Batman stared at me while I explained the situation to him.

"So, I'll just leave Jubilee here, she can take over for me while I'm gone visiting Lovette, Logan, and the rest of them for a few days." I said, shrugging, "Just a normal, standard visit."

He stared at me still, not commenting, as if he was trying to see through me, and into the slightly damp, cold cave wall right behind me. I fidgeted nervously. "So… am I free to go?"

Again, silence, did he suspect something from this sudden request? "Uh, Bats? Is my vacation time approved?"

"You're not going to stay at the X mansion are you?" He asked, finally breaking the silence.

"I'll come back." I promised.

He nodded in thought, "I just though that now would be the time you'd start… never mind."

I frowned, "What?"

"I do believe I said, never mind." He mumbled, turning away.

"Bats." I snapped, "For the love of all things good and decent, what were you going to say? Tell me!"

"I just thought, that since you're the only one of Logan's relations that isn't off doing whatever they want to do and causing trouble, that you'd be the one to take over for him in the end." He said, as if he was stating something obvious. "For danger room sessions, and his other duties at Utopia X."

I paused, it had never occurred to me before, but he was probably right. Daken was off doing God knows what, and Laura was just trying to 'find herself' and touring the world with Gambit. He had other adopted kids sure, but Kitty and Rogue both had their own different classes to teach, and Rahne… well… she never expressed any interest in actually teaching. She kind of condemned anyone who suggested her becoming a teacher instead of a squad leader.

But me? Taking Logan's place? I shook my head, "I'm not Logan. I'm not anything like him."

"There's nothing wrong with being Logan." He pointed out. "I've known Logan for a long time, and even though his code of conduct is much less… strict than mine, I can always count on him to stay on the right side of the line. He's the only man I know who can kill, can go down into that dark place, and come right back out easily. That is something you and him do have in common. Don't deny that."

"Yeah I know but…"

"You fear losing your own identity that you've struggled to obtain." He finished.

"Yeah…" I mumbled. "I know that being like him… being Wolverine… it's a big job. I can't… I can't do that."

He nodded, "You just always struck me, out of all of them, as the one who would eventually take his place in the end."

I swallowed nervously, "Yeah, well, don't get your hopes up. Logan's gonna be around for a long time anyways. Healing factor makes him to hard to get rid of, like a cockroach really."

Batman was silent for a moment. "Don't put your hope in that."

I swallowed again, the thought of Logan actually dying crossing my mind, and he continued, "Your vacation time is granted."

I sighed, "Good, now to just tell the team."

Me? Taking after Logan? Replacing him? Insanity. Impossible. Laura was better than me at fighting, she should be the one teaching them. Rahne, well I was better at fighting than her, but at the same time, she'd probably be better at teaching. Compaired to me, she was encouraging and thoughtful. Rogue, well it wasn't so hard for her to teach, she's filled in for Logan before, but she never expressed a permanent interest in the job. There's so many of us, why would he think I would be the one to take over in the end?

"Take me with you." Conner said. Well, he didn't really say it, he was more… demanding it.

I groaned, "Conner, I'll only be gone for a few days, not long enough for you to miss me. I'll be back soon." Not long enough for Daken to try anything.

"Why are you leaving again?" Artemis asked from her spot on the sofa. Suspicious as always.

"Visiting Lovette." I said, shrugging, "It was Logan's idea, and I haven't seen her in awhile."

"Why did she have to leave in the first place?" Robin asked.

"None of your business." I said firmly. The minute they found out my past, they'd avoid me, like nearly everyone on Utopia X. Artemis, maybe not her, she could understand that sort of thing, but Megan? We were just starting to get along, and as much as I really don't care about her friendship, everyone else liked her.

Conner crossed his arms, "We're losing our instructor because of it, we have a right to know."

I growled, "For a few days! Grow up!"

Robin cleared his throat, "Look, Mio, if you're in some kind of trouble, tell us. We can help you out, you know that, right?"

I shook my head, "I don't need-"

"Oh for crying out loud! Would you just tell them! They're in danger because of it, they have a right to know about it, and you know it." Jubilee piped up.

They looked from her to me and I sighed, "Okay, here's the deal. Lovette is in danger because my good for nothing, murdering, psychopathic, non-empathetic, life ruining, monster of a father is trying to get to me by threatening her life. If my suspicions are correct, you six may be next on his list."

