Chapter 2: Once Upon a Time…

"Hi."

"H-hey." Beast Boy waved awkwardly in return.

"Oh, thank you, little one!" The alien girl cried, racing over and crushing the younger one in a hug.

The gray girl's eyes bugged out as if she were just dropped into a blazing furnace.

The redhead didn't seem to notice as she pulled back, clasping her hands together. "I am most grateful to you for destroying my pursuers. Your power is most impressive."

"Yeah!" Beast Boy chimed in. "That was awesome!"

The girl blushed, nervously averting their gazes. "T-thank you."

"Hold on!" Robin shouted, breaking up the lovefest. "I need to know what's going on here." Turning to the hooded girl, he loomed over her diminutive frame. "Who are you?"

"It's a little hard to explain." She answered meekly.

"Try me." Robin demanded.

Before she could formulate an answer, the sound of sirens pierced the air.

"Not here." Robin decided. "We need to regroup and compare notes."

"Not me." Cyborg declared. "I'm gettin' out of here. Guys like me know what to do when we hear sirens."

"Cy, wait!" Beast Boy implored. "You gotta stick around."

"And why is that?"

Sidling closer, he whispered, "Dude, how many times in your life are you gonna meet a hot alien girl, a cute wizard chick, and the freaking Boy Wonder?! This could be destiny…or something."

"Right." Victor replied, rolling his eyes. "Or it's all a crazy coincidence that we can walk away from before things get worse."

"Pleeeeaseeee?" Beast Boy pleaded, before morphing into a wide-eyed kitten.

"I'm gonna regret this, aren't I?" Victor groaned.

Changing back, Beast Boy happily answered, "We'll never know unless we try!"

Waving him back towards the others, Victor reluctantly followed, knowing this kid would be the death of him.

"I have a place a few blocks from here." Robin spoke once they rejoined the others. "Follow me."

With Robin taking the lead, the five of them had wandered through side-streets, carefully avoiding being seen by the populace until finally the Boy Wonder stopped at a rather non-descript location adjacent to Wayne Enterprises.

"So your place is an alleyway?" Beast Boy asked skeptically. "I thought you'd have something a little more…cozy."

Robin smirked. "Prepare to be amazed."

Pressing a brick, the wall slid away as a secret entrance opened up.

Beast Boy let out a gasp of excitement as they all followed Robin down a stairwell to find his hidden bunker, tricked out with tech and gadgets galore.

"I'm not amazed, but it's impressive." Cyborg shrugged, snickering at Robin's displeased expression.

Looking as if he were trying to keep a grip on his sanity, Robin sat the others down around the evidence table and laid out sandwiches as if he were having a chat with friends instead of bizarro strangers he'd met less than an hour ago.

The alien girl eyed her sandwich strangely, unfamiliar with the meat. But something in particular caught her eye. Dabbing her finger in it, she held it up for inspection. "What is this yellow concoction?"

Robin looked puzzled for a moment before responding, "Oh! Uh, it's called mustard. It's a condiment meant to enhance flavor."

"I see." She glared at it as if daring it to taste bad. Hesitantly, she flicked out her tongue and erased it from her finger.

Her expression bore the intensity of a world-class chess player contemplating their next move before it morphed into an infectious beam of delight.

"This mustard is glorious! Is there more?!" She demanded eagerly.

"Um, yeah." Robin turned around to grab the bottle before walking over and handing it to her.

She eyed it as if it were her salvation and to his surprise and disgust, she began to guzzle the bottle as if it were a Gatorade.

Judging by Cyborg and Beast Boy's expressions, he wasn't alone in his revulsion. The other girl slowly pushed her plate aside, indicating her appetite seemed to be lost as well.

As the alien continued to slurp down the mustard, Robin cleared his throat.

"Okay. I think before anything else; we should get to introductions. I'll start. My name is Robin. I'm a crimefighter. Who's next?"

"That's it?" Cyborg scoffed. "You're not very trusting, are you?"

"Until I know more about you all? No. I'm not."

The two boys shared a tense staredown before the green one awkwardly raised his hand.

"I, uh, guess I'll start. My name's Beast Boy."

"It sounds more like a description than a name." the hooded girl pointed out.

"Well, uh, my real name is…" He sighed, anticipating the humiliation. "…Garfield."

"Garfield?" Cyborg asked, unsuccessfully trying to hold back a snicker. "Like the cat?"

"Yeah." He mumbled. "Anyway, I can turn into any animal. Well, not any animal. I'm still working on the bigger ones but I'm getting there!"

