Alright. Once again, thank you to everybody who reviewed. But why the heck am I wasting words with formalities when there's a story to tell? Huh? Ever onward my friends! And itit just me or does my font change every time? Bloody thing... Oh well... Enjoy!

----------------------------------------

Chapter 15:- Father And Son

Gar swung first, his massive green crab arm slashing through the air, whistling as the air rushed through it. Robin dodged it with ease, back flipped over Gar and kicked him hard in the back with both feet, before landing perfectly.

"Why are you doing this?" said Robin, without taking his eyes off the prone Gar.

"To stop you," said Raven, unleashing two slashes of black magic in his direction. Robin was caught off-guard, and was pinned against the ground next to Gar.

"Not what I mean," added Robin, slightly annoyed.

"To protect my friend," shot Raven, blocking Starfire's bolts with a black magic shield. Robin grunted loudly and burst out of his prison.

"At the cost of your other friends?" he shot back, spinning his staff and posing offensively in an attempt to unnerve Raven.

Raven frowned with irritation. This guy was far too good at coming up with awkward questions, and he would have looked rather terrifying if it weren't for the ridiculous outfit. Another standoff occurred. Gar leapt to his feet, and shifted into a tiger, growling ferociously. Starfire stopped her onslaught against Raven and floated elegantly behind Robin.

"They wanted to hand him over to S.T.A.R.," Raven said slowly.

"No, they never…"

Raven interrupted. "I've been through a lot in my life, but I won't let them do those things to Gar again. They… They…" She bowed her head and scowled with frustration before looking up directly at Robin. "I won't let them," her eyes glowed a deep shade of red.

"I WON'T LET THEM!" she yelled, in a deep menacing voice that wasn't her own as she flew forward directly at Robin. He attempted to stop her with his staff, but she broke it in two with her magic. Black magic tore at the air around him, he could feel the static electricity frying his arm hairs and the magic itself tearing his clothes and his skin. Robin was flung to the ground, and Starfire - who feebly attempted to rescue her companion - was trapped in a cocoon of black magic. Raven descended upon Robin, revealing two vicious fangs in her mouth as her eyes glowed deep red.

The green tiger tackled Raven, and they rolled wildly across the roof. The black magic holding Starfire dissipated and she fell with a groan to the floor.

"This isn't you Rae!" yelled Gar shifting back to his human form. "It's that emotion!"

Raven grunted and struggled.

"Don't let it control you!"

Raven's body seized up momentarily, and the red glow in her eyes faded back to the normal indigo. Gar clambered upward and helped her up. She breathed heavily, her voice raspy, her body weak. "Thank you Gar."

Gar nodded, turned and looked at Robin… and saw the face behind his torn mask.

"Dick?" he muttered.

Robin clutched at his torn mask, then gave up and nodded.

Gar adjusted his view to look at Starfire. "Kori?"

Starfire nodded weakly.

Gar was silent for a moment before he boomed with laughter. "Good Lord! My three best friends are freakin' superheroes!" He ran up and hugged them both.

Raven stood in shock. "So you weren't…?"

"No, Rae," answered Robin. "We never were."

"I'm sorry…"

"What for, my friend?" added Starfire in her ridiculously optimistic tone.

"You've got some explaining to do," said Gar, pointing at Robin.

"We all do," Robin answered. "But we'll do that on the way."

"And where exactly are we going?" asked Raven.

"We need help. On a much bigger scale."

-------------------------------------------------------

The four of them stood in a dark room. Robin had told them to come here, after getting instruction from a communicator hidden in the 'R' badge on his costume. Gar knew they were definitely somewhere in Gotham City, probably in the west end, but he had no clue exactly where he was.

But there was something more about this room. It had eyes. Deep, observant eyes. He could feel them on his face, and it sent deep shivers down his spine.

"We're not alone," said Raven, her voice cutting through the silence. "There's a mental imprint… to our left."

"I hate telepaths," said a deep, menacing voice from their right.

Everyone spun to try and see the voice and saw nothing but shadows, except Robin (who had since got a new change of clothes and staff), who held his ground, like he knew he wouldn't see anything.

"What are you doing back in Gotham City?" said the voice, this time from the back.

"I need help," said Robin.

"With what?"

"We need a safe place to hide Gar…"

"Gar?" the voice interrupted as it came from the left of them.

"Garfield M. Logan. The green one."

"The Changeling," said Gar.

Robin turned to him. "What?"

"I need a cool name. I can't be called 'the green one' all my life, so I'm calling myself Changeling. Do you like it?"

"No," came the voice.

Gar scowled.

"What Changeling? How about Beast Boy?" suggested Raven.

"That's what Rancid called me…"

"Exactly. Show him you're not afraid of his threats."

Gar nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah… Yeah… Beast Boy. I like it."

"Whatever," said the voice from behind him.

Robin changed the subject. "We have to hide him. Stone from S.T.A.R. Labs is attempting to use his D.N.A. to create new military technology."

Now words came from the shadows. Just silence. Robin took a deep breath.

A yell of effort came from Robin's four o'clock. The boy wonder span perfectly, and held up his staff in defense. A sharp piece of black metal in the shape of a bat cut through the air and embedded itself in his staff. In response, he took one of his own bird-a-rangs and threw it back at his attacker.

Everyone gasped, and took their offensive stances as they saw the bright yellow object stop in mid-air. Robin smiled.

Something stepped out of the shadows. A man dressed in black and gray with a heavy cloak, holding the bird-a-rang in his gloved hand, a large bat emblem was painted on his chest.

"Batman," muttered Gar.

"Father…" added Robin, bowing slightly.

"I hate it when you call me that," said Batman addressing Robin and Robin alone. "We can hide him in a abandoned building outside town. No one will look there, I'll be sure of it. But who are the other two?"

"Oh," exclaimed Robin. "This is Koriand'r, or Starfire, of the planet Tamaran, and Raven…" He turned to Raven. "What is your second name?"

"Don't have one," she replied.

"Then you must be from Azarath," said Batman in a monotone that was more consistent and scary than hers.

"How did you…?"

"Only three cultures do not use family names or references in their names. One is a world where its habitants are green and resemble slimy elephants. You are not one of them. Another are the Amazons, and the third is the Azarathians. Judging by your controversial dress code, you are no Amazon, leaving that you must be from Azarath."

Raven and Gar stood in shock. Robin shook his head and smiled.

"But Azarath is a secret place. How do you know…?"

"Been there."

Raven's jaw dropped.

"Twice."

After the silence that followed, Batman turned to Robin. "Now. Put your friends' eyes back in their sockets and let's go."

Batman stalked out of the room, Robin following. Raven and Starfire shortly after them. Gar lagged behind, just for a moment.

Robin called back mockingly, "Hey 'Beast Boy,' ya coming?"

Gar scowled, then realized he was alone and scurried to catch up with the others.

------------------------------------------

OK… With Gar and the others under Batman's protection, what will Mr. Stone's next move be? Let me tell you something --- It'll be more drastic than ever! It's almost finished... so...
Next:- Heroes Aren't Born, They're Made