For about five seconds, there was silence, then, Robin piped up, "Could you repeat that?"

"Yeah." Wally said, "You kind of lost me at murdering."

"Lovette's in trouble?" Megan questioned, worried.

"How long have you known about this?" Kaldur asked gently.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Conner asked, furious.

"Shut up!" I screamed. The quickly stopped talking and I took a deep breath, "OK, Robin, to make it short, my father is threatening me with Lovette's life. Wally, Robin can catch you up to speed. Megan, yes, she's in danger, which is why I'm leaving. Kaldur, I've known Lovette wasn't safe at Utopia X since last night, same time I found out he was targeting you all as well."

I turned to Conner, "And I didn't tell you, because until now, it WASN'T YOUR PROBLEM!"

"Not my problem?" He asked, not believing what I had said. "Their lives are in danger, Lovette is in danger, and I'm going to go ahead and guess you're in danger too! Still think it's not my problem!"

Kaldur put a hand on Conner's shoulder, "Superboy, calm down." He turned to me, "You kept this information form the team, why?"

"I didn't think he posed any real threat for now." I said, "I was going to leave Jubilee here with you, so just incase he did somehow get in, she could make sure you didn't get hurt."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Robin interjected, "Okay, why on Earth would Logan try to kill you, Lovette, or any of us?"

Jubilee gave me a nervous look, and I froze. I had used the word father. Curse my mouth! Curse my stupid mouth! Okay, two options… either lie and run, or tell the truth.

"Uh…"

Robin's eyes widened, "He didn't get kidnapped and brain washed again did he?"

Wally's eyes widened, "Again? How much messed up stuff goes on your family?"

"If I told you, you're head would explode." I said, shrugging, trying to dance around Robin's question.

"No avoiding the question!" He snapped, "What's going on with Wolverine!"

"Yeah if your dad needs help, tell us, you know we can help you out." Artemis said.

"The team will always have your back. Just say the word and we will help your father." Kaldur pitched in.

Crap… now they think Logan's in trouble, but he's not!

"Yeah, your dad's our dad." Wally said jokingly, trying to lighten the mood.

Stop talking! I wanted to shout.

"Just tell us what's going on!" Conner shouted, "I mean, if your Dad-"

"Logan's not my father!" I screamed, claming my hands over my ears. I took in a deep breath, trying to calm down. The secret I had been trying to keep hidden… now it was out in the open. How long before the rejection started? Or even better, the dirty looks? The judgment?

"W- what?" Asked Robin.

Conner stared at me, every one stared at me. "Ugh." Jubilee groaned, slapping her face with her hand.

"I've known you for years!" Robin exclaimed. "How could you lie to me about that!"

"You never asked." I mumbled, glaring at the ground. "You just assumed he was my father."

"Are you…" Conner started, "Are you a clone?"

"No." I said, sighing, "I was pretty much born the normal way."

Artemis snorted, "Pretty much?"

"Well, I was born three months to early, but other than that, I was fine." I shrugged.

Wally rolled his eyes, "Whatever dude, why wouldn't you tell us!"

"It was personal." I defended.

"We started this team because the Justice League was keeping secrets from us!" Wally shouted.

"Because they didn't trust us with 'personal information'." Robin snapped, throwing up air quotes.

"It was my choice to keep my past a secret. I have a right to privacy, and my father isn't something I'm proud of." I stressed.

Artemis stepped up, silencing Wally and Robin, and then turning to me, "Mio, just tell us… who is your father?"

I watched them, as they watched me, waiting for the answer. I swallowed, and stared at the floor for a moment. No matter how far I run, I can't be free of him. No matter what I do, no matter how many lie's I tell, I'm still always found out in the end, and then I'm suddenly the outcast. The one always kept at arms length. Even at Utopia X, I could see it in their eyes, the distrust, the fear.

And the instant I tell them, everything I've worked for here, it'll all burn down.

Hold your head high. Don't ever let them defy the light in your eyes. Love yourself, and give them Hell.

I know Mom, but this is… important to me. I love these kids. I don't want lose them.

If you want something, you've gotta fight for it sweetie.

But, I don't know if I can win this one.

You just stand and be strong, don't ever give up, remember, fight like a girl.

I nodded to myself. Okay Mom.

I looked up at them, "My father is Daken Akihiro."