Long nights are inevitable for heroes. They're on call 24/7 and never know what they'll be dealing with. It gets stressful.


The green albatross took to the sky, leaving a white dressing gown to flump down behind it.

He need-not have checked for the location, as plumes of smoke bellowed into the night, illuminated by the orange glow of the fire. Sirens could be heard throughout the city as emergency services raced to the scene. The police had taped off a large area around the burning building and evacuated surrounding residencies. Waves of heat came up, pushing Gar away from the scene. He had to dive to pierce through the up-draft.

You're not too late.

Beast Boy was easy to spot as he flew down into a group of service people and turned into a chimp. It was the easiest way to put on his boxers without causing any offence.

"Beast Boy!" One of the officers said. "The K9 unite hasn't arrived yet."

"Oh, that's, uh, that's fine. What should I be doing?"

"Just have to wait, I'm afraid. I know it's hard; you want to dive in there! But if you go in there now you'll just get in the way. Stay back and help with crowd control."

Just gotta do your job.

People are harder to work with when you have to be in charge of them; you go from being the fun uncle to the responsible parent. To make it worse, some people have a natural instinct to resist authority figures, and they are unbearable to be around.

As soon as he was dressed Gar headed for the border, careful to avoid the paramedics.

"Just do you're job! You'll be in with the K9 unit soon enough. Can't smell out explosives when the building's still on fire!" He told himself, his body moving of it's own accord with each sentence. "Superman has this all under control!"

It was true. The man of steel was using his ice breath to cool the flames, and there was talk of a successful evacuation of the building with no life threatening injuries sustained.

"It's lucky it happened at three in the morning. If it was in the day it could be worse by a lot!" He heard someone say.

"Are we sure everyone is accounted for?"

"I have the records of who was in the building!"

Members of Star's security team were talking to the police. Gar never meant to over hear people's conversations, but it was the easiest thing to focus his hearing on. The loud sirens, water hoses, screaming, it was overwhelming, especially combined with the heat. His train of thought plunged into dark memories that he forcefully shook off. He wanted to let go, to be a tiger and roar at the heavens for the unfairness of it all.

You're no use to anyone if you freak out.

"Well that's true..."

If you need to take a breather, just tell me, K? I'm here to make your life easier.

"No, I'm alright. Even if I can only help in the smallest way, I'm still going to do it."

Gar had made up his mind. The fire had been reduced, and as he looked at the group of people who had been evacuated from the building unharmed he felt relived.

"What's wrong, Robert?" One of them asked. Gar took it as a good cue to walk closer to them, in case they needed something.

The man shook as he looked up at the damaged building. "Stone's still in there..."


Setting: An interview stage with two, red tub chairs facing each other on a wooden floor. The audience is obscured by the spot lights.

In one chair sits Garfield Dayton in a blue double breasted shirt. In the other sits David Schwimmer in a green jumper (sweater).

Gar: Sometimes, I feel like I've arrived late to the hero game. Like, my parents were about in the 80's kicking bad guy butt! And here I am born in a completely different, new era.

David: You're not too late. You have so much to offer. Batman's been about forever! He's gotta be, like, fifty! And you're, like, fifteen! Bats is gonna have to retire soon, but you've got thirty-five more years of butt kicking in you. You can't compare yourself to other people. Just gotta do your job.

Gar: You're right. I just kinda end up working myself up by thinking about it all, though! My brain never shuts up!

*A child screams again as a roar echoes through the studio.*

Gar: ... Should we look into that?

David: No, it's fine.

Gar: You sure? It's kinda freaking me out.

David: You're no use to anyone if you freak out.

Gar: Well that's true...

Sound Guy: If you need to take a breather, just tell me, K? I'm here to make your life easier.

Gar: No, I'm alright. The show must go on, as they say! No matter how bad it gets. The show must go on...