A/N The curse of summer is never knowing what day it is. So yeah, I forgot the day of the week and accidentally forgot to upload the chapter. My bad. Anyways, I'm going on a vacation tomorrow, and I won't have time to write, and I haven't made much headway with the next chapter, so don't expect a new chapter this weekend.
Special thanks to pokemonking0924, poofuu424 and emilyblue1712 for favoriting/following this story/me.
Beginning of the Beast
Mount Justice
January 16th, 11:51 EST
The whole Team was in the cave when I arrived. They stood by the couch. I noticed a boy sitting on the couch, he looked traumatized and tears were streaming down his face. Beside him sat M'gann who tried to comfort him, but to no avail. I noticed how alike they looked
"Batman, what's going on?" I asked, glancing at the boy.
"This is Garfield Logan, and we believe that his mother, Marie Logan, has been killed by Queen Bee," Batman replied quietly, making sure the boy didn't hear him. Garfield Logan, I had heard his name before from M'gann. Apparently during one of the missions I hadn't been on, the Team had met Garfield and Marie Logan. According to Robin, Marie Logan was an actress on a show M'gann adored, called Hello Megan, and through some shenanigans including M'gann having to donate blood, she had somehow become semi-adopted by the family.
"What's going to happen to him?" Kaldur asked.
"That's what we're trying to figure out," Robin replied.
"Garfield has no living relatives that can take him in, both parents were single kids of single kids. All grandparents are dead, and so is his father," Batman explained. I frowned.
"Orphanage?" I asked. Batman shook his head.
"M'gann stayed in contact with the family, and directly after the blood transfusion Garfield's eyes turned green, which no one considered too abnormal. But a few days ago Marie contacted M'gann about a blood test that had been done on Garfield. The doctor had noticed something abnormal in his blood, but couldn't figure out what it was. So she contacted M'gann, I've just started to run tests on the blood sample I've received, but if my suspicions are true, then we won't be able to send him into foster care," Batman explained. My frown deepened.
"Then what are our options?" Kaldur asked. Black Canary let out a sigh
"Right now our only option seems to be to let him stay in the Cave," Canary explained, though she didn't look too happy with that idea.
"In the Cave!?" I hissed. Kaldur frowned.
"With all due respect, Batman, but the Cave is no place for a child," Kaldur argued. I nodded aggressively.
"It might be the only option we have, besides, the only form of relative that Garfield has is M'gann, she's like a sister to him," Robin countered.
"It is also important to note that Zatanna, M'gann and Superboy permanently reside in the Cave. And they are too considered children," Red Tornado added
"That doesn't change it. Staying here would place him in harm. Zatanna, M'gann and Superboy are trained and they have superpowers, they are not defenceless. But Garfield is. Villains have already proven that they can get into the Cave, they've even taken us hostage. Imagine if Garfield lived here. If a villain managed to get in they would use him as a hostage. I will not place an innocent child in harm's way, and I hardly think the rest of the League would want that too," I said.
"I know where you're coming from, but there is no safer place for him," Batman told us.
"Can't he stay with one of the Leaguers?" Kaldur suggested. Batman shook his head.
"Who is willing and capable? We can't just place a child with a Leaguer, and even if they were willing, there's a question of whether they are capable, or plausible, caretakers," Batman replied.
"There must be another place," I said.
"Not with the way things are looking right now. Trust me when I say that if there was a safer option I would pick it. But right now the safest option, and best option, is to stay here," Batman said. I let out a sigh of defeat.
"I don't like this," I muttered.
"Neither do I, but sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture," Canary told me, placing a hand on my shoulder. I sighed.
"Perhaps letting Garfield be near M'gann will be good for him emotionally," Kaldur suggested. I glanced back at the traumatized boy on the couch, he hadn't moved a millimeter since I came to the Cave. Hopefully he would get better with time.
A/N next chapter coming up!
