while he was dazed only to feel an elbow at the side of his head. Even with the helmet it hurt just as much as the first strike did.

Robin continued his assault. As he pulled his elbow-striking arm back, he grabbed Garrick by the back of the neck and pulled him down into his knee again. He waited for the dexterous new warrior to get back up off the ground before pummeling him again. Garrick managed to block a few kicks aimed at his head, and when he got punched in the head and knocked to the ground, he somehow found the inertia and momentum to land on his hand and then on his feet.

Garrick blocked the first jab but missed the second, which connected with his ribs, unwinding him long enough for Robin to bring a hard hook with his other hand. Robin brought it back in hopes of another elbow attack, but Garrick managed to barely duck under it. So Robin brought a steel-plated foot directly into his chest plate. Garrick welcomed the force as long as it got him away from Robin. Once out of melee range, the two charged back in. Simultaneously they threw a punch and caught each other's attack. Locked, they stared into each other's eyes. Robin was not only shocked that the boy was still fighting, let alone standing, but also because he saw a strange fire go from a simmer to a blaze in his now dark eyes. And he could feel an unknown strength in the grip on his fist. They pushed off of each other and charged in once more.

Now the intensity picked up. Blows came in harder, faster. They began countering each other flawlessly and countering each other's counters. Robin would fire a punch to have his head dodge to the side, slap it away, then slap away a punch directed at his head with his free hand. This continued for several minutes. But Robin was better trained in bare-hand combat than his adversary. He decided to end it with a move Garrick had showed him. As a punch came directly towards Robin's face, he bent over backwards and fell onto his back. Redirecting his momentum he swung his legs underneath Garrick, tripping him. Spinning on his back he brought his other foot down directly onto his stomach. That final blow ended it. Forcing the fight out of Garrick once and for all. At least, that's what Robin convinced himself was the case.

The warriors helped each other up and continued their conversation.

"Then why the prejudice?"

"Prejudice?"

"I saw the way you were looking at Raven. If you were so bent on the good of mankind, why did you call her a name and then run off like some angst-ridden child?"

"I said she was a tiefling, which is true. She is a child born unto human and demon." His labored breathing was now becoming steadier.

"And what's so wrong with that?"

"A group of tieflings slaughtered my family!"

Robin didn't even consider this. When he was young, he saw who had killed his family and had vowed vengeance. But Garrick didn't. He vowed justice. Now he understood. Seeing Raven just reminded him of that day. If Robin were in his position, he would probably have tried to kill Raven. Yet, Garrick showed great restraint. He looked down to the ground. "I think that's enough for today. We'll call it a draw. You beat me at weapons and I beat you bare handed."

"I agree. It was difficult to watch new friends fight."

"Starfire!"

Indeed it was Starfire, as well as all the other Titans. Raven looked a long while at Garrick then turned and left.

"How long have you guys been there?" The Titan leader finally asked.

"Almost the whole time." Cyborg answered.

"And you didn't say anything?"

"We couldn't stop watching your guys fight." Terra replied.

"I think it's time we got ready. Never know what might happen today. Just fitness training for today Titans: weights and cardio. And Raven..." The girl turned back to her leader with a scowl after hearing his call. "Me and Garrick could use some healing when we get back." He disarmed the girl with a smile but it seemed to do little else.

"Actually…" Garrick said, "I understood what you were doing. If you wish to know more about me then you need only to ask."

"Alright, but I want everyone to hear your story. Raven included. Do you understand?"

"Yes. I understand."

A/N: Good? Bad? Tell me what you think of the fighting. Was I clear? Pleaze Review.