Taking note of the others unimpressed expressions, he pressed on.

"Um, I'm 13. But I'll be 14 in March!"

"You must be a hit on St. Patty's day." Cyborg smirked.

"Ha ha. The green skin comes from a vaccine my parents gave me to save my life. It's not as bad as it sounds."

"And this vaccine gave you fangs and pointy ears, too?" Robin asked.

Self-consciously fingering his ears, he responded, "Yeah. Unfortunate side-effect. The vaccine is also the reason I can morph. Supposedly, if I make contact with an animal or I'm within range, my body can register its DNA and copy it. Don't ask how my clothes stay with me. I asked once and the answer gave me a migraine."

"And what disease causes you to need a vaccine that makes you turn into animals?" Robin asked quizzically.

"It's called Sakutia. I was bitten by a Green Monkey."

"I didn't know monkeys were green." The gray girl interjected thoughtfully.

"Not on this world, they're not." Cyborg chimed in, mystified.

"This monkey was like, super ultra-rare. Supposedly, its blood held the key to something or other. I don't really know or care. All I know is that the bite hurt."

"Are your parents worried about you?" The alien girl finally spoke up, her mustard bottle finally empty.

The kid's eyes glazed over. "I, er, guess they would be. If they were alive. They died when I was six. I don't like to talk about it."

"My apologies."

"It's cool. Ever since then, I've been raised by the Doom Patrol. We try to keep our existence on the downlow but we're a team of misfits in a world that hates and fears us." He announced dramatically.

"Never heard of them." Robin deadpanned.

Beast Boy huffed. "Of course you haven't. Our leader, Mento, doesn't like to call us superheroes. He says we're just doing what needs to be done. Anyway, the reason I came here is because the Patrol has been babying me way too much. I don't get to do much of anything." He murmured sheepishly. "So I came here to prove myself. It was the nearest city and I was just looking for some action and, well…it looks like I got it." He finished, gesturing around the table.

Nodding, Robin suddenly turned his sharp gaze onto the girl in the cloak. "So what's your story?"

"Um, I'm Raven." She meekly announced.

"Guess that explains the bird motif." Cyborg noted.

"I'm 13 years old too." She continued. "I was raised in the realm of Azarath. It's another plane of existence. There, we learn meditation and tranquility under the guidance of our goddess Azar. She teaches us how to use magic but never to harm."

"What you did to those aliens guys seemed pretty harmful." Garfield pointed out.

Looking guilty, Raven looked away. "I've never done anything like that before. It was…instinct. I saw all of you in trouble and assumed I was doing the right thing. I'm sorry."

"Do not be, Raven. You saved my life." The alien girl comforted.

"You saved all of our lives." Beast Boy reassured. "So don't sweat it."

"Yeah." Cyborg agreed. "Sides, it seemed to me the freaks had it coming." Nodding to the redhead, he finished, "I think she'd agree with me."

Robin's gaze was as piercing as ever but the other girl's resolute nod and the others' encouragement gave Raven the courage to press on.

"I'm an empath. It means I can sense people's emotions. The little magic I know can move and repel objects, nothing too spectacular."

"So what brought you here?" Robin cut in.

Raven paused before answering cautiously, "My mother deemed me old enough to leave home and explore. She used to live on Earth and thought the experience would be good for me."

It wasn't a lie. Just not the whole truth.

Judging by Robin's dissatisfied frown, it seemed he could tell.

Nevertheless, he didn't press and instead turned to Cyborg.

"Your turn, big guy."

Caught off-guard, he blinked his eye and sat up a little straighter.

"I'm…Cyborg. My real name's Victor Stone and I'm legally dead."

"Hey, me too!" Garfield chimed in exuberantly. "Uh, sorry."

"Anyway, last summer I was driving in a pretty bad storm." He paused briefly to flash a grim smile that held no humor. "You can guess what happened next. The accident should've killed me. My father had been working on a secret project. He called it Cyborg. Hence the name. For the past 5 months, I've been a shut-in. The outside world is kind of a no-no for me now. Funny enough, I was out to prove myself tonight too. I figured with the stuff I can do now I could maybe…I dunno, be a hero or something. Sounds stupid when you say it out loud."

"It doesn't sound that stupid." Beast Boy promised. "Besides, your story sounds way cooler than getting bitten by a green monkey."

"Thanks, B." Victor responded with the ghost of a smile. "Anyway, that's how I met this little knucklehead." He continued, jabbing a thumb at Garfield.

Looking to Robin, he said, "Looks like you, me, and BB all had the same idea."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Everyone knows you're Batman's sidekick. I'm guessing you came here with something to prove too."

"Who's Batman?" Raven asked.

"You don't know who Batman is?!" Beast Boy screeched incredulously.

Raven's raised eyebrow gave him pause before he smacked his forehead. "Oh, right. Raised in another dimension."

"It doesn't matter." Robin interrupted. Turning his attention back to Cyborg, he asked, "What was Project: Cyborg for?"

"It's a big cybernetics breakthrough for the disabled. But there's some dude named Damien Darhk who wants it for some evil reason or another. He leads an organization called the H.I.V.E."

Robin put a hand under his chin thoughtfully. "I've heard a little about them. Do you have any leads?"

"Not really. If you hadn't noticed, I'm kind of new to the whole superhero gig."

"Well, I'm not. I can help you if you need it."

"We'll see." Looking behind him, Victor crossed his arms and said, "So I've been dying to know: What's your story?"

The girl in question leveled his gaze, throwing her shoulders back and speaking with an authoritative tone.

"I am Princess Koriand'r of Tamaran, eighth planet in the Vega star system. In your language, my name would translate as Starfire."

"Starfire." Robin sounded out the name. "And what brings you here?"

"My captors." She said matter-of-factly.

"Well, yeah, but I mean…how did you get here?"

"The Gordanians were taking me to their homeworld as a prize. They are working in conjunction with the Citadel, Tamaran's bitter enemies for as long as we can remember. My world was under siege by them. Somehow, they knew information and secrets that they should never have had access to. We were being overrun until Lord Trogaar—the leader that you have slain…" she said, nodding at Raven. "…offered a solution. They demanded I be taken as a bounty. If I was turned over to them, they would spare Tamaran from annihilation."

"Any idea why they wanted you?" Robin asked carefully.

Starfire shook her head. "I have none. I have been enslaved on their ship for weeks." Her eyes burned with hate and something deeper before she took a shaky breath. "When I learned enough to make my escape, I broke free and commandeered a pod. I have no idea what galaxy I am in but I was shot down and the closest planet was this…Earth, as you call it."

"So can everybody on Tamarind fire green blasts and fly?" Garfield questioned.

"Tamaran." She corrected him. "And no. There is only one other Tamaranean who can do so. My sister, Komand'r."

"What's that translate to?"

Starfire paused for a moment before answering, "Blackfire."

"Cheery." Victor muttered. "So what makes you guys so special?"

"A scientific race known as the Psions captured us for experimentation once." She briefly lit up her hands and eyes. "These were the results."

"How did you get away?" Raven asked.

"The same way I escaped the last ones who kidnapped me." She wore a small self-satisfied grin. "By force."

"I know you two are new around here, but we typically don't accept lethal force." Robin pointed out disapprovingly to the girls. "Though, I guess, in cases like these exceptions are made."

"So can I go home now?" Cyborg asked.

"My thoughts exactly." Starfire cut in. "Do any of you have a spacecraft?"

"Sorry, no. Fresh out of spacecraft." Garfield joked.

"Then I request temporary shelter until one can be provided. I must return to Tamaran."

"And then what?" Robin questioned her. "Do you have a plan of attack?"

She sighed, shutting her eyes in frustration. "No."

"If the Gordanians and the Citadel still have Tamaran under their thumb, I doubt even you can turn the tide. Not by yourself. Your return might only make things worse especially when they find out what Raven did to their friends."

"Then what do you suggest?" She shot back.

"Sleep on it. Things'll look better in the morning."

She mulled it over for a moment before coming to a decision. "Very well. Does anyone have any suggestions for lodgings?"

"Not it." Victor and Garfield announced in unison.

Raven simply shrugged.

With that, Starfire turned expectantly to Robin.

He found he couldn't say no to those emerald eyes. "Fine." He huffed. "You can stay here."

"Excellent. As your new roommate, I must inform you: you will need more of the mustard."

"Great." Robin muttered.

"I think our work here is done." Victor announced, getting up to stretch. "Nice meeting ya'll. Hope we never have to do this again."

"Wait." Robin called, striding over to him. "About the H.I.V.E. Odds are, if I'm hanging around, I'll encounter them myself. It wouldn't hurt to work together on this."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying meet me in 3 days in the alley outside. Does 10 AM sound good to you?"

"Sure."

"Good." Robin nodded. "In the meantime, I'll do some research, ask some questions, see what I can find out. Deal?"

Victor looked down at the kid, arms crossed, mulling over the offer.

"Fine. Don't make me regret this."

On that note, Victor walked over to Beast Boy and put a hand on his shoulder. "So, B, you, uh, got a place to stay tonight?"

Garfield looked like a deer in the headlights before he waved a hand nonchalantly. "Pfff. Yeah, duh. Of course. You think I'd just come out here and not have a place to stay? C'mon, quit kidding around, Cy!"

"Oookay then. Take it easy, kid." He said, patting his shoulder and making for the exit.

"You too." Garfield murmured.

He turned back briefly, tempted to ask Robin if he could stay in this warm and cozy hi-tech bungalow before thinking better of it. How lame would that look?

Shrugging, he followed Victor to the exit, pondering just where he was gonna sleep tonight.

Meanwhile, Robin intercepted Raven who had started floating her way out.

"Hold on. I just wanted to say…" He paused, laying a hand on her shoulder as she tried to hide her irritation. "Thank you for your help, Raven. You saved us. Have fun exploring, okay?"

"Thanks." She drawled suspiciously.

Giving him one last befuddled look, she turned and melted into the shadows to Robin's astonishment.

She could give Batman a run for his money.

"Um…Robin?" For the first time since she got here, Starfire sounded unsure of herself. "Where shall I sleep?"

The Boy Wonder blinked out of his reverie and turned. "Oh, uh…" He nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "I hadn't thought that far ahead. This space was supposed to be for one person. Er, how about you take the cot and I'll sleep in the chair?"

"You are most kind, Robin."

"Don't mention it."

"My apologies." She dipped her head mournfully. "I did not mean to offend you."

"It's just an expression, Starfire. Don't sweat it."

"It would take an immense amount of heat to make me sweat."

"No, I just meant…never mind."

Robin sank into his office chair, absentmindedly looking at his bulletin board as Starfire uneasily adjusted herself on the cot.

"Tell me, Robin." She spoke up, breaking the silence. "How did you become a crimefighter, as you call it?"

"It's kind of a long story."

"It would seem I have nothing but the time."

He paused before continuing. "I had a…tragedy in my life. There was someone who could relate to what I was going through and he taught me the skills necessary to ensure it wouldn't happen to anyone else."

"I assume you are talking about this 'Batman'?"

"Yeah."

"Then why are you not with him now?"

"We've been having…problems lately. You know how Beast Boy said he felt he was being babied?"

She hummed in the affirmative.

"That's kind of my position right now. I came here for a fresh start, to show that I can handle things on my own, without his help."

"Well, you appear quite capable to me, Robin."

He smiled despite himself. "Thanks, Starfire."

"You are most welcome."

There was a silence before Robin was the one to break it. "So…tell me about Tamaran. What was it like?"

"It is a truly wondrous place, teeming with creatures of all shapes and sizes. We have found a balance between science and nature. My people are adamant that one must not overtake the other. Meteor showers are quite prevalent. Typically, the skies are quite vibrant. I wish I could show it you. My words hardly do it justice."

"And you said you were a Princess?"

"I still am. My circumstances do not change that."

"Are you in line to become Queen?"

"In extenuating circumstances, I would be considered to be Grand Ruler. But my sister Komand'r is first in line."

"Why didn't they take both of you? You said you're the only two who have powers, right?"

"Yes. However, we kept them a secret. Even our parents do not know about our abilities. I truly do not know why I was selected to be their prisoner, Robin."

"Sounds fishy to me."

Starfire frowned as her eyes began to droop closed. "What does this have to do with fish?"

"Sorry. Another Earth expression."

"Your idioms are quite strange, Robin."

"Yeah. Yeah, they are."

She let out a yawn and he couldn't help but join in.

"Goodnight, Robin." She sighed, letting her eyes shut.

"Goodnight, Starfire."

Soon enough, the girl was sleeping soundly and her deep breaths echoed throughout the bunker.

Turning to face her, he couldn't deny she looked rather cute like this, looking nothing like the fierce combatant she'd been a little over an hour ago.

Rising out of his chair, he walked over to his bulletin board, glaring intensely at the real reason he was here. Unfortunately, his main goal would have to be cast aside until all of this mess was sorted out.

I haven't forgotten. He thought, staring at the picture in the center of his board. After all of this is over, I'm coming for you, Deathstroke.

A/N: So the Titans have finally met! I'm excited to finally have all the preliminary stuff out of the way and get to the main story. Thank you to all who have read, followed, and favorited the story so far! It means a lot. We're just getting started, so stay tuned! Next up: The Teen Titans' first mission.